We all have our New Year’s resolutions. With 2020 coming to an end (finally,) many of us are starting to think about what those resolutions may be. A healthier lifestyle, mindset, and home maintenance routine are common topics that many people want to focus on. Home maintenance is a year-round routine that you should be getting into, and getting a fresh start at the beginning of the year is a great way to establish that. By keeping your home in good shape throughout the year, you’ll be saving yourself a lot of hassle, and maybe even some money by avoiding costly repairs. That being said, here are a few tips that will help your new and improved home maintenance routine!
New Year’s Home Maintenance Tips
Kick off the New Year by establishing some habits that you can easily stay on top of throughout the year. Here are some common home maintenance tasks that you can add to your routine this year:
- HVAC Checks: Ensure that your HVAC/heating system is in good working order. This should be part of everyone’s winter home maintenance routine. Replace filters to ensure that pure air is coming through and that system is clear of dust or debris.
- Safety Checks: A routine safety check ensures that in the event of a potential emergency, you and your family are safe and prepared. Some good safety practices include replacing the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and ensuring that these are in good working order. It is also a good idea to always have a fire extinguisher and first aid kit on hand at any given time. This is arguably the most important home maintenance task you should be performing regularly.
- Repair Leaks & Drafts: It’s still winter, so you may not be able to get a whole lot of outdoor maintenance done. This means you’ll have plenty of time to check inside the home for leaks or drafts. Repairing these sooner rather than later can prevent costly damage to your home in the future. For drafts, check the perimeters of your windows and doors, filling them in promptly. Drafts cause you to use more heat in your home to compensate for the cold air coming in, causing your energy bill to shoot up, as it is quite literally throwing money out the window! As for leakage, you should be checking around your toilets, sinks, pipes, shower/tub, and any ceilings that could potentially experience a leak. Water damage from a leak may require the assistance of a professional, as it could potentially cause mold to develop.
- Attic & Basement Maintenance: Despite being in complete opposite areas of the home, your attic and basement have very similar environments. They both tend to experience improper ventilation, which causes that dank, stuffy, humid environment. You may want to consider getting a dehumidifier in these areas so that humidity levels and air circulation are better regulated. Ideally, in any area of the home, humidity levels need to stay between 35% and 50%.
- Cleaning Carpets & Furniture: Shampooing carpets is usually something that doesn’t get done very often. At least every six months you should be shampooing & cleaning your carpets to ensure that they stay in the best condition possible. While you’re at it, you may even want to shampoo & clean any furniture that is able to be shampooed as well.
- Declutter: A lot of people’s New Year’s Resolution is to declutter their homes and give it a full makeover. Going through your belongings to see what you can let go of is a great place to start. Tidy up any messes and clutter, and when you’re done, you can even take some of your old stuff to a donation center to give it a new life.
Keep The Home Maintenance Going
Everyone feels motivated at the start of a new year. That’s why resolutions exist, right? Keep that motivation going by carrying these newfound home maintenance habits throughout the rest of the year, and every year!
