Easy Home Maintenance Tasks You're Probably Not Doing

Easy Home Maintenance Tasks You're Probably Not Doing

Vintage Home Safety PSA

We all know to check smoke alarm batteries and to keep the gutters clear.

But when's the last time you checked your dryer vent for lint build-up? How about the last time you had your furnace cleaned and inspected?

Check out the following list to see just a few of the home maintenance tasks you should be performing to save yourself some trouble in the future.

• Having your furnace inspected
  Many furnace manufacturers recommend having your heating unit serviced by a professional annually, and this not only helps to keep your furnace running safely, but also serves as preventative maintenance. It is especially important for older heating systems.
  
  The vent system needs to be checked for blockages and leaks, wiring checked for damages, burners for proper ignition, and inspections for rust and corrosion must be done. When all is said and done, the $80-$150 per year for a professional inspection is well worth the peace of mind.

• Cleaning your refrigerator coilsThe coils, usually located near the bottom on the back of your fridge, easily attract dust, hair, and other debris. In order to keep your fridge from overworking itself, take time to clean the coils with a coil-cleaning brush and a vacuum. You can find coil cleaning brushes for dirt cheap at most hardware stores, and they're flexible, making it easy to get in all those hard-to-reach places.

• Apply lubricant to your garage door springs
  The springs on your garage door are overworked and underappreciated! Over time, the metal springs can break due to the natural breakdown of the metal or being overused. Applying a spray lubricant to the springs can help improve their life-span.
  
  Keep in mind that garage door springs are wound very tightly and as such can be very dangerous to work with. If your garage door system is older or in really rough shape, it's best to call in a professional to handle the job.

• Clean dryer vents
  Clogged dryer vents not only affect the efficiency of your dryer, but they can also contribute to house fires. If you notice that your dryer has not been drying clothes as efficiently as it used to, it might be a good time to check your vent and suck the debris from the hose with a shop vac.
  
  Vent cleaning kits are available at most hardware stores, but if you're unsure of your ability to successfully unclog the vent and duct yourself, call in a professional. Prices range anywhere from $90-$170 for a professional vent cleaning.

• Check the weatherstripping
  If you can see light around your doors, or if you can feel a draft, it's probably time to add new or replace old weatherstripping. This is a quick and inexpensive maintenance task you can do yourself. In the long run it will help keep your energy costs down as well as help to keep your home cozy in the cold months.

• Flush your hot water heater
  Over time, mineral deposits build up in your hot water heater. In order to keep it functioning properly, you should strive to flush these deposits and gunk out about once a year. It will help prolong the life of your unit and save you money, and can be done in as little as 20 minutes. Check out this article from The Art of Manliness for instructions on how to flush both electric and gas water heaters: http://www.artofmanliness.com/2016/05/05/how-to-flush-your-hot-water-heater/

For information on buying or selling a home with The Tammy Irby Team at Samson Properties, give our team a call or shoot us an email: 703-929-3540, Tammy@LiveTheEasyLife.com.