Taking care of a home is a lot of work.
It seems like there’s always something to do, something that needs to be fixed, or some new product or piece of furniture that could make your life infinitely better (or so the marketing departments would like you to believe!). When your home maintenance to-do list gets so long it takes three refrigerator magnets to keep it in place, it might be time for a new game plan.
Just like medical doctors preach the importance of preventative medicine to stop potential health problems before they start, so should you practice preventative home maintenance to trim that to-do list and keep your house looking and feeling its best year round.
By sticking to a weekly home maintenance checklist you’ll not only get in the habit of taking care of problems right when they happen, you’ll also stop the problems from happening in the first place by practicing that all-important preventative care.
Each home is different of course, and though we’ll be happy to zip over and help you with any of your specific needs (really, we will be! Give us a call!), here are a few handy home maintenance ideas that can be applied to nearly any house:
1) Check your wiring
Out of the over 300 deaths caused by electrical fires annually, we’re going to bet that most, if not all, of them were preventable. Exposed wiring is a seriously dangerous threat, and though it often provides us with light for our lamps, it’s not something to be taken lightly.
Give your home a quick once-over this week and make sure none of your exposed wiring is frayed or damaged. If you think you see a potential problem, don’t try to fix it yourself. Call an experienced electrician and get it taken care of pronto.
2) Hit the roof
Well, not the roof exactly, but the space directly beneath it. The weather is turning, and with the cold swell comes a lot of little critters trying to find a warm, dry place to nest. Squirrels may be cute to look at but they are certainly not fun house guests, and even the smallest hole in your attic gives those guys all the opening they need to sneak in, get comfortable, and start causing a ruckus at all hours of the night. Inspect your attic for any sign of potential problems and give us a call to repair any holes if you’re not sure how to do it yourself.
3) Test your carbon monoxide detector
You can’t keep your family safe and away from harm if you don’t know there’s any danger, right? Carbon monoxide is at its worst during winter when windows are closed and people snuggle down under piles of comforters to sleep soundly through the night. Make sure sure all the carbon monoxide detectors in your home are working properly before an accident happens.
