In 2019, 88% of homeowners made at least one major repair. The average amount spent on repairs and improvements comes out to around $4,958.
It’s hard to predict what will break in your home. If you have a HVAC unit over ten years old, it’s safe to assume it’ll bite the dust sooner rather than later. But if your brand new garage door stops working a month after installation, there’s no preparing for that.
While you should hold back between 1% and 4% of your income as an emergency fund for repairs, routine maintenance will also go a long way in preventing a disaster.
In this article, we’ll provide a list of routine maintenance to perform on your home that can save you big on repair costs.
Different Types of Routine Maintenance for Your Home
Going through the trouble of performing regular maintenance on your home can save you big on costly repairs later.
While most of us hate spending precious time on manual labor after getting home from work, it can be the difference between you losing a bit of free time versus thousands of dollars. It’s easier to catch problems early or use preventative maintenance, versus performing a full-on replacement of something.
Let’s explore a few options on our home maintenance checklist.
1. HVAC Unit
Whether your HVAC is old or new, it needs a little love every now and then.
Be sure to replace the filter every month. Also, check to make sure water isn’t pooling near the base of the furnace. For your AC, you should clean the coils of dust every few months and make sure ice isn’t forming on the inside.
2. Toilet and Sink
Water has the potential to devastate a home fast.
Check for leaks around your toilets and sinks. Even tiny leaks can lead to catastrophic damage and result in hundreds of dollars in repairs.
3. Grout and Caulking
Grout and caulking help form a tight seal between your tub or shower and the walls.
If there are any holes or cracks, water will seep down into it. Then you’ll have mold growing on the inside of your wall and also extensive water damage to contend with. If you find holes or cracks, reseal at once.
4. Vent Hood Above Oven
Eating at home is a great way to save money and spend time with the family. A broken vent hood or clogged filter can leave smoke to accumulate in your home. Replace the filter if it’s old to keep it in working order.
5. Pool
Pools are great for fun and cooling off during the hot summer days.
To keep a pool free of algae and other contaminants, look into tips for pool cleaning. Doing regular maintenance on your pool will keep it swim-ready all summer long.
Regular Maintenance Will Prevent Problems
While it is a hassle to deal with minor problems around the home, it’s well worth the effort to avoid a problem spiraling into something much more severe or dangerous.
If you perform routine maintenance on your home and give it a bit of TLC, you’ll be rewarded with things operating more smoothly and for longer. We hope this checklist will inspire you to take action rather than be reactive.
If you enjoyed this article, we invite you to read other interesting posts on our website.
