Repairs and maintenance, like a regular health check-up, helps to extend the life of your home, even new ones. Things do go wrong and damage can happen due to excess wear and tear or accidents. So it pays to have some kind of seasonal repair and maintenance schedule for your home’s upkeep to ensure that your home remains a functional and comfortable place to live.
With your time at a premium there are options available to you when it comes to home repairs. You can decide to hire an expert handyman or a professional or even choose to do the work yourself.
Experts can cost a pretty penny, and with COVID-19 restrictions already adding pressure on many family incomes, you may decide to give it a go yourself. But beware! Your day-long repair job could easily turn into weeks or end up with more damage that ultimately requires the services of a real professional. This could then result in costing much more than getting them to do it in the first place!
Some of you may even be of the type that calls for an expert to deal with every small issue you find. This too can result in costing more money, especially when you could have fixed the problem yourself!
But there are some repairs where you will be better off getting an expert. This includes water damage, electrical, security, appliances, plumbing and pest control.
You can also prevent most breakdowns by doing monthly check ups on the house exterior, appliances, security and the heating and cooling systems. This will help save money and keep your home looking its best.
Remember that if in doubt or should any of the repair jobs exceed your skill level or ends up bigger than when you started, then it is highly recommended that you consult a professional.
With summer on the way, here are some maintenance tasks you can do around the house:
Inspect roofing for missing, loose, or damaged shingles and leaks.
Change/clean the air-conditioner filter.
Clean window and door screens.
Polish wood furniture, and dust light fixtures.
Power-wash windows and siding.
Remove leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts.
Replace the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Oil garage-door opener and chain, garage door and all door hinges.
Remove lint from inside and outside washer hoses and dryer vents.
Clean kitchen exhaust fan filter.
Clean refrigerator and freezer coils and empty and clean drip trays.
Check dishwasher for leaks.
Check around kitchen and bathroom cabinets and around toilets for leaks.
Check interior and exterior faucet and shower head washers and replace if needed.
Check external painting and touch up as required.
Check for air leaks.
Protect and restore old windows and joinery.
Install, repair or replace insect screens to encourage natural cooling and ‘night purging’ in hot weather.