Save Thousands With $10 Home Maintenance

Did you know there are 3 home maintenance projects that can cost you as little as $10? Minor maintenance tasks like these can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars over the long run-in home repairs. They also should be part of your annual home maintenance checklist or monthly checklists. Most homeowners, regardless of their age or experience, are unaware of the costs associated with maintenance and which areas of their home need to be maintained.

Change Air Filters (Regularly)

When was the last time you changed the air filter? If you’re not sure, chance is it has never been changed or it’s already time to change it. It’s alright though, this small task is the most commonly missed maintenance task in homes. However, air filters should be changed regularly to keep your system running smoothly and to maintain optimal air quality.

When To Change an Air Filter.

The frequency at which your air filter should be changed depends on a variety of factors. Larger homes circulate more air, so they require more frequent replacement of air filters. Dandruff and shed fur from pets can easily be absorbed into the filter. For homeowners who suffer from severe allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions, it is important to change the air filter more often.

There are two types of air filters as well. Pleated air filters consist of higher quality materials and last three to six months, depending on the manufacturer. A lower cost option is fiberglass air filters, but they must be changed every 30 days

Why Keeping up With Air Filter Maintenance Saves Money.

Clogged air filters can lead to overheating, restricted airflow, and dirtying up the entire HVAC system. This translates to more frequent repairs and replacement parts for various components of the system and maintenance service from local HVAC professionals. Your system’s lifespan is extremely important and neglecting to replace an air filter and schedule annual maintenance check ups shortens that lifespan.

According to Angi research the average cost to install a new HVAC system can run $5,371. Of course, this does not take into consideration factors like the type of system, its size, or its seer rating which can affect the price of a new air conditioning unit.

Replace Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector Batteries.

Changing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors is an important maintenance item to ensure safety in your home. Most detectors are either battery operated or hardwired to low voltage outlets with a battery backup. Luckily most detectors will make an annoying chirp or beep when their batteries are low. However, it’s recommended by fire experts to replace your batteries twice a year for battery operated detectors and for hardwired detectors once a year regardless if they are chirping or not.

Other Considerations About Smoke Detectors.

• It’s recommended you place smoke detectors in every bedroom, right outside of sleeping areas, on every level of the home, and in common areas such as the living room or stairwells.

• It’s often recommended the smoke detector itself should be replaced every 10 years, if you’re ever unsure of a detector’s age it’s usually found on the back side of the detector.

• The National Fire Protection Association provides updated resources on installing and maintaining smoke alarms.

Maintaining Detectors Saves Lives

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors save lives, and that is worth more than money. According to The National Fire Protection Association, almost 3 out of 5 home fire deaths were caused by fires in properties without smoke alarms (41%) or smoke alarms that did not operate (16%). In an additional statement, The risk of dying in a home fire is 55 percent lower in homes with working smoke alarms than homes without or inoperable alarms. Even a small fire could cause significant damage to your home and destroy your personal property. Fire restoration services can range from $2500 to upwards of $33,270 depending on the extent of the damages from a home fire.

Clean Your Dryer Vents

Cleaning your dryer vents is an annual maintenance task that most homeowners are not aware of. If you’re noticing that your clothes are taking more than one cycle to dry or excessive heat/moisture in other rooms when operating your dryer there may be a clog. Now most dryers have a reusable vent guard that you change between loads. This is not the dryer vent I’m referring to. Usually on the back of the dryer there is a hose that leads to external piping to vent moisture out of the home. There are inexpensive products available at your local hardware stores and online that make this do-it-yourself task very inexpensive and most cases using a vacuum hose can work wonders.

Annual Cleaning Prevents Fires, Saves Energy & Appliance Lifespan.

According to The National Fire Protection Association 92% of home fires involve clothes dryers. That’s an important number to understand, as we mentioned earlier fire damage restoration services are very expensive for homeowners. A clogged dryer will also require more energy and possible repairs later down the road if the issue is neglected as well. When major appliances are overworking, they are shortening their overall lifespan.

Get a Florida Home Inspection Quote Today.

If you’re a homeowner who’s concerned about home maintenance, We provide annual maintenance inspections that can provide you a clear picture of your home’s maintenance needs. Get a free quote for your home inspection today from HomeShape Inspections. We believe maintenance is an important part of protecting your largest investment, and homeowners should know the shape of your home.

Schedule a home inspection today on our website!