Being a homeowner is a big responsibility. It isn’t one you should take lightly. A home is a huge investment, and that investment must be maintained over time. One way you can do this is by performing certain important maintenance tasks on schedule. Below are four home maintenance tasks you should never overlook if you wish to protect your home.
Cleaning Out Your Gutters and Down Spouts
One of the most important of these tasks is having your gutters and downspouts cleaned out at the end of every fall. This is not a job that anyone likes performing. It requires going up a ladder and can be quite laborious. Still, you must remove all the dirt, leaves, gunk, and grime that have built up in your gutters and downspouts every year. If you don’t, melted snow may be redirected inside your walls instead of into your gutters and downspouts where it can safely flow away from your home.
Test the Sump Pump
The sump pump in your home should be tested a few times a year. Ensuring that it is in good working order is very important. If it ends up failing, your home could become flooded with water. If you don’t want your furniture and possessions destroyed by flooding, test it by checking the float switch and dumping water into the basin.
Service Your Septic System
Similarly, your septic system should be inspected and pumped about every other year. Doing so can be a life saver. If your system gets clogged up, it could redirect sewage that had been previously flushed down your toilets back up into your home. This is a nightmare no one wants to live through. You can’t really perform this job on your own without the right equipment and expertise, so hire professionals to perform your septic services for you.
Testing Fire and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Something you should do at least twice a year is test all the fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in your home to see if they are still operating properly. While certain alarms should start beeping when their batteries are low, there is no guarantee that will be the case. It’s simply safer to test them and replace the batteries before they even become a concern. Read the manuals for instructions.
There are, of course, also other home maintenance tasks you should complete in addition to the ones listed above. Create an actual physical maintenance schedule with all the maintenance tasks you should complete over the course of the year. You’ll be much less likely to forget important home maintenance that way and will run into fewer problems.