For many, owning a home is a great source of pride. With this pride comes responsibilities. Simple inspections taking minimal effort and time can prevent costly home repairs down the road. Here are 5 things to check every season to ensure your home is protected.
Inspect Your Gutters
Gutters collect rain and move it away from your home’s foundation. When they become clogged with leaves, branches, or other debris, it poses a significant risk to your home’s structural health. Not only do you risk damage to your roof and gutters due to the extra weight of pooling water, it could also cause damage to your home’s foundation. Get the ladder out and check for clogs, holes, leaking joints, and loose or bent gutters. Using heavy gloves, clear out any debris stuck in your gutters.
Clean Excess Lint from Dryer Vents
You probably remove lint from your dryer’s trap each time you add a new load of laundry. How many times do you check the dryer hose and vent leading air outside? A clogged vent will reduce your dryer’s efficiency causing higher energy bills. Even worse, a clogged dryer vent is a fire hazard. By inspecting the vents and hose and vacuuming out lint with a wet/dry vac, you will have peace of mind each time you dry your clothes.
Check for Leaks Under Your Sinks
How often do your store items under your kitchen or bathroom sinks and quickly forget about them? Slow leaks under your sinks could go unnoticed behind all those items until it is too late. A faulty water valve or damaged drain pipe could cause water to damage your cabinets, floor, and create a breeding ground for mold. By taking a few minutes to check under your sink for leaks, you could prevent costly damage by having a plumber quickly repair the problem.
See the Trees
Trees add beauty and value to your property. They also pose risks to your house if their issues are ignored. If trees are near your home, make sure any branches close enough to touch the structure are trimmed. Inspect your trees for dead or damaged branches. Promptly remove any dangerous branches to protect your roof and gutters.
Test Your Sump Pump
Sump pumps are often taken for granted. Most people don’t even think about them until they fail. Unfortunately, when they fail, it often causes costly flood damage. By spending a few minutes every season inspecting the sump pump–especially before rainy periods–you save the giant headache of dragging out waterlogged carpet and draining flood water out of the basement. Pour some water into the basin and make sure everything is running properly. Also listen for strange sounds like grinding, screeching, extended running, or frequent on/off cycling.
Set aside a free day to inspect these 5 things that could cause extensive damage to your home. The afternoon of inspections could save you thousands in repairs as well as ensuring your home and family are safe.
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