Being a homeowner comes with many responsibilities. The year-round maintenance required for the proper upkeep of a household can sometimes become overwhelming. Without a prioritized homeowner checklist, the basic monitoring of a home’s utilities and operating systems can lead to costly equipment replacement. In the United States alone, irresponsible use of a household’s utilities and lack of mindful energy efficiency can lead to extremely high energy bills on a regular basis.
Fortunately, those required tasks can become simplified if a yearly schedule is put in place, allowing you to tackle the most important maintenance necessities one by one. Here, we will look at five regular maintenance tasks that no homeowner should neglect, ultimately leading to longer-lasting residential equipment and lower monthly energy costs.
1. HVAC maintenance can save you money.
Simply put, there’s no substitute for diligent routine maintenance of your home’s hardware. This is especially important when it comes to your HVAC system. The AC system not only functions to keep your family comfortable during the year’s hottest months, but the air conditioner’s air filters are responsible for purifying your indoor air quality. And while routine maintenance for your air conditioner by a professional HVAC technician is imperative for the unit’s longevity, there are still a few basics tasks that you can conduct on your own.
Any technician will tell you that changing your unit’s air filters approximately every two months is important for overall health and safety. The filters catch all of the debris, mold, and other organic pollutants that lower air quality. If any family members suffer from allergies or asthma, your home’s indoor air quality is especially important. When clogged with dangerous toxins, a dirty air filter can’t purify the household’s oxygen with the same efficiency. Likewise, dirty filters restrict the HVAC’s airflow of cool air, causing unnecessary wear and tear on the machine and spiking your monthly energy costs. By changing your air filters and cleaning your unit’s vents and ductwork regularly, you can keep your HVAC system running smoothly for years to come.
If you’re also concerned with energy efficiency, it may be a good idea to consider a smart thermostat. Additionally, the installation of a heat pump AC unit alternative can cut energy costs. This recent innovation in HVAC technology is made up of an outdoor unit, called a condenser, and an indoor unit, or air handler. Together, this system replaces both your air conditioner and furnace with a single system. However, it’s important to remember that even a heat pump depends upon clean air filters, vents, and ductwork.
2. Strong roofing adds efficiency and value.
Aside from maintaining the integrity of your home’s infrastructure, your roof is also a major asset to property value. Even with the best insurance and contractor on your side, potential roof replacement can be costly. In order to avoid water damage from rain and snow and decrease energy loss from broken shingles or other loose roofing materials, regular inspections and routine maintenance are key. Ask any roofer or professional installer and they’ll agree that a home’s roof is also an important aspect of boosting curb appeal and attracting potential buyers if you ever put your home on the market. If your house is in need of roof replacement or repair, it’s always best to contact local roof contractors ahead of the harshest seasonal weather.
3. Keep up with your window and glass insulation.
Your home’s windows and other glass fixtures are also important to both value and safety. Pragmatically, a broken window or any form of crack in the window glass panes could allow humidity or moisture to seep into the household. As if that weren’t destructive enough, without quick window repair or full window glass replacement, those cracks can also allow the air from your HVAC system to leak outside, causing an enormous amount of energy loss. Before any damage to your home’s windows or glass doors get worse, it’s always best to contact a window glass repair service to ask about replacement options, as well as the possibility of an ongoing maintenance plan.
4. Water and energy efficiency save even more money.
Although many modern refrigerators have a water dispenser, there are many practical reasons that a homeowner should invest in a water company delivery service. For example, a standalone water cooler can be used only during the summer months, if needed, or kept running year-round to give the refrigerator’s energy consumption a bit of a break. More importantly, stocking up on a surplus supply of a home water delivery services‘ spring water may be a good idea if you live in a region where natural disasters can throw out your household’s electricity. By investing in a water delivery far in advance, you can ensure that your family will have enough water for multiple uses in the event of an emergency.
5. A warranty or maintenance plan is a great investment.
No matter which tasks are under consideration, there’s one key option that can help cover multiple bases, and that’s a home warranty. Investing in a proper warranty or maintenance plan for your home’s most important assets gives you peace of mind, regardless of the repair costs that may crop up. Homeowner insurance can certainly help in the event of unit failure or structural damage, but investing in a warranty or preventative maintenance agreement for all of the above-listed household components can lead to a fortune in financial savings. Simply put, there’s truly no better way to avoid broken or damaged household items than with routine maintenance and inspections from an expert technician.
When it comes to your air conditioner, roof, windows, and water systems, a third-party warranty can be coupled with your insurance to guarantee you’ll recoup your financial losses no matter what challenges are thrown your way. However, purchasing a maintenance agreement for those assets can only better your chances of spotting a potential problem before the matter gets even worse. As a basic rule of thumb for all homeowners, the best time to inquire about either a warranty or maintenance plan is upon the initial purchase, as it may be possible to qualify for additional discounts or other valuable replacement service perks. Ultimately, these preventative strategies can save you a lot of money on your utility bills, as well as unnecessary repairs.
