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According to a recent study, “the average household in the US spends $2,335 on home maintenance annually.”
This is a significant expense, especially during the ongoing cost of living crisis. As such, it’s hardly surprising that many homeowners admit to neglecting home maintenance tasks altogether.
While this may initially seem to be a relatively straightforward way to keep the costs down, leaving maintenance tasks and repairs to the last minute often means they cost more money to resolve in the long run. This is because the problem has likely intensified during this time. Not only this, but ignoring maintenance issues could mean that you putting your family’s health and safety at risk!
With that in mind, here are five home maintenance issues you must deal with right away.
Damaged Roofing.
Damaging roofing, such as missing tiles, can lead to a range of maintenance issues within your home. For example, even the smallest of gaps within your tiles can expose your home to elements, provide an entryway for pests, or lead to structural damage.
As such, you must be aware of the signs of damaged roofing so that you can resolve these issues sooner rather than later. Typically, the most common signs of damage that homeowners should look out for include:
Mold and moss
Loose shingles
Sagging roof
Leaks
While you may be able to resolve some of these issues yourself through a bit of DIY, it's equally crucial that you know when a roof replacement is necessary. After all, you don’t want to put your health and safety at risk in order to save money.
Pest infestations.
Pest infestations are more than just an unpleasant nuisance to deal with. For example, these unwanted houseguests could also leave you vulnerable to sickness, as they bring germs and bacteria into your home. As such, when cleaning your home, you should always be on the lookout for signs of a potential pest infestation. Coming warning signs include:
Droppings
Claw marks/scratches on floor/surfaces
Tracks and trails
Foul odors
Damaged food packaging
Unusual noises in the home
If you’ve noticed any of the above indicators, then you should reach out to a
pest control company in your local area. This is because specialist companies have the tools and expertise required to quickly and precisely handle this issue, removing the pests from your home. Conversely, over-the-counter or DIY solutions tend to be less effective, which could mean that you’re dealing with the same problem again and again.
Water Damage.
Keeping on top of your maintenance schedule, such as by cleaning out gutters and inspecting your property for damage, is one of the easiest ways to
prevent water damage in your home. However, it's equally vital that you know what to do should you notice that water and moisture have found their way into your home.
Remember, water damage does not always mean you’re dealing with flooding. It could also cause dampness or mold to build up throughout your home. Not only is this a threat to your respiratory health, but it could also cause wooden structures within your home to rot or break away.
As such, you should always keep an eye out for signs of water damage, being sure to check areas in your home that you may not use all that much, such as your attic and basement. Then, you need to call in a maintenance specialist if necessary, who will be able to conduct the necessary repairs on your house. For example, if wooden beams in your attic have begun to rot, they may need to be replaced or reinforced so as to protect the structural integrity of your roof.
Electrical Faults.
If you’re dealing with any electrical faults within your home, such as blackouts or faulty wiring, it's clear that these are issues you cannot ignore. After all, they’ll likely interfere quite considerably with your daily life, especially if you work from home! However, it is equally important that you do not try to resolve these issues yourself, no matter how simple you may believe they are. In fact, doing so could put your well-being at risk while also making the issue much harder to resolve.
Instead, reach out to a licensed electrician in your local area. Not only will they be able to resolve the issue quickly so that you can go back to enjoying your home, but they’ll also be able to do so safely.
Clutter.
Clutter may not immediately strike you as an urgent maintenance issue, especially when you compare it to some of the scenarios listed above. However, studies have shown that being surrounded by clutter can take its toll on both your physical and mental health. For example, clutter can:
Increase feelings of stress and anxiety.
Leave you more vulnerable to sickness, especially respiratory conditons.
Impact your ability to focus.
Lead to the build-up of dust and other allergens within your home.
Lead to difficulty falling and staying asleep, resulting in a reduced quality of sleep.
Fortunately, clutter is something that is relatively easy to tackle through routine cleaning and working to be a little more organized. However, you should also through each room in your house and ensure that there’s a place for everything (and that everything is in its place). If you encounter items that you no longer need or use, consider selling or donating them instead of letting them gather up dust in your home.
Final Thoughts.
While dealing with any kind of home maintenance issue can be frustrating, you can limit your frustration (and costs) quite considerably by dealing with them promptly and efficiently. This way, you aren’t giving minor issues the chance to develop into significant problems, and they don't continue to interfere with your life moving forward.
As such, you should carry out monthly inspections of your home, keeping an eye out for the damages listed above. This, in turn, will help you to keep your home in top condition all year-round.
