If you’re in the process of buying your first home, you most likely have a ton of questions regarding basic maintenance and upkeep—stuff that you used to let the landlord take care of. While there is definitely a lot to know, you shouldn’t get overwhelmed in the process of becoming homeowners. If you keep up with this routine maintenance throughout the years, you’ll find the little things much easier to deal with than if you were to ignore them and let the problems build up. Before you even start moving in your furniture, all new homeowners:
1. Check the insulation
Insulation keeps the warm air in during the winter months and out during the summer ones. Check the attic to see if there are any patches missing, or if the insulation is growing thin in some areas. Proper insulation should be about 6 inches thick throughout the entire area. If any area is missing or has been damaged, don’t ignore it. You’ll end up letting some much needed warm air out during the winter months, and your heating bill will show it.
2. Lower the hot water heater temperature
Your hot water heater should be set no higher than 120°F—that is, unless you like making coffee straight from the tap. All joking aside, you most likely won’t have any use for water over 100°F anyway, so setting your heater for higher than 120° only wastes energy. While you’re at it, throw an old blanket over your hot water heater. Even if it’s more modern, you won’t run the risk of losing heat and expending excess energy over time.
3. Wrap pipes with insulation
You’ll likely have at least a couple feet of visible piping throughout your house. Invest in a good insulator for them to avoid losing heat as the water travels from the heater to its destination. Again, a loss of heat causes the heater to work harder, causing more and more energy to be expended. Losing one or two degrees from the heater to the shower might not seem much, but over time your wallet will end up feeling it.
4. Replace air filters and check the vents
Even if they look clean enough, replace the air filters for your furnace and air conditioning units. Remove any blockages to improve air flow and overall effectiveness of your HVAC units. Depending on the system’s condition, however, you may need to refer to a furnace or AC repair company, especially if there’s a problem with the central unit.
5. Check plumbing for leaks
Your plumbing system has the potential to lead to disaster if not maintained properly. First of all, even the smallest drip or a toilet that won’t stop running could end up costing you hundreds of dollars over the course of a year. Second of all, any excess leakage could damage your interior and foundation, and lead to mold and other issues that simply will not be easy (or cheap) to fix.
6. Replace light bulbs
It might be a little time consuming, but you’ll save yourself time and money in the long run if you replace all the light bulbs in the house with LED bulbs. Not only are they more energy efficient, but they last much longer than standard bulbs. This will save you not only time and money, but it will also save you from the aggravation of having to run to the store in a few weeks to pick up even more bulbs.
7. Secure the perimeter
If you do nothing else on this list, at the very least change the locks on all of your doors. Ensure that all openings to the outside of your home, no matter how high up, have secure locks on them. If necessary, install a security system and camera that will monitor any outdoor movement throughout the overnight hours. While ignoring all other items on this list may cost you in money and time, an unsecured home may cost you much, much more.
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