When it comes to owning a home, the to-do list seems to never end. Once one task is complete, another is waiting in the wings. As annoying as home maintenance tasks are, they need to be done in order to keep your home in good condition. From taking care of your hot water heater to avoid flooding to scheduling annual Ocean County chimney service to avoid a house fire, every task has a purpose. Unfortunately, there are many chores that homeowners neglect. This can lead to disastrous effects. Ignoring certain home chores can leave your home at risk of serious damage danger and cost you a lot of money.
Ocean County Chimney Service Helps Protect Against Fire
Ocean County chimney service is important for many reasons (find out why here), but most importantly because it helps protect your home against fires. Removing creosote and inspecting every aspect of the chimney for damages reduces the possibility of a chimney or house fire. Neglecting this task is done much too often contributing to thousands of chimney fires every year.
Cleaning your dryer vent is another step you can take to prevent a home fire. This is something that can be done by homeowners themselves often without the assistance of a professional. According to the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety there are more than 13,000 fires that originate in laundry rooms every year. One easy way to help defend against this is to clean the dryer screen with every load and clean the dryers duct work every year.
Protect Against Flooding with These Tasks
For homes that still have hot water heater tanks, once a year, they should be flushed out completely. This helps to remove mineral scale build-up. The reason this is important is that if neglected, the accumulation of minerals reduces the overall capacity and efficiency. Continued neglect will lead to early failure. Then, you’ll have to replace this expensive item much sooner than should be necessary.
For homes with basements, to ensure your sump pump is working properly, dump a bucket of water into it a few times a year. For such an easy task, it is surprising the number of homeowners who neglect it and end up walking into inches of water in their basements. It only takes a couple minutes to do this simple check. Doing it can save you from ruined carpets and furniture and hours of clean-up. Your sump-pump is easy to neglect, but much harder to ignore when it’s not working.
Another home maintenance task that many homeowners neglect doing is cleaning the gutters. We totally understand why people avoid doing this chore. It is gross and can be hazardous. Many refrain from taking care of their gutters due to the use of the ladder and the detail of height. Others, because they don’t understand how important it is to the safety of your home. Clogged gutters can lead to damaged roofs which leads to leaks. Damaged or jammed gutters can also damage landscape and hardscaping on your property and cause personal injury.
Protect Against Exorbitant Energy Bills
Cleaning your house does more than just remove dirt. When you do a deep clean and do intensive cleaning tasks like cleaning your refrigerator coils, you are helping to keep your energy bills down. The more efficient your appliances, the less energy they use. One way to ensure high efficiency in all your household machines is by cleaning them. Just as cleaning your dryer screen every time you use it, cleaning off your refrigerator coils helps the machine cool your food more effectively. Dust and dirt covered coils make the fridge work harder than it should shortening its life.
Another set of coils that should be inspected and cared for regularly are included in your HVAC system. Just as cleaning creosote requires the professional help of an Ocean County chimney service technician, inspecting and cleaning HVAC equipment demands the visit from a professional. Only with proper schooling and training can someone work on a furnace or air conditioner unit. It not only involves electrical and plumbing, but it involves many hard to get to pieces and hard to see areas. An annual visit from an experienced technician helps repair minor problems before they become expensive issues.
Ocean County Chimney Service Can Save You Money
Some homeowners think that they are saving themselves money by avoiding doing these maintenance tasks every year. Most of these owners quickly learn how wrong that thought process is. Neglecting routine care of your home and what is inside of it is not only dangerous, but also extremely expensive. Avoiding hiring professionals to maintain certain areas of your home leads to needless repair bills. Plus, it also very often leads to needing to replace pricey appliances sooner than necessary. Lengthen the lifetime of your appliances and of your home overall with good maintenance and care with the help of professionals like Ocean County chimney service companies.
Additional Home Maintenance Tasks That Should Not Be Ignored
While chimney service, dryer vent cleaning, sump pump checks, and HVAC maintenance are some of the most important responsibilities, there are other household tasks that deserve attention as well. Small chores that seem insignificant can make a big difference in preventing damage and avoiding costly repairs.
One often overlooked task is inspecting window and door seals. Over time, caulk and weather stripping can crack or wear away. This allows water to seep into your walls and warm or cool air to escape. Not only does this contribute to structural issues, but it can also send your energy bills skyrocketing. A quick inspection and resealing as needed can save both money and frustration.
Another chore that homeowners put off is testing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. These devices are the first line of defense in an emergency. Batteries should be checked at least twice a year, and the devices themselves should be replaced according to manufacturer guidelines. Spending just a few minutes on this task provides peace of mind and safety for your family.
Cleaning out the spaces that you cannot see every day is also important. Under appliances like stoves and refrigerators, dirt and crumbs can accumulate, attracting pests and creating fire hazards. Pulling out these appliances occasionally for a thorough cleaning keeps your home healthier and safer.
Taking care of these smaller but meaningful tasks alongside your annual chimney service and other major maintenance items ensures your home remains safe, efficient, and comfortable for years to come