While new homeowners are often excited to purchase their first home, their excitement may quickly fade when they understand what regular home maintenance involves. Home maintenance is often a never-ending saga for homeowners. Depending on where you are, the size of the home, and the age of the property, the costs of regular maintenance can be high. Save money and improve your home’s good condition with effective and affordable home maintenance solutions.
Affordable Home Maintenance Musts
For homeowners, maintenance costs are unavoidable. Thankfully, there are many ways to keep your home maintenance costs affordable without sacrificing the value. Read on for six solutions for home maintenance.
- Fix Plumbing Problems
Plumbing problems typically begin as a leaky faucet or clogged sink. Tackling these problems immediately will save you from future expensive fixes later on. Moreover, taking preventative measures to maintain your plumbing system will also reduce potential problems.Work with a plumber regularly to make sure your system is in working order. One of the best ways to avoid plumbing problems is to get rid of mineral deposits by flushing the plumbing lines on your property every six months.
- Install Gutters Guards
Gutters aren’t just a decorative add-on, they also keep water from damaging the home and divert excess rainwater from your plants and trees. A gutter system will also keep debris out of your gutters, which will make cleaning up more convenient over time. Gutter systems come in a variety of materials and finishes like copper, aluminum, and PVC. These systems are also an easy way to protect your home from leaks. To install gutter guards you can either hire a contractor that specializes in the installation. You can also do it yourself by installing a gutter guard 5 inch tool. This addition will keep leaves and debris out and will be easier on your budget than replacing a gutter completely. - Insulate Your Windows
Whether you have new or older windows, you may be losing energy through them if they aren’t insulated. Rather than replace each window in the home, consider using weather stripping or caulking to insulate them. This material will help you maintain your ideal temperature inside the home. As weather-stripping is an inexpensive material, it’s a cheap way to save tons on heating and cooling costs each year. - Repaint the Walls
If you want to make an affordable change to your home that also improves the quality and aesthetic, consider repainting the walls. From fresh and bright colors in the bedroom to bolder shades on the living room walls, a new coat of paint can add value to your home and your wallet. If you’re handling the paint job yourself, use latex paint as it is both low-cost and easy on the environment. Consider painting both indoor and outdoor walls to maximize the ROI of this project. - Pay Attention to Moisture and Air Quality
Moisture can cause mold and mildew, which will ultimately lead to expensive home improvements. Take steps now to reduce moisture by using a dehumidifier when it’s hot outside or running your vent fan when you’re cooking to prevent mold. Likewise, if your HVAC unit isn’t clean, you could also be costing yourself money on heating and cooling costs. Pay attention to issues such as humidity, dampness, mold, and dust to maintain your home and protect it from issues like floor damage or air pollution. - Install Energy Saving Appliances
As you consider cost-effective home renovations and upgrades, it’s also important to think about energy-saving appliances. Upgrading to more efficient appliances isn’t just a great idea environmentally—it will help save you money in your monthly utility bills. For example, replacing a 60-watt bulb with a 40-watt equivalent from Energy Star will save you $30 or more.
Don’t let high prices keep you from performing regular home maintenance. Keep these six solutions in mind to stay on top of your home improvement without breaking the bank.
