Effective Maintenance Tips For New Homeowners

Buying your first home is always exciting! Not only are you a proud property owner, but you also make an excellent investment by purchasing a home. Of course, like any other investment, you want your home to be in the best condition to ensure its value increases. This means there are many features of your home you need to take good care of to make the most out of this investment. Hopefully, you’ve done a home inspection on your new property prior to purchasing it so you should have a pretty good idea as to its condition. On that note, here are a few maintenance tips you should consider.

Change and service your HVAC filters

Your home’s Heating, Ventilation, and Air conditioning systems (HVAC) are responsible for circulating air around your house. The HVAC filters ensure that the air circulated is free from dust and debris to provide the home with clean air, therefore preventing your risk of contracting various air-borne diseases. However, by changing your HVAC filters regularly, you avoid a buildup of debris from being trapped in the filter, affecting the air quality being circulated and could eventually slow down or break down the entire system. Therefore, it is vital to hire a professional to get your HVAC serviced every season for optimal performance and as a preventative measure.

Check your attic

In some homes, attics are used as storage areas. It’s not a place you inspect often but you may want to do that every once in a while. You can check for water intrusion from missing shingles. It’s easy to ignore a space you don’t normally see but checking your attic after a storm to make sure there are no leaks is a good idea. This will prevent a lot of damage because by the time water seeps through the ceiling in your home, the damage is likely worse than if you caught it early. An essential aspect of your attic is its insulation. If your attic is not sufficiently insulated, it may affect your home’s energy efficiency and increase your electricity bills. If you are using your attic as storage, be sure to declutter and clean the space. 

Check your smoke detectors

Smoke detectors are your first line of defense against a fire in your home. Without functional smoke detectors, your home would lose most- if not all its value. It also protects the lives of you and your family. If your home does not have one, it is advisable to hire an electrician to ensure that the detectors are correctly installed in vantage points. Also, be sure to regularly change the detector’s batteries to ensure it is always in good condition.

Trim the trees

If there are trees and branches near your home, trim them back to prevent damage when severe weather occurs. It will also prevent animals and pests from getting access to your roof or other areas. If you have large trees near the home, consult an arborist to see if the tree should be removed. Trees with large roots too close to your property can damage your foundation over time. 

Check the slope

Make sure that the land around your home is grading away from the property. When heavy rains occur, you don’t want water pooling near your foundation and causing moisture damage over time. Poor drainage has the potential to compromise the integrity of your foundation but it can also cause basements to leak from walls.