Becoming a homeowner is an especially exciting time in life, especially if you’ve just bought your first home. You don’t have to worry about landlords anymore, you’ve gained what’s likely your greatest financial asset, and you have more freedom with this property than any other in your life. For all the advantages of homeownership, though, it’s not without any drawbacks.
Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of owning your own home is that you’re responsible for all the maintenance and repairs. There’s plenty that can go wrong when you’re a property owner, which is why you should always have homeowners insurance, and it’s smart to get a home warranty on your appliances too. Even so, if you neglect your maintenance duties, you’re likely to face high costs for cleaning and repairs. Here are three crucial home maintenance tasks that no homeowner can overlook.
1. Home Plumbing
Having clean, running water is essential to your health, hygiene, and general wellbeing, but it’s incredible how easy it is to take it for granted. If your home was built in the United States before 1975, there’s a good chance that you have a cast-iron pipe system. The problem with this is that cast iron pipes can start to fall into disrepair after around 50 years, so your iron pipes may be reaching the end of their use.
One of the most obvious signs of old pipes failing is the smell of sewage in your home. This likely comes from a broken pipe that’s releasing unhealthy gases into your home. You may also hear gurgling coming from drains, which indicates failing iron pipes. If you don’t act to address leaks and other issues as soon as possible, then the water damage may become extensive. Call on a cast iron pipe repair technician to either fix your pipe liner or replace it with something more up-to-date.
2. HVAC System
Your HVAC system is responsible for keeping your home at healthy, comfortable temperatures during all seasons. The last thing you need is for your air conditioning to fail right before summer or for your heat pump to stop working as winter approaches. It’s important for every homeowner to be aware of common HVAC problems, so they can address them in a timely manner.
It’s not just about the comfort levels in your home, either. Your HVAC air filters help keep your indoor air clean, which can be easier said than done, considering how easy it is to track pollen and other allergens. Your indoor air quality can also be brought down by things like pet dander and humidity, which can produce mold. You may want to pair your HVAC system with an air purifier to ensure that your air quality stays as it should.
3. Appliances
It’s always important to maintain your appliances to save costs on expensive replacements if you allow them to get in too bad of shape. After all, a refrigerator on its last legs may have a hard time maintaining cold temperatures, and a malfunctioning dryer is likely to leave clothes damp. An old washer may also be at risk of leaking wastewater into the home. Issues like this are why it’s important to know the best appliance repair professionals in your area.
Reliable appliance repair technicians will be up-to-date on the latest technology, so they’ll be able to work on your systems, regardless of complexity. Look for a company that’s experienced with both home repairs and repairs on commercial property to ensure you’re getting the most experienced technicians. With your appliances back in new working order, you may even be able to increase your energy efficiency.
