Your home is your castle. It doesn’t technically have to be a castle, but if it is, can I come visit? When we tend to our homes, we can feel more secure and more comforted when the storms come. During a ten year period, I have owned three houses and lived in apartments, and townhomes. I used to move every year (except my homes, where I lived for two years.) It is only recently that I have managed to stay in a house longer than two years. While constantly moving was an absolute waste of good money, it fed my nomad spirit.
One home had a crawl space and a well; one had an unfinished basement and an HOA; and the other a finished basement and a huge un-landscaped yard. You start to get a feel of the things you can do yourself, some things you probably could do yourself but you hate doing it so you hire someone, and things that you should absolutely hire an expert for. Here are some areas to be certain to maintain, either by yourself or someone you hired. Remember, you need to know about it in order to know to fix it.
Furnace/Air Conditioning
I had a vague understanding of the furnace when I moved into my first apartment. The landlord would come over every three months to replace the filter. I thought it would be some scary and difficult thing, but it truly is not. Unless your furnace is in your crawl space and you need to layer up with long sleeves, a hat, and gloves to make the long crawl to it to change the filter out.
Each furnace has a different sized filter, so be sure to check what size it is before purchasing new ones. The size of the filter is usually in big numbers on the side of it with an arrow for air flow. Check to make sure it’s in there properly and that it fits. There are a range of quality in air filters too. Usually, you are good to replace your filter every three months. Some filters need to be replaced every month. Here are some videos to check out if you are at a loss of where to start.
It doesn’t hurt to have your furnace checked once a year. Other than your filter, they check to make sure everything is running properly and possibly prevent future problems. They can also inspect your air conditioner. It does not require much, but when you are outside, take a look at the connections to be sure no coolant is leaking. Oddly enough, if your AC is in the front of the house, there is a potential that someone would come and steal your coolant. It has happened before.
Cleaning ducts and fireplaces
I also recommend getting your ducts cleaned every few years or so. The filter won’t be much help if your ducts are full of dust that blows in grit and allergens anyway. This would include the dryer vent. Duct cleaning is something I would recommend to leave to the professionals. What you can clean out is the lint trap. You should be cleaning that lint trap every use.
Speaking of getting things cleaned, if you have a fireplace be sure to get that cleaned every year or so. You don’t want creosote build up that can cause an explosion in your fireplace if it gets bad enough. While there are DIY videos on YouTube, I leave this to the people that know what they are doing.
Dishwasher and Washing Machine
I have, within the last few years, discovered the real need to clean my dishwasher and washing machine. The smell gives it away. There are filters in these machines too. They periodically need cleaned of gunk and grease. You should have a manual to show you the access to the filter. The filters are easy to access since it is expected to be done periodically, depending on your use.
There are also cleaners specifically to wash your machines every two weeks. It is a simple tab you toss into the tub. You can also use baking soda and white vinegar to clean the tub and the clear out some general odors. If you have mold in your washing machine, I would recommend a mold remover gel that you can place directly on the mold.
Check your Gutters and Basement Windows
I have had some bad luck with water issues in my most recent house. After a storm, I noticed some water on the floor in the furnace room in the basement. Oh no! I traced it back to a bedroom with a window and window well. It turned out the gutter directly above the window well was bent and would overflow during a heavy rain. ALL of the water would dump into the window well causing it to leak into the house.
The water caused structural damage as well. Check your gutters! Are they big enough to handle the amount of rain you receive? Are they clear of debris (ours was clear of debris. The down spout was not big enough and along with the bent gutter, it overflowed.) And of course, we could not use our insurance because it is technically “flooding”, water from the outside coming in, and therefore not covered.
You should periodically check for any structural damage because your house will shift over the years. Any cracks can be filled with sealant. Easy enough to buy at Home Depot, and applied with a caulking gun. If I can do it, you can do it. Be sure to get the sealant for vertical application, not the self settling (which is good for filling on the ground around your home). Be sure your doors and windows are sealed to keep out insects and temperature control.
Check your basement for any bug infestations and spiders. I will generally spray it myself a couple times a year for spiders and bugs. I don’t mind them outside, but they must die if they come in my home! Most of the sprays you can get at a hardware store are safe for family and pets once it dries.
Know Where Things Are
You would think this is a no brainer, but how many of you know where your main water shutoff is? Where is your sprinkler shutoff? Do you know where your breakers are? You should know this if you are renting as well, should something critical happen you will want to turn the water or electricity off right away. If you are of the mind, you can tag your shut-offs for easy access.
Do you know where your plot of land ends? Sometimes this has been changed due to fencing, but in general, it will be accurate at your county assessors office. You can request a land assessment if they don’t already have it on file. The copy of the measurements usually costs vary per county, but I paid about $15 for mine. This will help with any neighbor disputes or if you want to build up a new fence or structure.
A couple of other tidbits to do is getting those carpets cleaned. If it is a high traffic area, I would recommend a once a year cleaning. This can be something you hire out or rent or buy a carpet cleaner. It is so wonderful to have clean carpets! It gets rid of those lingering odors.
As you do your checks throughout your home periodically, getting familiar with what is where, also take note of the types of lightbulbs you use and the carbon monoxide/smoke alarms. I used to buy a whole bunch of regular 60 watt lightbulbs, but many of my lights in this house use a different type of bulb! And please, don’t let your smoke alarm chirp at you when the battery is low. Some people have let that thing go for months. Just change it. For all of our sakes.
Knowing Brings Peace of Mind
Once you have an idea of what makes up your home and where things are, you can feel more confident in getting the right resources when things need fixed. I know it helps me out. When I have a firm foundation, a firm understanding, of my home, I feel like I am in control when the waves start crashing. Love your home. Wherever you are, seek to understand it and make it your own.