Owning your first house can be full of excitement. You can paint the walls or add a deck to your outdoor garden; however, you might find it hard to determine which areas to start renovating or remodeling. Making a few changes around the house is easier said than done, but the solution is simple. You’ll have to focus on preventative maintenance tasks before you start tearing down the walls.
New homeowners find it challenging to maintain their homes, especially if they have the habit of calling the property owner to handle the problem. You can teach yourself about the most common maintenance tips for new homeowners by reading this guide. It’ll also help you cover the basics of maintaining your property.
Install Ceiling Fans
One common way of saving on cooling and heating is installing ceiling fans, especially in the upper areas. Heat accumulates at the ceiling. Installing energy-efficient ceiling fans will push the air upwards, making you feel cooler during the summer season. Besides, they can also push much-needed heat down during the winter season.
Installing one can be a complex DIY project, but you can do it if you have experience working with electrical systems. Be mindful of your safety if you do. Make sure you’re also familiar with the process thoroughly. If you’re not confident about your skills, you can hire an electrician to install the ceiling fans for you.
Use Weather Stripping
Your windows and doors come with weather stripping, which refers to the lengths of metal or rubber that you can use to seal gaps. It’ll still allow the window or door to work correctly. But outdated, lower-end windows and doors don’t come with weather stripping all the way around. Over time, weather stripping also breaks down.
Hence, you’ll have to regularly apply weather stripping even if windows and doors are sufficiently stripped. Bear in mind that weather stripping will not only be helpful for those areas. You can also use them in humid and drafty rooms, including inside-to-outside gaps and HVAC units.
Caulk Doors and Windows
On top of applying weather stripping, you might also have to apply caulk to the windows and doors. It’ll help insulate those areas. You can find cheap caulk that you can use to seal outdoors and indoors to seal cracks between a window or door and its frame. You can also apply the caulk in between existing walls and frames. In shopping for caulk, pick the right kind. You can also find different color options in hardware stores.
One of the most common types is the window and door caulk that allows your home’s contraction and expansion during changing weather conditions. Moreover, caulk comes in different colors to paint most types to match your existing trim.
Seal HVAC Ducts
The Department of Energy statistics show that a typical home consumes nearly 20% of the air circulating through HVAC ducts due to the lack of insulation, poor connections, and holes. Most manufacturers use sheet metal to produce durable and easy to insulate ducts. But it can also leak easily.
If you’re using traditional, outdated ducts, sealing them will make a huge difference. It’ll also drastically affect your overall cooling and heating costs.
Add the Right Insulation
Insulation starts with filling in cracks and gaps; however, you might still want to use the proper insulation for your HVAC unit, crawl space, walls, and attic. If you want to know if your home has the proper insulation, you might have to hire an energy auditor or seasoned home inspector.
That’s because an average homeowner will not be able to determine whether or not their home has the proper insulation. You’ll have to call a professional contractor to install the insulation. Otherwise, do the insulation job yourself to save a significant amount of money. But you should still teach yourself about the basics by watching tutorial videos.
Get Routine Maintenance
You can also keep your well-maintained by investing in professional furnace replacement, repair, and maintenance. Your technician will be responsible for inspecting your furnace’s motor components to ensure they’re working correctly. If they find problems, they’ll quickly address them before becoming severe.
Furthermore, your technician will also report the work done and whether the unit needs repairs. Most technicians will inspect them during the cooling and heating seasons.
If you’re constantly repairing your house or worrying whether it’s ready for winter, this guide is your best companion. You’ll learn about home maintenance tips that will save your roof, windows, foundations, and other crucial parts.
