Staying on top of home maintenance can seem daunting. But if you make a plan to tackle goals throughout the year, you can easily stay on track. Here are nine ways you can resolve to protect your home’s well-being in 2022 and beyond.
1. Check for foundation problems
Foundation damage is a homeowner’s worst nightmare. When noticed too late, foundation issues can cause tens of thousands of dollars of damage to your home. But you can set a home maintenance goal of checking for issues before they become real problems. Use our guide to find the common signs of foundation stress.
2. Inspect and maintain your plumbing
Plumbing issues can lead to catastrophic problems that cost thousands of dollars to repair. Unfortunately, it can take some time before homeowners notice they have an issue. This year, commit to inspecting and maintaining your plumbing. Our informative DIY plumbing tips can show you where to start. You don’t need to be a plumber to pursue this home maintenance goal!
3. Optimize your cooling system
With every summer seeming a little hotter, you should have your HVAC system serviced to keep your energy bills under control. You should also review our summer home cooling tips to learn how to keep your home’s internal temperature under control.
4. Maintain your gutters
You don’t need to wait until fall to clean out your gutters. Visually inspect them every one or two months, or you could end up with serious damage to your roof. Look for bird nests, leaves, beehives, and anything else that could cause water to back up. You can also check out the five things you should do to maintain your gutters properly.
5. Seed your lawn during the fall
You may be surprised to learn that your lawn’s appearance in the spring can be greatly influenced by steps you take during the fall. Learn how to overseed your grass so you won’t have a patchy or thin lawn when the weather begins to warm.
6. Inspect your fireplace before winter
If you have a fireplace, inspecting it is a home maintenance must! Over time, wood-burning fireplaces can accumulate tarry-like creosote deposits on flue walls. This highly flammable substance can catch fire, causing damage to flue space and spreading to the attic and other parts of your home. Make sure to have a professional inspect your fireplace this year to keep your home and your family safe.
7. Get rid of any ice dams
An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of your roof. While ice dams can make for some pretty icicles, they can also do a ton of damage to your home. As they melt, ice dams can cause water to leak into ceilings and exterior walls, damaging paint and drywall. If they get big enough, they can also pull away from the roof, bringing shingles and gutters along with them! Learn how to safely remove ice dams to prevent serious damage to your home. This home maintenance goal can protect you from rot and mold, which can be super expensive to fix!
8. Enhance your refrigerator
If you can’t afford the cost of smart home appliances, there are some clever workarounds that can give you similar benefits. Start off the new year by learning how to turn your existing refrigerator into a smart fridge for a fraction of the cost. This home maintenance goal can help you get the most out of your refrigerator, especially with how much more we’re all using them!
9. Create your own home maintenance guide
It’s not always easy to remember every home maintenance requirement. Stay on schedule by learning how to create your own unique home maintenance guide that includes an itemized checklist, along with copies of all important paperwork.
Home maintenance is a marathon, not a sprint
Setting home maintenance goals can make keeping your home humming much easier. Don’t feel like you need to do everything at once! Setting long-term goals is more efficient and effective for keeping yourself and your home happy. One of the best maintenance goals you can set is always having coverage from 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty (2-10 HBW). A home warranty from 2-10 HBW gives you a plan to address unexpected systems and appliances breakdowns. That means less time worrying and more time living!
2-10 HBW offers the most comprehensive home warranty coverage for homeowners. Let us help you protect your home.
