Essential Home Maintenance Tips for New Homeowners

There are few moments in your life that will be as monumental as buying a home. Your new home is where you will build a life with your partner and eventually raise a family. That home will bear witness to the many changes that will happen in your life over the coming years, so it’s more important than ever to keep your new investment safe and functional. Amidst all the excitement over closing on a new home, however, proprietors might be unaware of how much work is needed to keep their house pristine, valuable, and within a reasonable financial range. To catch you up to speed, our team is here to let you know what to address as you navigate the home maintenance process.

Check Your HVAC Filters

One of the top home maintenance tips for new homeowners involves monitoring your HVAC filters. HVAC filters trap dust, pollen, and other harmful substances, keeping your air clean and preventing your family from breathing in dangerous particles that could negatively affect their health. Upon buying a new home, it’s important to check your filters and replace them, if necessary. Being protected by a proper filter is a must.

Keep Up with Your Roof

Oftentimes, if homeowners let their roof’s maintenance fall by the wayside, they can end up with shingle damage, rotting wood and underlayment, or leaks—all of which threaten the structural integrity of your roof. To keep your family safe and your budget intact, it’s vital to stay on top of your roof by conducting yearly inspections with a contractor and checking your roof after severe inclement weather. In addition, visiting your attic to make sure your roof is getting adequate ventilation and has maintained a solid foundation is also key to roof maintenance. Taking these steps will save you time and money, while helping you avoid stress.

Caulk Your Windows and Doors

A costly expense for new homeowners, both financially and physically, can come as a result of not sealing fissures and cracks around the house. Your windows, doors, and sinks can all fall prey to air and water leaks. These leaks damage and warps these facets of your home, prohibiting them from keeping air out. Consequently, the influx or water and air can cause mildew, mold, and other harmful substances to take root in your home, putting your family’s health in danger. Another consequence of not caulking vulnerable openings is a rise in your heating and cooling bill. Thus, if you want to preserve your home and your health, caulking vulnerable areas is a good idea.

Clean Your Gutters

Another important step to take if you’re a new homeowner is to check the status of your gutters. Your gutters direct water away from your roof through the downspouts and lead it to areas outside the home. By decreasing the amount of water on your roof, gutters help ward off leaks, rotting, and even potential cave-ins, saving you a great deal of money. Typically, gutters will last up to 20 years, but its lifespan can be cut short by the presence of debris, shingle granules, or cracks. Therefore, it’s recommended that you not only gauge the age of your gutters, but also clear it of fragments that could clog the system. If your gutters overflow due to negligence, your home could sustain serious damage, affecting the structural integrity of your home and your safety.

Drain, Flush, and Insulate Your Water Heater

Your water heater is one of the most crucial components of your home. When you shower, wash your hands, or clean, you want to be sure soothing warm water is going to come out. Yet, if you leave your water heater on the backburner during maintenance, you can drastically reduce its duration. Water heaters are susceptible to natural sediment build-up after repeated use and usually need to be drained and flushed once a year in order to keep the appliance in working order. In addition, to extend the life of your water heater and cut the cost of their energy bill, new homeowners can choose to insulate their heater and pipes.

Conclusion

While these are just five of the top home maintenance tips for new homeowners, it’s important to keep in mind that home maintenance is a long and ongoing process. It requires you to pay attention to the obvious, like your roof and gutters, but also to the parts of your home you might not have given a thought to, like the unsealed crevices that can snowball into a bigger problem if not they are not addressed. Nonetheless, these and many other home maintenance tips ultimately help new homeowners save time and money, allowing them to truly enjoy the occasion of buying a brand new home.