Homeownership is exciting and rewarding, but it comes with responsibilities. To keep your home in excellent shape, take care of basic maintenance chores twice yearly. From cleaning the gutters to changing air filters, these small tasks have a big impact on the overall condition of your home. Here are a few home maintenance tasks you should complete every six months.
Home Maintenance Tasks: Clean Gutters and Downspouts
Clogged gutters and downspouts can cause damage to your roof and foundation if left unchecked, so it’s important to clean them regularly. To make sure they are properly maintained, use a ladder and gloves to clear away leaves, twigs, or animal nests in the guttering channels. After removing the debris, use a garden hose to rinse the gutters to verify the downspouts are functioning properly. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this task yourself, you can always hire a professional gutter cleaning company for assistance.
Flip the Mattress
Flipping a mattress is an important part of biannual home maintenance that will improve your sleep and the longevity of the mattress. It’s easy to forget about this task, but it is essential for keeping your bed in good condition. Remove the bedding and use two people to flip or rotate the mattress, place it on top of the box springs or foundation, and then replace the pillows and bedding.
Inspect Appliance Hoses
Appliance hoses can cause water damage if not regularly checked for issues. Inspect each hose and its connections for cracks, leaks, and bulging, which could be signs of a weak or deteriorating hose needing replacement. If you find problems with a hose, purchase a new one for the machine.
Clean the Range Hood Filter
Cleaning the range hood filter is a necessary chore for multiple reasons. The filter collects grease, grime, and other residues from your stovetop or range. If left uncleaned, it can become a hazard due to grease buildup in the ducts that could lead to smoke backing up into your kitchen. A dirty filter means you are not enjoying the benefits of an efficient range hood, as it will be less effective at venting odors and smoke out of your kitchen.
At least twice yearly, clean the range hood filter with regular dish soap and water or a degreasing agent such as white vinegar.
Replace Batteries as Part of Your Home Maintenance Tasks
Remote controls, ceiling fans, and lights quickly become useless once their power runs out. Smoke detectors require batteries to sound the alarm in case of fire. At least twice each year, check the remote controls and smoke detectors in your home and replace their batteries as needed.
Regular maintenance will not only extend the life of many components in your home but also help prevent costly repairs. A few hours every six months for these simple tasks will pay off in increased efficiency, improved safety, and peace of mind.
HomeSpec offers home inspection services in North Mississippi and Southwest Tennessee. Contact us to schedule an appointment.