Whether it’s spring, summer, winter, or fall, there are always home repairs and home improvement projects that every homeowner knows they need to do. However, while most homeowners think about the major improvements such as replacing their HVAC unit to reduce their heat bill, taking care of the roof, and updating their plumbing, they tend to forget the little things.
What usually falls by the wayside are the minor home maintenance projects that aren’t that hard to do, but seem to be forgotten often, until they cause a major problem and you are forced to take care of them. From having your rain gutters cleaned to looking for ways to improve your heating bill in the winter by having your furnace inspected and from having a reputable animal removal company get the raccoon out of your chimney, here are a few minor home maintenance projects it’s easy to forget, though you don’t need too.
1. Have your furnace inspected.
Once fall ends and the temperature starts to drop, your thoughts usually turn to how to lower your heating costs during the winter months. You should start by checking the insulation in your attic, a pretty simple project that most homeowners forget about. If you wake up one frigid winter morning and find there’s no warm air coming out of your heating vents, then you’re going to regret not taking the simple step of having your furnace inspected before the winter began.
Simple things like clearing debris away from your heating system, switching to a programmable thermostat, and changing your filters will do a lot towards keeping your home warm when the winter winds start to blow.
2. Have rain gutters installed or cleaned.
One of the easiest home maintenance repairs to get done, and will save you a ton of money in the long run, is to have one of the many reputable rain gutter installation companies come out and install gutters onto your home if you don’t have them, and if you do to make sure they are clean and ready to go. It’s important to keep your gutters and downspouts clean and free of debris, especially during the rainy season and when snow and ice are piling up outside.
If the water on your roof has no rain gutter to drain into, then you’ll end up with rain leaking into your home, which can cause problems you don’t want to have to deal with as a homeowner. Take the time to take care of this simple home maintenance task so that you’re not left with a huge bill down the line.
3. Check for unwanted guests.
This minor home maintenance is one that most homeowners never even think of, but it’s important to check your home regularly for unwanted guests. Pests such as raccoons, squirrels, and other animals tend to move into homes during the winter months to build their nests and stay warm. The last thing you want is to have pests such as these in your home, and you don’t want to try to remove them yourself. Wild animals can be dangerous and they carry diseases that can harm you and your family.
Never try to remove pests from your home or attic by yourself. Instead, call in an animal removal service to take care of it instead. Make sure that the service you hire is humane with animals and just releases them somewhere else, instead of putting them down.
These are just a few of the minor home maintenance projects that people tend to forget about doing, especially as winter sets in. Remember, though you know the large projects need to be taken care of, the small things will prevent some of the major renovations from having to be done as well.