Your home is likely the most valuable asset you own. But if you don’t keep up with the upkeep, wear and tear can erode its value.
Luckily, home maintenance doesn’t have to be hard. Check out these maintenance tips that you can do over the weekend:
Change your ceiling fan’s direction
For all the hard work they do, ceiling fans don’t get the maintenance attention they deserve. Aside from making sure they’re clean, you should also change their direction twice a year. During summer, fans should rotate counterclockwise to push cool air down. In the winter, they should spin clockwise to displace the warm air that rises towards the ceiling. With the flip of a switch, you can save up to 10% on your heating and cooling costs.
Clean or replace grout
Grout is the paste that fills the gaps between your bathroom tiles. But since it’s made of porous material like cement and sand, it will crumble or harbor mildew over time. Needless to say, grimy grout is not a good look for your bathroom. You can quickly clean grout by scrubbing it with a bleach solution; an old toothbrush is the ideal cleaning tool. If most of the grout has cracked or chipped, consider re-grouting your tiles instead.
Check your roof, gutter, and downspouts
When it comes to water damage, prevention is better than repair. If you’re going to do preventive maintenance, it’s best to start with your roof. Have it professionally inspected yearly and address issues like missing shingles at the soonest.
Check your gutter to verify that it’s not clogged. Debris can cause water to pool in it and this will eventually seep into your roof and ceiling. Likewise, check that your downspouts are drawing water away from your property, lest the water seeps into your home’s foundation.
Flush out your water heater
Pennsylvania’s water is considered hard, which means it has a higher concentration of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Unfortunately, these minerals can build up in your water heater and lead to clogging.
Flush out your water heater yearly to prevent potential damage and to keep your unit running efficiently. Just be sure to completely turn off the water and power supply to your unit first. You can also hire a professional if you’re not especially handy around the house.
Clean your home’s siding
If you want to attract people looking for single-family homes for rent in State College, PA, you can ramp up your property’s curb appeal by adding siding to the exterior walls. Just make sure to maintain it properly or it could become dingy due to moss, algae, and mildew.
Many experts recommend cleaning your siding twice a year to improve your home’s curb appeal and to prolong its life. The best way to do so is by renting a power washer. That said, make sure to use the correct nozzle and water pressure so as not to damage the siding.
Trim the trees
Did you know that trees can increase your property’s value by up to 20%? Left unkempt, however, a tree won’t only become an eyesore – it can be a hazard, too. For starters, overgrown tree branches might fall on people and cause injuries. If the tree is close to your house, bad weather might cause the branches to snap off and crash into your roof.
To prevent these mishaps, have your tree trimmed annually by a professional arborist.
Inspect toilets for leaks
With a leaky toilet, you’re literally flushing money down the drain. But how exactly do you know if your toilet is leaking? Here’s a simple test: drop food color into the cistern and don’t flush the toilet for about an hour. If the water in the bowl becomes colored, water is seeping out from the cistern.
Toilet leaks are often caused by problems with the flapper, so either refit it or install a new one. Be sure to completely drain the tank first before doing repairs.
Keep your AC in tip-top shape
You don’t want a busted air conditioner at the height of summer. That’s why regular maintenance is vital to keeping your unit in excellent working condition.
Check if the water is draining freely in the condensation line. Clean the screen around your AC and remove stuck debris to keep the air flowing freely. Similarly, clean the condenser coils so it can effectively absorb heat. To maintain good indoor air quality, make sure to replace your AC’s filter every 30 days.
Know that keeping your home in good working order won’t just spare you from costly repairs, it will also help preserve and increase your home’s value.
If you need help listing your single-family house for sale in State College, PA, reach out to our team at the Heritage Realty Group by calling 814.231.0101 or by dropping us a note here.