He tells his clients to monitor the dirt around the house and if they notice any pooling or an area that is flat, they should build up the grade so the water drains away from the structure.
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“It’s not your emergency fund because your emergency fund is for when something catastrophic happens. This is if something in the house breaks and we have to replace it. It’s for that ongoing maintenance piece that you constantly have to be feeding,” she said.
Wanninger said he sees lots of floor and wall damage because of loose connections.
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The relatively small fees for professional home maintenance or even for supplies to do it yourself add up. A 0 here, there, and 0 the next month can add up to a few thousand dollars a year.
Many experts say it’s important to drain your tank water heater annually to remove sediment that may have settled in the bottom. Usually this is done with a long hose from the spigot to a sink or shower drain or an outdoor area.
Home Maintenance Priorities
“The wood that we put on homes today is not weather resistant like the lumber we used to use,” Wanninger said. “That material left unpainted will deteriorate very quickly so sealing and painting the exterior of the home is extremely important. Painting a home is probably about an every five year project.”
Preventing Moisture Problems
A professional dryer vent cleaning with either a vacuum, brush, or a combination of both costs about an average of 0, according to Fixr.
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If you have a water or ice dispenser, you probably have a filter that removes impurities to keep your water and ice tasting good. Your owner’s manual will tell you how often to replace them, but usually it is about every six months. New filters can cost around .
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1. Check Your Gutters
If there is no caulking around siding or window trim, look out. The lack of sealer can cause significant moisture damage to the siding and to the house structure, Wanninger warned.
A roof rake can help you pull the snow down while you’re still safe on the ground.
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Mary Bell Carlson, certified financial planner and accredited financial counselor, bought a new house and found out firsthand about the importance of home maintenance.
Garage door maintenance often includes:
After every few loads in the dryer, make sure to clean the lint filter.
Make sure your ground fault interrupters work properly. GFIs protect you from getting an electrical shock, especially when an electrical outlet is close to a water source. Check all outlets and switches throughout the house.
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The average cost of a chimney cleaning is between 9 and 0 depending the type of fireplace, HomeGuide says. An inspection is often included in the cleaning cost and is between 0 and 0 if it is not part of the cleaning service.
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2. Clear the Snow
The average cost of a chimney cleaning is between 9 and 0 depending the type of fireplace, HomeGuide says. An inspection is often included in the cleaning cost and is between 0 and 0 if it is not part of the cleaning service.
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3. Is the Sump Pump Working?
The average cost of a chimney cleaning is between 9 and 0 depending the type of fireplace, HomeGuide says. An inspection is often included in the cleaning cost and is between 0 and 0 if it is not part of the cleaning service.
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4. Water Heater Warnings
The average cost of a chimney cleaning is between 9 and 0 depending the type of fireplace, HomeGuide says. An inspection is often included in the cleaning cost and is between 0 and 0 if it is not part of the cleaning service.
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5. Check for Bathroom Leaks
The average cost of a chimney cleaning is between 9 and 0 depending the type of fireplace, HomeGuide says. An inspection is often included in the cleaning cost and is between 0 and 0 if it is not part of the cleaning service.
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6. Get Septic Tank Inspection
The average cost of a chimney cleaning is between 9 and 0 depending the type of fireplace, HomeGuide says. An inspection is often included in the cleaning cost and is between 0 and 0 if it is not part of the cleaning service.
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7. Check Irrigation Systems
The average cost of a chimney cleaning is between 9 and 0 depending the type of fireplace, HomeGuide says. An inspection is often included in the cleaning cost and is between 0 and 0 if it is not part of the cleaning service.
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Maintaining Appliances and Equipment
The average cost of a chimney cleaning is between 9 and 0 depending the type of fireplace, HomeGuide says. An inspection is often included in the cleaning cost and is between 0 and 0 if it is not part of the cleaning service.
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9. Keep Laundry Room in Working Order
The average cost of a chimney cleaning is between 9 and 0 depending the type of fireplace, HomeGuide says. An inspection is often included in the cleaning cost and is between 0 and 0 if it is not part of the cleaning service.
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Kitchen Upkeep
The average cost of a chimney cleaning is between 9 and 0 depending the type of fireplace, HomeGuide says. An inspection is often included in the cleaning cost and is between 0 and 0 if it is not part of the cleaning service.
