Moving cities or across Canada can seem like an endless task. Don’t shoot the messenger—we’re here to tell you that the work isn’t over after you unpack the last box or buy the last of the furniture.
In our last blog, we talked about how to take care of your house in the winter. But winter will end eventually. While you’re thinking about home maintenance and scheduling your winter-specific household duties, consider the maintenance tasks you should be performing regardless of the season.
Try not to think of this as adding another item to your to-do list. Being a good homeowner means taking care of your space like it’s a member of your family.
WHY HOME MAINTENANCE MATTERS
Aside from the obvious benefits of keeping your house clean and safe all the time, regularly taking care of your own home saves you from hiring costly specialists when things break.
Someday, you might sell your home. The few annoying hours you put into maintenance now will pay off big-time in a decade or two.
It’s also an empowering practice—you learn new skills while proving to yourself that you can take care of your own property.
Convinced now? Here’s where to get started.
INSPECT AND/OR REPLACE HVAC FILTERS
There are a few telltale signs that your filters need replacing. If your home is unusually dusty, your heating or cooling system is cycling for a longer period than usual, it’s likely because your furnace filter needs replacing.
You can be sure of that if the filter is noticeably grey with dirt and dust build-up. Manufacturers recommend you only use furnace filters for between one and six months. After that specified date, they absolutely need to be replaced.
And while you’re dealing with your heating system, test your water heater’s pressure relief valve.
TEST SAFETY EQUIPMENT
It’s easy to forget they exist, but your life might depend on your smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, or fire extinguisher.
Maintaining these is a pretty simple task. Both detectors should have a ‘test’ button—and if you press that and the alarm sounds, the detector is working properly. If it doesn’t, you either need to replace the batteries or your battery terminal has experienced corrosion.
Check the gauge of your fire extinguisher to ensure it has enough pressure and look for signs of wear. And, of course, make sure it’s still easily accessible and not obstructed by any obstacles in case of an emergency.
CLEAN FAUCETS AND SHOWERHEADS
Mineral deposits build up quickly. Before they harden and become impossible to remove, clean these bathroom fixtures once a month.
RUN WATER AND FLUSH TOILETS IN UNUSED SPACES
If you have a guest bathroom, second kitchen or any seldom-used sinks and toilets around the house, take care of those as you would your more frequented rooms.
Grime can sneak up on you in the most unexpected places—so make it a habit to run water and flush all the toilets in your house every few days.
CLEAN YOUR KITCHEN SINK DISPOSAL
If this is an area you’ve neglected, you might have already experienced the garbage-like stench coming from your kitchen sink.
Drains get clogged and cluttered with food and grime quickly. Take care of this once a month. There are drain cleaners at your grocery store, but vinegar is a powerful cleaner, too.
Let this be your starting point for taking better care of your home. If you’re extremely busy, you don’t have to do it all on your own! Families should work together to maintain a safe and happy home.
Planning to move into that sweet, new home soon? Take one piece of work out of the equation. Get a quick and easy free moving estimate from us.