Although it can feel counter-intuitive paying for home maintenance services when there is no obvious issue at play, preventative measures can help to identify small issues before they turn into significant and costly repairs.
This article covers some of the simplest home maintenance habits to nail down now to prevent you having to shell out a fortune on home maintenance repairs down the road.
Drain Maintenance
Small drainage issues can quickly turn into significant and expensive plumbing concerns. Regular drain maintenance can help you to avoid having to pay for an expensive drainage repair and avoid the day-to-day inconvenience that comes along with lengthy repair jobs, making it one of the most imperative home maintenance habits to keep up with.
A small clog can turn into a full blockage, leading to backups and water damage. Clogged or slow drains can also cause overflows in sinks, tubs, or toilets, damaging your floors, walls, cabinets, and even your home's foundation over time. Drainage issues can also lead to pipes corroding, leaking, and bursting, and even pest infestations.
Enlisting a drain specialist for preventative drain maintenance will extend the life of your plumbing system and saves you money in the long run, since it is far cheaper than paying for emergency plumbing.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector Maintenance
Regular maintenance of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors is crucial for the safety of you and your family. These devices are the first line of defence in the event of a fire or gas leak but, terrifyingly, they can malfunction if they are not properly maintained.
Dust, debris, and dead batteries are common issues that can cause false alarms or, worse, failure to alert you in an emergency. It is recommended to test detectors monthly and replace the batteries at least twice a year. Additionally, detectors should be cleaned regularly to ensure they remain sensitive to smoke and carbon monoxide.
For added peace of mind, consider purchasing formal detector testing equipment to carry out your regular maintenance. This will accurately determine whether your detectors are working correctly, ensuring the safety of your home and family.
Landscape Maintenance
Landscape maintenance isn't just about keeping your garden pretty. In fact, it serves a vital role in keeping your property clean and safe. Regular landscape maintenance can help with overgrowth, avoid potential issues with invasive plant species or pest infestations and, in some cases, prevent serious damage to your building from unstable trees falling in strong wind.
Without proper care, gardens can quickly become overrun with weeds, leading to poor growth and an unattractive garden space. Regular landscape maintenance, including pruning, weeding, and lawn care, is essential to keep your garden looking beautiful.
A professional landscaper can help you maintain a well-kept garden, offering expert knowledge on plant care and pest control, and helping you to make decisions to avoid falling trees damaging your property.
Boiler Maintenance
With the hustle and bustle of daily life, as long as your home is warm, your boiler probably isn't on your mind all that often. But boiler faults aren't always obvious and, like most things, boilers do have a finite lifespan.
If you fail to properly maintain your boiler, you could experience a fatal gas leak. Poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide can be created when your boiler is not operating properly; this is extremely serious, as exposure to high levels of this colourless, odourless gas can kill a person within minutes.
It's recommended to have your boiler serviced at least once a year by a qualified professional. Regular servicing helps identify small issues before they become costly repairs or, worse, put you and your family in danger. For peace of mind and to ensure your boiler operates at peak performance, it's wise to enlist a professional boiler service, ensuring your home remains warm and safe throughout the year.