Having your own home is one of the best feelings in the world. However, that glowing feeling can fade quickly if you receive an expensive home repair bill. Fortunately, costly home repairs can be avoided by simply prioritizing regular maintenance. Home maintenance prevents expensive repairs by addressing small issues before they become hazardous, and it keeps your home in top condition — saving money and preventing unnecessary financial stress.
With maintenance, you can save thousands of dollars that would have otherwise been spent on repairs. This money can go towards spending on you and your family. In addition to maintenance, if you also prioritize setting aside savings to cover future home repairs or renovations you’ll be able to ensure your home’s essential systems stay intact for years to come.
Learn these simple do-it-yourself (DIY) techniques to help reduce maintenance costs, save for future expenses, and take control of your home’s upkeep.
Common DIY Home Fixes That Prevent Bigger Repairs
All homes experience wear and damage through the years. Maintaining your home with simple DIY solutions ensures small problems like leaks and dust or debris build-up don’t grow into big issues. While DIY ability ranges among homeowners, there are many fixes that anyone can do.
Common DIY home repairs to start with include fixing leaky faucets and pipes, caulking windows and doors, and maintaining the furnace and air ducts in your home.
Fixing Leaky Faucets and Pipes
A small leak can be easily ignored. However, ignoring a water leak of any size eventually leads to mold, rot, and structural damage in a home. As water escapes, leaks can also result in increased water bills. Here’s how to address this issue:
- Tighten connections: Use a wrench to tighten loose pipes and fittings.
- Replace washers: Turn off the water supply, remove the handle, and replace worn-out washers to stop leaks.
- Detect hidden leaks: If you see water beads forming or discoloration around sinks, appliances, or water heaters, chances are you have a water leak somewhere.
- Prevent freezing pipes: Insulate pipes in colder climates and keep faucets slightly open during extreme cold to prevent freezing and cracking.
Leaky faucets and pipes are easy to fix if you know what to look for and can identify them early.
Caulking Windows and Doors for Energy Efficiency
Drafty windows and doors contribute to energy loss, increasing heating and cooling costs. Properly sealing gaps ensures better home insulation.
To reseal and insulate your home start by inspecting for drafts. Hold a candle near windows and doors to detect air leaks. Once identified, remove the old caulk, clean the area, and apply a fresh layer to seal any gaps. You can also install foam or rubber weather stripping on doors and windows for better insulation.
Be sure to regularly inspect doors and windows in your home and reapply caulk annually to maintain efficiency.
Cleaning Air Ducts and Furnace Maintenance
Maintaining clean air ducts improves indoor air quality and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) efficiency, while also extending the life of your heating system. To clean air ducts vacuum vents regularly and change HVAC filters every one to three months.
To maintain your heating system, turn it on and check your furnace for burning smells. These smells could be caused by something simple like dust on your furnace that’s burning off. Or, they could be something serious like an overheated blower motor. If burning smells persist or if the system shuts off every time you start it, consider reaching out to a professional for guidance.
Cost-Effective Ways To Maintain Your Home Without Hiring Professionals
There are many instances where hiring a professional for home repairs and maintenance may be necessary. However, to save money on repairs first consider if you can solve a problem yourself. It might require some time to learn what to do, but several home maintenance tasks like gutter cleaning, unclogging drains, and taking care of appliances can be handled on your own.
DIY Gutter Cleaning To Prevent Water Damage
Clogged gutters can cause water to pool resulting in roof leaks and foundation problems. To solve this problem, use a ladder to access your gutters and inspect if water can flow freely through them. If not, use a pair of gloves or a small hand tool to remove debris like leaves and dirt buildup from the gutters.
Once your gutters are clear and water is properly moving through them, consider installing gutter guards to prevent or reduce future clogs. While maintaining your gutters, also take advantage of your time to inspect for damage such as cracks or sagging in your roof. These issues could be signs of greater water damage that need to be addressed by a professional.
Unclogging Drains Without Harsh Chemicals
Unclogging drains is another common maintenance task. There are many commercial chemicals for the job. However, using harsh drain cleaners while effective can damage pipes over time.
Eco-friendly alternatives like using a mixture of baking soda and vinegar can be a better alternative. Pour this solution down a slow drain, let it sit for 30 minutes, then flush with hot water, and drain clogs should disappear.
If drain solutions are not working, try using a plumber’s snake to reach into the drain and pull out or break up stubborn clogs. Once your drains are flowing properly, consider installing drain covers to catch debris and prevent future blockages.
Maintaining Your Appliances for a Longer Lifespan
Proper care of appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers prevents breakdowns and extends their efficiency. Easy ways to maintain common appliances include:
- Clean refrigerator coils: The fridge has to work so much harder when it is covered in dust. Take care to clean its coils every six months.
- Maintain the dryer vent: Remove lint from the trap and vent to prevent fire hazards.
- Descale dishwashers and coffee makers: It’s amazing how much dirt and limescale build-up in dishwashers and coffee makers. Pour a little vinegar through these appliances to dissolve buildup and have them running like brand new.
Maintaining appliances may seem like a big job, but it’s a relatively simple project when it’s tended to regularly, and it can greatly improve your appliance’s lifespan.
Building a Home Repair Fund for Unexpected Costs
You can do everything right with home maintenance and still get those home repairs that pop up unexpectedly. Having a financial cushion ensures that emergencies, such as a broken furnace or a leaking roof, won’t disrupt your budget and lifestyle.
Why You Need a Home Emergency Savings Fund
Unexpected home repairs can strain finances. Planning ahead prevents stress and financial hardship. Also, having a maintenance fund reduces the need for high-interest loans. Start small with a goal of $500 to $1,000 and then work up to setting aside one to three percent of your home’s value annually for maintenance costs.
How a High-Yield Savings Account Can Help
A high-yield savings account is a great vehicle for your home maintenance fund. They typically have higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts and pay more, helping you grow your repair fund faster over time. Schedule monthly transfers to this account to ensure consistent contributions.
Prioritizing Home Maintenance Costs Wisely
Not all repairs are urgent. So, it’s important to learn which repairs need to happen immediately and which ones can wait. Consider the following when assessing the urgency of a home repair:
- Urgent vs. non-essential repairs: Address leaks and electrical issues immediately; cosmetic upgrades can wait.
- Seasonal checklist: Regular inspections prevent minor issues from becoming major problems.
- DIY savings: Tackling minor repairs yourself can significantly reduce costs.
While it may not be glamorous, prioritizing home repairs appropriately saves you money in the long run — money that can eventually be used for the cosmetic upgrades you’ve always wanted.
Conclusion
The joy of having your own home shouldn’t be diminished by a constant fear of expensive repair work. Learn to DIY common upkeeping tasks, like sealing windows, cleaning air ducts, and maintaining appliances, to prolong the life of your home and save on larger more extensive repairs.
Pair these maintenance efforts with smart financial planning like intentional savings and unexpected repairs won’t be able to strain your budget. Ultimately, with a proactive approach, you can save money, extend the usable life of your home systems, and enjoy peace of mind knowing your home is well-maintained and financially secure.