Repairs:House Maintenance and Repairs
Maintenance and Repairs
Plumbing.
● From time to time check cabinets under kitchen and bathroom sinks. Even minor water drips from faucets or drains can cause a lot of damage. They may go undetected for days or weeks and by the time we notice them, the bottom of a cabinet and flooring underneath may be ruined.
● Check your plumbing fixtures for leaks. Leaky toilets, dripping faucets or hose bibs can increase household usage of water. Water conservation is not only about the monthly water bill, it is also our obligation to the environment.
● Most of water pipes and drains are concealed inside walls, but stop valves under toilets and sinks, water heater connectors and parts of drains are exposed. Look for any signs of corrosion and replace damaged parts before problems arise.
● Check your sprinklers. Make sure they not spray water over walls and fences. Set the timer at the right time and duration. Watering plants early morning or late night will save water and give best results.
Roofing and gutters.
● At least once a year check your roof. Many potential problems can be detected just by visual inspection. There may be some loose or missing roof tiles or shingles, flushing seal around chimney and plumbing pipes may have cracks etc. Simple repairs may prevent that emergency call to your roofer.
● Make sure, that your gutters are clean, sealed and secured properly. This will ensure that rain water is going where it is supposed to.
● During a rain check if water is drained away from the house. Flooded basement or crawling space may trigger fungus and mold build up.
Exterior walls and foundation.
● Part of foundation may be visible from outside. Check for any cracks, this maybe a sign of a bigger problem.
● Inspect attic and foundation vent covers. Broken wire screens can provide access for rodents and other unwanted guests to your home.
● Exterior stucco or siding might have some cracks here and there. This can cause moisture and insects to get inside your walls. Simple patch or caulk can solve this problem.
● Exposed lumber like decks, fences, window seal, door thresholds, exterior trim, rafter tails, fascia boards may show some termite or dry rot damage. Periodical treatment can stop further deterioration.
Energy conservation.
● Older windows and doors may need additional weather seal to prevent air draft. It is an inexpensive and easy think to do, but it can save a lot on your energy bill.
● Make sure, that dumper inside your fire place is closed when not in use. This will prevent undesirable heat or cold air exchange.
● Set your air conditioner thermostat a few degrees higher, but still within comfortable limits.
● Thermostat in your water heater should be set at about 120 degrees. Higher settings will cause an unnecessary energy waste. If the house remains vacant for a period of days or weeks, you may adjust it to the lowest setting.
Paint.
● Check interior and exterior paint. Sometimes simple touch ups here and there will ensure that walls and woodwork are sealed and protected properly.
Interior.
● Bathroom wet walls around bath tub and shower may need some attention. Tile grout and caulking repairs can prevent further damage.
● Flooring bumps or extensive squeaking may be signs of larger problems, but not in all cases. However, they will not improve over time by themselves.
Safety.
Busy with our daily routine we may not realize of potential hazards inside and around the house. Still, accidents happen. Perhaps it is a wall mounted book shelf supporting more books than it's supposed to, maybe a nail or a screw holding a heavy mirror on the wall is not strong enough. A loose door hinge or a malfunctioning door lock can trap somebody inside a room. Defective smoke detectors will not set off the alarm when needed. Broken window glass pane may fall out and hurt someone.
Just use your common sense and have your eyes open. Simple repairs or small adjustments can help avoid a tragedy.
