Don’t ignore warning signs of home maintenance needs

Everyone knows that ignoring the empty light and not filling up your gas tank will cause your car to break down sooner or later. The same holds for engine oil. Allowing your car to run out of oil will result in a ruined motor or damage that will cost you thousands to repair. Believe it or not, your house is not any different. Most of us understand that a home cannot function properly without utilities such as electricity, gas, and water. Unfortunately, countless homeowners ignore the early warning signs of maintenance needs, resulting in significant repair costs down the road.

The reasons for this differ. Most of us have never been educated about the common problems and tasks associated with proper home maintenance. Second, many people have purchased new homes or rented new apartments, and mistakenly believe that they do not require any maintenance. Finally, homeowners tend to overlook minor issues to avoid the time and money required for maintenance. To be clear, there is a difference between maintenance repairs and preparing a home for sale.

It is critical to replace air filters in air return vents regularly to keep the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning running efficiently. Periodic inspections, coil cleaning, and repairs can all help to extend the life of the system. This is to say it is always better to practice preventive maintenance so that before the issues compound, they are detected early enough to be prevented.

A roof will eventually wear out, but its longevity is affected by several factors. Assuming no damage from hail or high winds, shortened roof life is a result of poor material, workmanship, or inadequate attic ventilation.

A walk around the outside of the house should look for peeling paint and missing adhesive around door jams and windows, torn door sweeps, and any areas where rodents may have infiltrated. This includes looking up high under the eaves of the house, where birds or insects may be trying to gain access to the walls.

Inside, the focus should be on water leaks, plumbing problems of any kind, and major appliances that aren't working properly. Carpet and wooding flooring will need to be replaced sooner or later. A basement inspection should be performed regularly, with a focus on looking for leaks or water intrusion.

Whatever your approach, don’t underestimate the importance of protecting your greatest asset. Invest some time and money into preventive home maintenance and avoid bigger problems down the road. And the best part of all this is that the professional and vetted artisans for your home maintenance are closer to you than you might think. You can hire professional artisans around your location in a matter of minutes when you use the wrkman app, Download Now.