For most of us, our homes are our most valuable asset. It’s one of the many reasons we take our responsibility in renovating your home so seriously at Clason Remodeling.
With more than a decade’s worth of experience remodeling in the Lakes Region, we’ve had a chance to work in a number of great homes. Unfortunately, that also means we also have seen plenty of homes that have suffered damage in some way. Some of that damage is preventable with simple maintenance. It’s why we think it’s so important that homeowners know how to take care of their homes.
Regular maintenance can save you money down the road, allowing you to invest in remodeling rather than expensive repairs. Just like regular oil changes, tire rotations and other maintenance for an automobile, a house benefits from regular attention.
There are literally hundreds of things that can go wrong in a house, but these are some of the common areas to keep an eye on.
Furnace/Air Conditioner
Annual professional maintenance will help lengthen the life of your HVAC system. Regular changing of your furnace filters will not only improve the air quality in your home but also help your system run more efficiently and help prevent costly repairs. How often you need to change them depends on a number of factors, including the usage of your HVAC system and the type and size of the filter used. A good rule of thumb is every three months.
Clean Gutters
Gutters are designed to guide water from your roof and away from the foundation. Regularly cleaning your gutters will help prevent water damage to the foundation, roof and walls. It eliminates a nesting place for pests that can cause damage to your home (such as mice) or just annoy you in your yard (like mosquitos). Overflowing gutters can also cause damage to your landscaping from misdirected water.
Flush your hot water heater
Water heaters accumulate sediment and minerals at the bottom of the tank. Sediment build-up can cause damage and make it harder for the water heater to properly produce hot water. (This is often indicated by a “popping” sound coming from your water heater.)
Water heaters should be flushed at least once a year, but more frequency could be required depending on the composition of your water.
Newly repaired deck and handrails
Inspect your deck
Keep in mind that fully inspecting your deck and checking its safety takes the skills of a pro. As a homeowner, you may miss deterioration that a professional eye would not.
These are just a few of the areas on your deck that should be checked: deck boards should not warp or sag, flashing should be tight and undamaged (replace damaged flashing, especially in any areas where water is accumulating), tighten all loose fasteners and pound in loose nails, and check that railings and handrails on stairs are tight and secure.
Check the outside
Take a walk around your house and really look at it. Any cracks in the foundation? Missing vent covers? Holes or other damage to siding? Seals around windows and doors still tight?
Take a look at the roof (from the ground!) to see if there is any visible damage. If there does appear to be damage to shingles, hire a professional to address the problem.
Clean dryer vent
The most common reason a dryer doesn’t operate properly? Too much lint in the dryer vent or hose. Not only can lint build-up lessen the efficiency of your dryer, it may also lead to fires.
Other safety checks
There are several other items that should be checked regularly to make sure the home is safe and efficient including your fire extinguisher, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, garage door/auto-reverse feature, water softener and sump pump.
If your maintenance check uncovered a larger problem, Clason Remodeling is ready to help you make sure your home is protected. Contact us today to discuss your remodeling needs!
Cracking foundation