As a homeowner, there are many areas of your home that need to be maintained to avoid costly repairs or breakdowns down the line. We’ve put together a list of the top maintenance jobs you should be doing fairly regularly to ensure that your home is in tip top condition. Here they are.
Chimney Sweep
If you have a fireplace, an annual chimney sweep is essential. Debris or any potential birds who have made it their home during the warmer months needs to be cleared out. A build-up of soot can mean that there is not sufficient ventilation for smoke to escape your home, making it more difficult to breathe and a fire less enjoyable. Too much soot can also potentially cause a fire.
Caulk and Grout any Tiles
The grout in between your tiles can become weaker or chip over time. Inspect any tiled areas and wash over them with warm soapy water so that this is more noticeable and keeps them sparkling clean. You can touch up the grout by using a grout pen or caulking them to remove any deep build-up of dirt with a scraper.
Touch Up Doors and Porches
Inspect windows and doors for any drafts or damage. Wooden doors can become cracked or warped due to the elements, or become scuffed or suffer from chipped paint. Luckily these can be fixed easily, by touching up your doors and porch with a bit of paint or creosote to make them resistant to the weather. You can also find specialist paint solutions which combine the two, helping to keep the exterior of your home looking its best. You may also wish to invest in some sandpaper prior to painting if your door or porch frames have any splinters sticking out or flaking varnish to restore a smooth finish. Don’t forget the insides too, by lubricating any door hinges or metallic fixtures by cleaning them with baking soda and water.
Wash Your Windows Inside and Out
Summer is a great time to make the most out of the weather to clear away any streaks, grime or algae that has built up over the winter. You can wash the inside of your windows using warm soapy water from washing up liquid. Try to wash either down or side to side to avoid streaks, or invest in a squeegee! For window roofs, always hire a specialist. This is not about any doubts of your ability to clean, but window roofs such as sky lanterns are not designed to be weight bearing. A telescopic brush can be a great investment to help you reach the roof from the inside. Even if you do not have window roofs, you may wish to consider hiring a professional to clean out your gutters once a year to allow water to drain. Clogs or build ups may lead to water leaking into your roof and home.
Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
At Cobbydale Construction, we’re all about safety. You need to test and replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at least once a year to ensure that they are working correctly. You can also regularly test them by pressing the circle button usually found in the middle of your smoke or carbon monoxide detector. Some detectors may have varying battery shapes or sizes, so it is advisable to stock up on these. When a smoke or carbon monoxide detector is no longer functioning correctly, it will emit high pitched beeping either continuously or intermittently until you replace the battery or turn your electrics on and off again.
Check your Electronics and Appliances
Look around each plug socket to ensure they are still fixed securely to the wall. A plug socket that is no longer functioning correctly can usually be identified if its output becomes sub par. So if a phone or electronic device is no longer charging as fast, or a light that has recently had its bulb changed keeps flicking on or off it may be time to call an electrician. Similarly look at the performance of your appliances. If an appliance is consuming more electricity or gas than before, it may be that it requires a service or is becoming outdated.
Service your Boiler and Radiators
Whilst certainly one of the more expensive home tasks if you do not have boiler knowledge, it is always better to leave it to the professionals. Aside from reducing your energy bills, leaks from a boiler can be dangerous and an indication of carbon monoxide leaking which can be fatal. Similarly, we would recommend you bleed your radiators at least once per year. Doing so will remove any air pockets that have built up which will prevent the radiator from emitting it’s full heating potential. You can do this by first turning off your heating, leaving the radiator to cool fully, then holding a cloth or jug under the bleed valve. Insert the key to the valve and you should hear some hissing which is the air escaping. When water begins to leak, turn the key clockwise to shut off the valve. You can test how successful this has been by turning your heating back on and timing how quickly your radiators heat up compared to before.
Clean Out Your Pipes and Check for Water Leaks
An effective way to clean through your pipes is to use a solution of bicarbonate soda, white vinegar and boiling water if you prefer a natural solution. Alternatively, you could pour bleach down your drains and wait until it has had some time to trickle down before washing out with boiling water. Doing so will help your drainage to flow quicker and help eliminate any blockages and foul odours. Similarly, inspect the drainage pipes from your sinks, toilet, bath or shower. Any chips or cracks will need to be prepared to avoid costly home floods, not to mention excessive water bills!
Contact Us
Whilst we can’t come and relieve all of the maintenance tasks for you, we certainly can help when it comes to renovating or extending your home. If you are looking for a construction company in the areas of Keighley, Skipton, Silsden, Bingley or Ilkley we are here to help. Contact us today on 01535 653530 or through our website.