When you own a home, chances are good that you also own a seemingly unending “to do” list of projects, large and small. From recaulking the fixtures in the bathroom to refinishing the deck, the array of chores can be pretty daunting; however, in order to keep your home running smoothly, it’s important to keep checking items off the list!
But what about the things that you don’t normally think about? Sometimes big projects can overshadow the smaller maintenance items, and that can present some challenges when it comes to maintaining your home. In order to avoid running into problems that can be easily prevented, having a separate checklist of your “must do” and “nice to do” tasks can be a big help. And today, we’re going to highlight a few items that should be on your “must” list.
- Clean out the drains. Keeping the drains in your sinks, bathtubs, etc. is an easy way to avoid those preventable clogs that can be a much bigger headache by the time they become problematic. Removing the drain stops and clearing out minor clogs and debris goes a long way toward eliminating bigger issues.
- Trim the foliage. Keeping the branches of trees and large shrubs trimmed can help avoid damage – sometimes major damage – in the event of a storm. Wind, ice, and rain can all tear off branches fairly easily, and if they hang over your car or home, it can be a big headache when they come crashing down.
- Replace your fire extinguisher. Do you have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen (and possibly in other rooms throughout your home)? If so, you’re probably in a good spot when it comes to fire safety – as long as you regularly make sure that the pressure on your extinguisher is at the optimal level. After all, a fire extinguisher with low or no pressure isn’t going to be very helpful if you need to put out some flames.
- Swap the batteries. Most people are reminded to change the batteries in their smoke alarms every six months by making it part of their Daylight Savings Time routine. Change the clocks AND the batteries – and even if your alarms are hardwired, they should have a battery backup, and those batteries need to be replaced too.
- Inspect your roof and gutters. Checking your roof and gutters regularly for damage can help prevent frustrating issues in the long run. Repairing loose gutters or replacing missing shingles helps to ensure that these important components of your home can do their jobs effectively.
- Empty the dryer vent. Routinely clearing your dryer vents (interior and exterior) of any lint and debris isn’t just a good energy saving and efficiency tip – it can be critical to preventing fires! An overheating dryer can ignite all that fluffy lint and cause real problems.
By tackling these routine maintenance issues, you’ll keep your home running like a well-oiled machine – and have leftover time, energy, and money from preventing all those headaches to handle the major projects on your honey-do list.