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11. Vacuum the Refrigerator Coil
The average cost of a chimney cleaning is between 9 and 0 depending the type of fireplace, HomeGuide says. An inspection is often included in the cleaning cost and is between 0 and 0 if it is not part of the cleaning service.
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12. Clean Range Hood Filter
The average cost of a chimney cleaning is between 9 and 0 depending the type of fireplace, HomeGuide says. An inspection is often included in the cleaning cost and is between 0 and 0 if it is not part of the cleaning service.
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13. Don’t Get Shocked
The average cost of a chimney cleaning is between 9 and 0 depending the type of fireplace, HomeGuide says. An inspection is often included in the cleaning cost and is between 0 and 0 if it is not part of the cleaning service.
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Routine Exterior Maintenance
The average cost of a chimney cleaning is between 9 and 0 depending the type of fireplace, HomeGuide says. An inspection is often included in the cleaning cost and is between 0 and 0 if it is not part of the cleaning service.
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15. Check on Paint and Siding
The average cost of a chimney cleaning is between 9 and 0 depending the type of fireplace, HomeGuide says. An inspection is often included in the cleaning cost and is between 0 and 0 if it is not part of the cleaning service.
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16. Maintain Exterior Caulk
The average cost of a chimney cleaning is between 9 and 0 depending the type of fireplace, HomeGuide says. An inspection is often included in the cleaning cost and is between 0 and 0 if it is not part of the cleaning service.
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17. Inspect Fireplace and Chimney
The average cost of a chimney cleaning is between 9 and 0 depending the type of fireplace, HomeGuide says. An inspection is often included in the cleaning cost and is between 0 and 0 if it is not part of the cleaning service.
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18. Check Roof and Support Structure
The average cost of a chimney cleaning is between 9 and 0 depending the type of fireplace, HomeGuide says. An inspection is often included in the cleaning cost and is between 0 and 0 if it is not part of the cleaning service.
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19. Service Garage Door
The average cost of a chimney cleaning is between 9 and 0 depending the type of fireplace, HomeGuide says. An inspection is often included in the cleaning cost and is between 0 and 0 if it is not part of the cleaning service.
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Know These Things
Paint does more than make your house look good. It also acts like a skin and protects the house from damage.
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- The location of the electrical fuse/breaker box.
- The location of the main water shutoff.
- How to shut off water to toilets, sick faucets, or washing machines.
- The location of the main shutoff for heating fuel.
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Once it’s cold, if you see icicles coming from the roof or gutters, your gutters might be backed up.
No matter what you do to maintain your home, there are a few things every person should know about where they live.
How Much Money Do You Need to Budget for Home Repairs
Even though some of these chores don’t require special training or equipment, if you are not comfortable doing any of them, hiring a local handyperson might be a good idea.
Data from Travelers Insurance says 19% of insurance claims from homeowners during the winter months are for weather-related water damage.
It’s important to change the air filters monthly and have a routine service call to check to make sure everything is working properly.
That means you will need to have a plan to pay for home maintenance projects. Keep in mind, too, that maintenance is usually cheaper than repairs and replacements. It’s a good idea to put away 0 a month for routine maintenance but be prepared for something bigger every few years — like having the house painted.
To make sure everything is OK in each bathroom, periodically flush toilets and run water through faucets and drains you don’t use often.
“You have to start it from the time that it’s new and that will keep rust and corrosion that would normally build up in the bottom of your water heater from occurring,” he said.
Also, every year or so (more if you do a lot of laundry) it’s a good idea to hire a professional to clean the dryer vent.
Accepting Maintenance Costs
We spend a lot on HVAC systems, washing machines and dryers. Periodic maintenance can help keep these items running well.
Repainting the exterior of a house is between ,900 and ,900, according to HomeGuide.
A home’s gutter system is designed to move water from the roof to the ground without making any stops in between.
Broken or leaking heads can cause high water bills because the water has to go somewhere if the heads are not coming out of the ground.
Remember, as materials become more expensive, some preventive maintenance prices are also going up. <!–
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Water should drain away from the house, not toward it. This will help prevent water damage.