Owning a home isn’t hard, but it’s not necessarily easy, either. After all, you as a homeowner need to maintain the home in good condition and make needed repairs promptly. Which means that most homeowners find that they have a healthy “honey-do” list in front of them at least one full weekend a month.
Still, we’ve put together a list of nine simple things any homeowner can – and should – do that will make his or her life all the easier. Take a look below.
- Check the batteries in your security, smoke and carbon monoxide sensors/alarms. Check them at least twice a year (doing so when we change clocks back and forward in spring and fall is a good time), and always keep extra AA and 9 volt batteries in the house should you find they need to be replaced.
- Clean your dryer’s vents quarterly. Lint is highly flammable and if it builds up in your dryer’s vent, it can catch fire quickly. Always clear the dryer’s lint screen before every
- Move your refrigerator away from the wall at least every six months and take a broom to its condenser coils, wiping away dirt, dust and debris. Doing so should take you no more than 10 minutes (and that includes moving the fridge) yet can result in improving the appliance’s energy efficiency by up to 30 percent, helping you save money on your utility bills.
- Drain your water heater once a year. (Check here for the how-to.) Doing so will help keep it clean, also helping it to work at top efficiency.
- Clean your garbage disposal’s blades by grinding up small ice cubes in it.
- Make sure your toilets are secured properly to the floor and check for leaks as well as for if it’s constantly “running. A “running” toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water a day!
- Test your water heater every three months by using the test lever on the pressure relief valve. Also drain the heater to remove sediment that’s built up in the tank. (How-to.) Do so every three months. You don’t want your pressure relief valve to blow unexpectedly.
- If it freezes regularly in winter where you live, turn off all outside water faucets to prevent them from freezing and then possibly bursting.
- Check for leaky faucets and repair them. (It’s often just a case of replacing a faucet’s washer.)
Performing these simple routine tasks – especially on your plumbing – can mean the difference between calling a repairman in an emergency and paying a goodly amount, or replacing appliances and systems on your schedule, saving you considerably.
Plumbing Dynamics can schedule routine maintenance on your septic system, hot water heater, etc. Give us a call at 214-929-2431.
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
