Preventive Maintenance Tips for Your Home

When buying a home, most people first think of the financial responsibility. But like a car, your home needs regular maintenance to stay in top shape. There are two main types of maintenance—preventive and breakdown. Breakdown maintenance is when the problem has gotten to the point that you need to fully replace the item or have a major repair made. Preventive maintenance is performed before there are any true problems. This type of maintenance is usually cheaper and can prevent large, expensive maintenance from occurring.

One example of preventive maintenance is reducing stress on pipes to prevent leaks. Replacing the plumbing in a 1500-square-foot-home can cost between $2,000 and $15,000. One way to preserve the integrity of your pipes and avoid plumbing leaks is by checking water pressure. High water pressure stresses your pipes and makes pipe joints, faucets, and appliance valves work harder. And by the way, a low-flow showerhead won’t reduce water pressure. A plumber, however, can install a pressure reducer if the pressure is too high.

A few other preventive maintenance tips are:

• Test the garage door’s sensors to make sure they are operating properly.
• Clean gutters and downspouts.
• Check windows and doors for weather-tightness.
• Change furnace filter quarterly or as recommended by the furnace manufacturer.
• Test sump pump.
• Check your water heater for signs of leakage or rust.
• Vacuum out dryer duct.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Vacuum the condenser coils on refrigerator.
• Clean kitchen stove exhaust hood.

Performing simple preventive maintenance on your home can help prevent a large breakdown, and save you money. Are there other maintenance tips you have? Please share them in the comments!