Tips for Maintaining Your First Home
Great you bought your first home, now what? If you’re anything like the scores of Michigan homeowners that are new to homeownership, you may not be sure where to start when it comes to regular home maintenance. Below are a few introductory tips for maintaining a new home. Last winter, we shared some tips for making the most out of your tax refund as well as some tips on home improvement projects that build equity, those may also be useful as your learn to navigate home ownership.
Maintain Your Gutters
Checking your gutters seasonally may seem like a no-brainer but most new homeowners don’t know why gutter maintenance is important. Blocked gutters can create water backup into your home and create expensive damage that a lot of homeowner’s insurance policies won’t cover. In the winter, blocked gutters create ice dams that can also cause water backups as well as pulling your gutters away from your house. Learn more about what happens if you don’t clean your gutters here.
Smoke and Carbon Detectors
A good habit to get into is testing your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors regularly. A good time to check them is when you change your clocks in the Spring & Fall. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for placement of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms.
Good locations include:
•On each floor of the home
• In each bedroom
• In each hallway close to sleeping areas — if a hallway is longer than 40 feet place devices at both ends
• At the top of stairways
• At the bottom of stairways going to a basement
• In your living area
• Check your manual for installation locations to avoid and information on how far to install the devices from furnaces, heaters, stoves, water heaters and other appliances and fixtures.
Maintain your HVAC system.
Check your furnace manufacturer settings to see how often air filter changes are recommended. If you suffer from allergies, are working on home improvement projects or have pets you may want to change your filters more frequently. Furnace air filter subscription companies offer low cost shipping on a schedule of your choosing. A clean air filter will keep your furnace and air conditioning units running smoothly as well as keep your energy costs lower.
Take Care of Those Trees.
If your new home is surrounded by trees like many Michigan homes, then it’s a good idea to have a landscaping company, arborist or tree service out to do a quick inspection. They can alert you to any potentially dangerous limbs that may come down during a storm or heavy snowfall. You may also learn that some of your trees and shrubs require seasonal maintenance. A good tree company will be friendly, informative and happy to help educate a new homeowner.
Get a Roof Inspection.
A lot of times new homeowners don’t know they have a bad roof until it’s too late. Often the life of a roof can be extended for years with proper maintenance and inspection. Nail pops, loose shingles, fascia damage from leaky gutters, can all affect the performance of your roof. It’s not uncommon for sellers to exaggerate the health and youth of the roof to encourage a quick sale. Always have the age and integrity of your roof verified by a roofing professional. The Roofing Pros at Modern Xterior would love to help you. Contact us today!