Caring For Your House Now Will Save You Money Later

Your home is probably your most valuable asset. It’s one of the many reasons we take our responsibility in renovating your home so seriously at ELM Construction.

With more than a decade’s worth of experience remodeling in the Birmingham area we’ve worked on dozens of beautiful area homes. Unfortunately, that also means we also have seen many houses that have suffered damage in some way from fires to storms. Some of the damage we see, though, is preventable with simple maintenance. It’s why we think it’s so important that homeowners know how to take care of their homes.

Regular maintenance can save you money down the road, allowing you to invest in a new kitchen or addition rather than expensive repairs. Just like regular oil changes, tire rotation and other maintenance for an automobile, a house benefits from regular attention.

There are literally hundreds of things that can go wrong in a house, but these are some of the common areas to keep an eye on.

Regular furnace and air conditioner care

Annual professional maintenance will help lengthen the life of your HVAC system. Regular changing of your furnace filters will not only improve the air quality in your home, but also help your system run more efficiently and help prevent costly repairs. How often you need to change them depends on a number of factors, including the usage of your HVAC system and the type and size of the filter used. A good rule of thumb is every three months for 1-inch filters; 6 to 9 months for thicker filters.

Keep your gutters clean

Gutters are designed to guide water from your roof and away from the foundation. Regularly cleaning your gutters and inspecting downspouts will help prevent water damage to your landscaping, roof and walls. It eliminates a nesting place for pests that can cause damage to your home (such as mice) or just annoy you in your yard (like mosquitos).

Flush the hot water heater

Water heaters accumulate sediment and minerals at the bottom of the tank. Sediment build up can cause damage and make it more difficult for the water heater to properly produce hot water. (Sediment build up is often indicated by a “popping” sound coming from your water heater.)

Water heaters should be flushed at least once a year, but more frequency could be required depending on the composition of your water.

Inspect your deck

Keep in mind that fully inspecting your deck and checking its safety takes the skills of a pro. As a homeowner, you may miss deterioration that a professional eye would not.

These are just a few of the areas on your deck that should be checked: deck boards should not warp or sag, flashing should be tight and undamaged (replace damaged flashing, especially in any areas where water is accumulating), tighten all loose fasteners and pound in loose nails, and check that railings and handrails on stairs are tight and secure.

Check your home’s exterior

Take a walk around your house and really look at it. Any cracks in the foundation? Missing vent covers? Holes or other damage to siding? Seals around windows and doors still tight?

Take a look at the roof (from the ground!) to see if there is any visible damage. If there does appear to be damage to shingles, hire a professional to address the problem. Any of these openings can allow moisture, insects or other pests to infiltrate your home.

Clean that dryer vent

The most common reason a dryer doesn’t operate properly? Too much lint in the dryer vent or hose. Not only can lint build-up lessen the efficiency of your dryer, it may also lead to fires.

Other safety checks

There are several other items that should be checked regularly to make sure the home is safe and efficient including your fire extinguisher, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, garage door/auto-reverse feature, water softener and sump pump.

If your maintenance check uncovered a larger problem, ELM Construction can help you make sure your home is up to snuff. Contact us today to discuss your remodeling needs!