While many perceive home ownership as a symbol of responsible adulthood, few people find enjoyment in home maintenance. However, you must maintain your home because it is not just your residence, but also an investment. For this reason, you should consider making routine home maintenance a part of your regular schedule to ensure that small home problems do not become more costly issues later on.

1- Get Your Home’s Roof Inspected

Your roof is what protects the entire structure and everything inside. The cost of an inspection might cause hesitation, but it is essential to know ahead of time of any leaks or weaknesses in your roof. The cost of repairing the entire roof later is much higher. Leaking shingles can damage the infrastructure underneath, and repairs for this are expensive. Individually damaged shingles are far easier and cheaper to repair.

2- Maintain Your HVAC

HVAC systems can cost several thousand dollars to repair or replace. However, maintaining your system will extend the lifespan of your HVAC system by several years, and all you need is routine maintenance. Have the system inspected every year, change the filters frequently, replace any cracked or rotted belts, and lubricate bearings on a regular basis. When the system does not have to work so hard to cool down the house, it doesn’t wear out so quickly.

3- Protect Your Plumbing and Septic Tank

If you have a septic tank, it should be inspected every three years. Avoid flushing chemicals and items that do not break down into a septic tank, such as grease or trash. Having to replace a septic tank is an expensive, and smelly ordeal. Plumbing that runs under a slab or foundation requires having the foundation dug up to replace it, which is very expensive. Cold weather can cause uninsulated pipes to burst, and grass and tree roots can weaken old concrete pipes, necessitating their replacement with newer PVC pipes. To protect your pipes, consider fitting them with fiberglass sleeves and insulation tape, and do not flush anything down the drains that could damage the plumbing. Flush your water heater on a regular basis.

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4- Maintain Your Yard

If you neglect the vegetation around your home, it can cause serious damage to the foundation and infrastructure. Vines can grow up under siding and destroy it from within, which also allows pests such as bugs and mice to get in. Untrimmed bushes along the siding can have rotting dead branches brush up against the wall, causing termites and rot damage. Untrimmed trees pose a hazard to the roof and gutter system, especially in high winds and storms. Tree roots can also grow under the foundation and cause structural damage. If your yard’s drainage is inadequate, allowing standing water to accumulate, this can lead to damage not only to your yard but also to the foundation of your home. Keep your yard well maintained, lest you end up having to hire professional yard services and tree services, which can cost thousands of dollars.