Home maintenance is something we often tend to overlook – after all, there are so many little things to do, and they are all supposed to be done regularly. It is very easy for one or two of them to slip your mind from time to time, and then you get caught in some emergency, and then you forget all about them, and the next time you get reminded about them is when half a year later your roof collapses.
In order to avoid such things happening to you, you should always remember some things that are to be done regularly.
1. Inspect Your HVAC Filters Monthly
How often you will have to actually change them may differ depending on many factors: kind of filter, family size, whether you have pets and how many of them, pollution level in the area and so on. It is probably a good idea to consult a specialist, but they generally tend to agree that it is better to use cheaper filters and replace them more often than to stick to expensive models.
2. Check Your Gas Furnace Regularly
Gas furnaces have a lot of degradable parts: burners, flame sensors, pressure switch ports and so on, all of which have to be checked from time to time to eliminate the possibility of accidents. How frequently they require maintenance may be different according to model, local climate, home structure and other factors, but one thing remains the same: you should never overlook it.
Furnace quality also tends to differ greatly according to cost, with cheaper models lasting for shorter time and requiring more maintenance – as a result, it is generally a good idea to install a more expensive model, as it will save you money later on.
3. Clean Your Range Hood Filter
Believe us, the more often you do it, the less traumatized you are going to get. If you have never done it before, you are not going to like what you will see when you try to do it for the first time. How dirty it is depends on what, how often and how much you cook, but generally it tends to be an extremely unappetizing sight – so cleaning it at least once in several months is extremely advisable.
4. Check Fire Extinguishers
Not much to say about this one, really, but it is one of the things that tend to be overlooked, sometimes with very sad results. Check if it you remember where the fire extinguisher is, if it is easily accessible, if the gauge shows normal pressure and if you actually know how to use it.
5. Test Your Smoke Detectors
Yet another small yet crucial task to be done regularly. Most detectors have a ’test' button which allows you to safely see whether they work. If you hear the alarm, everything is alright, if not, some inspection is in order: you may need to change batteries, or clean corrosion off the battery terminal, or completely replace the whole thing.
6. Vacuum Clean Your Refrigerator Coils
Refrigerator is probably the most energy-consuming appliance in your house – it alone may account for 15-20% of your household electricity, which means that you should use it as effectively as possible. As the coils on its back accumulate dust, it uses up more and more energy, so regular vacuuming is in order.
Remembering these simple tips may save you a lot of expenses later on – after all, it is always better to spend a little bit of time and money right now than risk great unexpected losses in future.
