Home improvement and maintenance is an ongoing process that might be challenging but is mandatory. However, you have to look into so many things that it sometimes takes a toll on your bank balance and mental peace. Minor changes can be more manageable. Their immediate and obvious contributions require little or no effort to convince you. Think of an old bathroom faucet, for instance. You will replace it sometime soon, whether it is leakage, fading polish, or uninteresting style. After all, you see and use it multiple times a day. Hence, there is direct dependency. Or, you find your kitchen sink inconvenient for whatever reasons.
Suppose the size is inappropriate for daily chores. Correctly choosing a large or small kitchen sink can solve your problem visibly and immediately. That’s why you will act on it urgently. However, some things get delayed because they are expensive and time-consuming. Simultaneously, they look innocuous at the time. Then, you may be unaware of some issues while they brew slowly. Home experts warn these can be at their flash points and become a nightmare in no time. It’s crucial to care for them before they get out of reach. Let’s figure out what they are.
Table of Contents
Cracked brick veneer on the exterior
When you notice it, you may conclude cosmetic touches will fix it. While a possibility, you should also take this situation seriously. It can signal poor foundation health. Call your structural engineer to examine it. Early detection can lower your repair cost. Else, your home repair project will be expensive, running into thousands of dollars.
Crumbling roof
Many homeowners delay roofing repair and maintenance projects until they face leakage. They allow the roof to crumble on one side if the other side looks perfect. Please be careful with this. Check your attic regularly for wetness and stains in the surrounding vents and chimneys. It’s where water seeps in first. Also, getting your roofing structure checked every five years is recommended. Regular maintenance can make your roof last at least 15 years, and some materials can live for 50 years.
Clogged septic tanks
Septic tanks are integral to the sewage system as they liquefy the solids to push them down the septic pipes to the surrounding ground. These can get blocked due to food waste and cigarette butts, which should never enter them in the first place. You can avoid a major headache by pumping this sewage facility regularly. Otherwise, you will pay professionals a high price to dig up your yard for repairs. You can pursue this task every three or five years with regular monitoring.
Old electrical wiring
Homes from the pre-World War II time don’t follow the current power requirements as the new homes. Also, old wires need to be more capable of managing the needs of the high-tech-based power-generating equipment. The breaker will be unreliable; sockets and switches will also conk quickly. If you use too many extension cords, there can be fire hazard risks. You can mitigate your worries about these issues by inspecting your electrical system once in twenty years. Also, it will be better to replace the older electrical system to upgrade to the latest model to fend off fire accidents.
Aging furnace and oil tank
Replacing this heating equipment can cost you around USD $6000. That’s why you must care about its maintenance. Schedule a yearly inspection by an expert technician to eliminate risks. Otherwise, your emergency funds will get untimely exhausted. If you want to keep it running for long, change its filter every three months. Do you have pets at home? In that case, you would like to do this more frequently. Another area you want to fix is the oil tank, a common feature of oil furnaces. These devices usually have a large tank that can hold up to 600 gallons of heating oil. With age, the tanks will suffer from corrosion and cause oil leakage in the surrounding areas. It will be an expensive and painful project as you will depend on local environmental agencies for help.
Why do you need them? Many American states demand proper adherence to cleaning standards in this area to check soil and groundwater contamination risks. Also, this type of repair will be out of pocket unless you buy special coverage. You can avoid this potential environmental disaster by opting for annual inspections and insurance. Please get the leak cleaned up immediately if you spot it.
Clogged dryer vent
Your dryer collects loads of lint as it cycles hundreds of clothes annually. The lint trap will stop and hold most of it, but some parts will flow down into the vent hose, causing clogging issues. A clogged vent will press your dryer to work more to function correctly and affect lifespan. More than this, it also increases the risk of fire hazards. You can escape this situation by cleaning the lint buildup in the vent hose once every year.
Corroded plumbing pipes
Houses from the 1980s or earlier eras will most likely have old plumbing, which can be copper or galvanized steel pipes. Due to oxidation, hard water, drain cleaning solution, and other agents, the lines can face corrosion. When ignored for long, the tubes become susceptible to burst pipes and leakage. Both these events potentially cause flooding damage, leading to an expensive repair. Does your home use metal pipes? Don’t hesitate to contact your local plumber for an annual inspection.
Water heater with sediment
The water heater tank will feel pressure due to sediment collection. Although water heaters contain valves to relieve high temperatures, the components may malfunction. Due to this, the pressure buildup in the tank can lead to the explosion of the bottom part, affecting your home’s upper flooring and the ceiling. It can also crack the foundation. You can prevent this by removing the sediment and ensuring the valve is healthy.
You build or buy a home by investing a significant part of your life savings. You cannot expose it to risks because of a few maintenance tasks.