Monthly Maintenance for Your Home

If you keep up with your home's monthly maintenance, you will be able to reduce repair costs.

Most homeowners understand that repair costs can be very high if things go wrong unexpectedly. Still they forget to perform monthly maintenance. By conducting a routine inspection every month, you can keep tabs on things that are wearing quickly. Quite a few things in your house need monthly attention. When you take care of them properly, you will be able to avoid many big headaches and huge repair bills.

Fire safety devices

Your fire safety devices need monthly maintenance. As you probably know, even a small fire can cause extensive damage. That is why you need to keep these devices in good shape. A fire mishap not only damages your home and belongings but also risks the safety of your family.

Fire extinguisher

You have to ensure that your fire extinguisher is fully charged. Recharge it if it was used recently. Make sure that you have a sufficient number of them in your kitchen, basement, and garage. The placement of your fire extinguisher is equally important. It must be easily reachable. If you place it in a spot where you can't find it easily, it is unlikely to be helpful when you need it.

Smoke detector

The smoke detector is another important device. People often forget how important a device it is until there is an emergency. Test the battery periodically and replace it if necessary. Remember that the battery may drain even if you do not use it.

Maintenance for your bathroom and kitchen

People often forget to notice their shower drains and sink until a problem surface. However, by taking some simple steps every month, you can keep your bathroom drains and kitchen sinks in good shape.

Tub stoppers and sink

You need to flush your tub stoppers and sink with a solution of baking soda and hot water.

Garbage disposal

Check the safety valve and the steam pressure gauge of your garbage disposal system. If you detect problems, replace them. You also need to inspect water level gauge. Add water if necessary.

Heating and cooling

Your cooling and heating systems play a significant role in making your home comfortable. When these systems work properly, you probably won't realize their importance. But if things go wrong, these systems can be quite costly to repair. Make sure that your home maintenance checklist includes a quick monthly inspection of your cooling and heating systems.

Forced-air heating system

You have to check the blankets and replace them if necessary. Check air flow and clean unit.

Steam heating system

Check relief valve and if it is faulty replace it. You also need to check pressure gauge. The expansion tank may need to be drained.

Evaporative air conditioner maintenance

Clean air filter and replace it if it is faulty. Clean evaporator coils and condenser and condensate drain. You also need to remove snow and debris from the outdoor portion of the unit.

 

Heat pump maintenance

Clean filter, evaporator coils, condenser and condensate drain.

If you overlook the need for monthly maintenance, your home will be much less efficient. Worse still, you will have to deal with safety issues and huge service bills. If you take care of these important things at least once a month, you will be able to run your home more smoothly and efficiently