While a pandemic raged, homeowners sheltered in place, taking care of their homes, inside and out. With little else to do in their free time, families took to their lawns, built outdoor living spaces, and turned dining rooms into home offices and playrooms into home classrooms. In 2021, we all hope to spend more time out and about, but our homes will still play an important role in our lives. Just like taking care of our own health or changing the oil in our cars, taking care of our homes keeps them healthy and in great shape through every season. Here are our top 10 home maintenance tips for keeping your home in working order in 2021, and saving you the trouble of costly repairs all year long.
Home Maintenance Tip #10: Get Ready for Santa
Cozy fires keeps us warm and toasty all winter long, but all that smoke and soot can take a toll on your fireplace. Before the start of the cooler season, have your chimney inspected and cleaned so Santa has a clear shot for leaving all those gifts under the tree come the holidays.
Need a recommendation? Residents in and around St. Louis can give Clean Sweep Chimney Service a call. After 40 years in business, they know chimneys!
Home Maintenance Tip #9: Out with the Old
Your family’s safety is number one. If the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home run on batteries, replace them every year. Even those that are hooked into your alarm system will come with a back-up battery. It’s a good idea to replace these, too.
Home Maintenance Tip #8: Dispose of Odor
Garbage disposals take a lot of crap. From scraps of food to fruit pits and droplets of oil and grease, it’s no wonder odors tend to rise from the kitchen sink. Keep your garbage disposal running smoothly and smelling fresh with routine maintenance. Art of Manliness recommends running vinegar ice cubes through the disposal twice a year. You can also grind up a slice of lemon with a few ice cubes about once a month. If your Garbage Disposal isn’t working like it should, it might be time to have it replaced.
Home Maintenance Tip #7: Start at the Top
The roof of a house is the first and best protector of everything inside. It also takes the most abuse from the outdoor elements. Once a year, you should have your roof inspected for missing, loose, or damaged shingles and potential leaks. Not a fan of heights? Our friends at Clayton Restoration have you covered!
Home Maintenance Tip #6: Where’s the Off Switch?
If you own a house, sooner or later you’ll have a mini-emergency or need to do a bit of work that will require you to shut off one or more of the utilities in your home. You can save a good deal of stress (and time) if you know where to find those valves. Best to find out in advance! Make a note of these:
- Heating fuel main shutoff
- Main electrical fuse/breaker box
- Main water shutoff
- Water shutoff valve for toilets, sink faucets, and washing machine
Home Maintenance Tip #5: Check the Pan
Frost-free refrigerators are equipped with a drain pan. If left uncleaned for too long, mold and mildew can grow, damaging the drain pan. A cracked or damaged drain pan could result in the erosion of the floor underneath your refrigerator. To prevent any damage, remove the drain pan bimonthly and cleanse with a bleach solution. Wait for the pan to dry, and reinstall. Good as new!
Home Maintenance Tip #4: Save Energy
Weather-stripping around your doors and windows keeps cold air out in winter, and hot air out in summer. Each fall, you should inspect the weather-stripping around your windows and doors. You’ll not only be more comfortable, but you could save money on your energy bills, too. Check out GreenSpace Construction for help in replacing your weather strips.
Home Maintenance Tip #3: Pump It
The average household septic tank should be pumped every three years. Septic tanks with pumps or mechanical components need to be inspected annually. A professional will look for leaks and check the amount of sludge build-up. Using water efficiently and correctly disposing of waste are a couple of ways to minimize the amount of maintenance your septic tank may need.
Home Maintenance Tip #2: Take a Closer Look
Kitchens and bathrooms require a caulk seal to prevent cracks and deterioration, and keep water out of areas that should remain dry. Check all caulk lines to be sure there is no cracking. If there is, use masking tape to outline the seam you intend to caulk. After slowly applying a long bead of caulk, use a paint stick to smooth it out.
Home Maintenance Tip #1: Inspect Drains and Pipes
Nothing brings your household screeching to a halt like a clogged drain. Most clogged drains are easy to clear, but if they’re not taken care of quickly, they can lead to more serious (not to mention more expensive) issues. Keep an eye out for backed up drains, a tub, shower or sink that’s slow to drain or a foul odor coming from a floor drain. Maplewood Plumbing offers routine preventative maintenance to ensure your drains and pipes are working correctly.
Maplewood Plumbing and Sewer has more than 30 years of experience. Our family owned business prides itself on our solid reputation in the community. See how we can help you today.
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