You are a new homeowner! Now you have not only a place to call your own but new responsibilities that you may not have realized. To ensure you avoid costly repairs and stay on top of your home maintenance, follow these six key pieces of advice.
Carbon Monoxide & Smoke Detectors
As little as these may seem they are extremely important to your new home. You want to make sure they are installed on all floors and are fully functional. These will help prevent a home fire and the loss of personal property.
Make a Home Maintenance Schedule
It is easy to get caught up in the day-to-day responsibilities of owning a home. That is why it is so important to create and maintain a home maintenance schedule. You want to make sure that there are no tasks left undone and that all tasks are done in a timely manner. This can be something that you organize by season or number of times per year that you need to maintenance.
Prevent Frozen Pipes
This is extremely important if you live in a cold climate as this can be a costly fix. You should let a few faucets trickle water through your pipes. The moving water will stop the pipe from freezing. If you have any exposed pipes, make sure to wrap them with electrical heat tape. Another great way to prevent the pipes from freezing is to open any kitchen cabinets to allow warmer air to circulate the pipes.
Keep Home Remotes Up to Date
When you move into a new home it is important to reset any remote control or keypad access. Remember your garage door, too, to ensure that no previous owner has access to your home. This is an extra way to keep you and your home safe.
Prevent Power Surges
There are more ways than just a surge protection strip to ensure that your home is protected form home surges. Power strips are a starting point for protecting your costly appliances but not full proof. You still leave some of your valuable appliances at risk. Smaller surges still occur in the home and over time create what s called electronic rust. This rust begins slowly eating away at the electronic and causes the equipment to fail.
Leave Renovation Projects for the Winter
Many handymen are overwhelmed with work during the Spring and Summer and can be spread thin. If you have a home project that you want done you will have a better success rate of gaining a contractor or handy mans full attention in the winter.
Keep these 6 key pieces in mind when moving into your new home. Routine home maintenance will prevent you from having and costly mishaps.