As a responsible homeowner, your to-do list will never end. There will always be something to update or take care of.
Fortunately, we live in the digital age. Easy access to the internet means that you will always have a wealth of information guiding you on the best and most efficient practices for maintaining your home.
If you’re in the mood for it, this article is here for just such a situation. Read further to learn more about the healthiest habits for annual maintenance of your home.
Smoke Alarms
Safety should definitely be first and foremost. When you start going through your checklist for annual maintenance of your home, checking the smoke alarms should be at the top of your list.
There are a variety of smoke detectors, from battery-powered to hardwired systems. It is a good idea to check with the manufacturer’s website or technical specifications to learn exactly how to test whether or not your smoke detector works.
If it is powered by batteries, it will be a good idea to annually replace those batteries – whether or not the system passes the detecting test.
Appliance Maintenance
Another great practice for annual maintenance of your home revolves around all of your modern appliances. Sometimes as we go through our day-to-day routines, we forget how much of a burden we place upon these common machines.
Do some intentional maintenance of these appliances by checking everything that goes on behind the scenes. Check the freezer coil of the fridge, the pipes connected to your washing machine, the hoses for your dishwasher, and even the outlets to which all of these are connected.
You will be happier in the long run if you replace any damaged parts now, rather than later.
Check Heating/Cooling Systems and Plumbing
Living in the modern era, we have all become used to a regulated indoor temperature, as well as proper indoor plumbing. We shouldn’t, though, take such innovations for granted.
Especially before the winter season approaches, make sure you check the visible, accessible plumbing pipes within your home. If there are any spots that seem like they could burst during the first freeze of the season, you’ll be thankful that you looked into updating them ahead of time.
Annual maintenance of your HVAC unit will also significantly reduce any chance of it breaking down during the most inconvenient time (which, of course, would be in the middle of either a hot summer or a blistering winter). At the very least, this means that you should change out the air filters in your home to maintain a high quality of fresh air for the next full year.
Update Landscaping
Studies have shown that keeping a home’s landscaping modern and updated will increase the property’s value. If you put in the effort at least once a year to plant appropriate seasonal flowers and/or trees, you’ll definitely improve the value of your home in the long run.
Do some research online to keep up with the modern trends of simple, efficient, and stylish landscaping. You’ll easily be able to find many techniques and tips on social media platforms.
Annual maintenance of your lawn and landscaping will include practices such as seeding, fertilizing, planting, pruning, and maybe even removal of dead plants or trees. Even for the simple reason of looking relevant compared to your neighbors, there is no such thing as too much effort to put into making your lawn and garden as sophisticated and modern as possible.
Annual Maintenance of the Home’s Exterior
When you think of annual maintenance for your home, odds are that you immediately think about all of the projects on the inside of your house first. This isn’t the end of the story, though.
The exterior of your home deserves to receive the same level of care and love as the inside does. To maintain the property value and general visual appeal of your home, take care to keep the exterior clean, maintained, and renovated as much as needed.
Check the walls. Do they need to be power-washed or repainted?
What about the windows? Do you need to get them cleaned professionally, such as what this business provides?
Decks, patios, and balconies should also be considered. Do yours need to be cleaned or renovated? In fact, do you need to have a new deck built to complement the rest of your outdoor living space?
Keeping up with modern style matters just as much as cleanliness when it comes to your home’s exterior. After all, that is everyone’s first impression of your home.
Assess the Roof and Chimney
The last thing to consider when it comes to the exterior of your home is the top level of it. The annual maintenance of your home can finally be complete once you check to make sure your roof, gutters, and chimney are secure for the upcoming year.
A simple assessment of your roof and chimney will suffice to complete this task. If maintenance is required, you most likely will need to hire a professional to take care of it – especially if you have no experience in this area.
Start by taking a look at the gutters. Is there a significant amount of residue that has built up? Are there areas of cracks and damage?
You might need to either clean the gutters yourself or have them professionally replaced. Keeping them up to par is important for their usefulness.
Next, check your chimney. Is there something blocking it? This could be especially dangerous as you move into the colder months when you might want to actually build a fire.
Finally, are there shingles on your roof that need to be replaced? Are there corners of your roof that seem to have a dent from heavy weather? It might be time to contact someone who would know whether or not your roof actually poses a danger to your home’s stability.
Last Word
We know how important it is for you as a responsible homeowner to keep your property well-maintained and updated, no matter what time of year it is. Hopefully, this maintenance guide is useful as you start the process of your home’s annual maintenance.
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