4 Simple Home Maintenance Tips No One Talks About

Home maintenance and renovation are among the most searched topics on the internet. There are thousands of guides floating around that explain how to renovate your home and carry out basic repairs, renovations, and other home improvement projects. Need to hang a door? Not a problem. Replacing a whole bathroom? There is plenty of material for you to read and take in. We’ve put together some handy tips on improving the longevity of your home in our article on how to maximize the lifespan of your house, but not all maintenance tasks are commonly discussed. Here is a short list of basic tasks that get a little less attention, as well as tips on how to approach them. Following these tips can help you preserve the value of your home for longer and perhaps get more for it when you decide to sell.

1. Prevent clogged up drains

Blocked drains can be a problem for homeowners, not because they’re particularly hard to solve, but because they’re messy and a job few like to do. Sometimes a simple fix such as baking soda and vinegar is the best way to unblock a drain, and may be more effective than a plunger or hot water.If the blockage is stubborn you might need to address the issue with outside help, but there are plenty of steps you can take to prevent such issues. For instance, always make sure you clear the drainage bin in your dishwasher. Bits of food and debris can build up there and possibly even find their way down your drain if you don’t clean it regularly.

Further reading: Home Renovations With the Highest ROI

2. Watch for water leaks

Some water leaks are obvious, but nobody likes to talk about the ones that are not; those hidden behind walls or under floorboards that you might be able to hear, but not see. Water leaks can be incredibly costly to a homeowner, but detecting a leak is often difficult. You might be aware of a dripping noise when laid in silence at night, but where is it coming from?

Being observant can help here. Check your water meter frequently and look for changes. Pay attention to when your heating comes on and goes off. If it is getting more frequent, you may have a leak on the hot water supply. Also, be aware of the pressure in your cold taps, as a drop in pressure could be the result of a leak. If in doubt, make sure you call an engineer to get it checked out. Remember that prevention is far less costly than repair.

3. Address bothersome noises

How often do you step on a floorboard only to hear a squeak, waking your partner on a late night bathroom trip? What about squeaky hinges on doors; do they give off an annoying sound whenever you open or close a door?These are not the sort of tasks you’ll call a carpenter in for, but they are issues you’ll want to solve before they get worse. A squeaky hinge or loose floorboard could be hiding a deeper problem. With doors, a quick spray of WD-40 should do the trick. Be sure to use smart straw to get to the problem area more effectively. Wooden floors are easy to quieten down, too. Spread talcum powder on to the cracks near the squeak and spread it around with a brush to penetrate the cracks, which should silence the floor. If that doesn’t do the trick, you might want to ask a flooring expert to take a look.

4. Take mold very seriously

Mold is not an issue only found in vacant properties or damp and cold areas. It can thrive anywhere, particularly in small spaces between boxes and walls, as well as in the bathroom where there are high moisture levels. Mold cannot be taken lightly. Aside from the fact that presence of mold in a house can cause severe health issues, professional mold remediation will cost thousands of dollars. So it’s critical to address any signs immediately.

Regularly check behind and underneath furniture for signs of mold. Grouting tiles every 12 months and replacing silicone around the bath or shower will help, too. Avoid mold building up in cracks and crevices in the kitchen and bathroom by always drying moisture the moment you discover it.

Read more: Affordable Alternatives to Renovating