The arrival of summer means updating your home maintenance checklist. However, there are some mistakes we make around the house that may not stand out immediately. Follow the tips below if you want to avoid dealing with household problems this summer.
1. Pouring the Wrong Thing Down the Drain
Washing dishes during the summer isn’t fun because of how quickly the heat can get to you. You may dump everything down the drain to finish cleaning quickly, but that can have disastrous consequences. According to Reader’s Digest, you shouldn’t pour seeds, oil, and other types of fat down the drain. Those items can clog your pipes, so put them in the trash instead.
Your pipes may be especially susceptible to plumbing problems depending on their age. According to House Logic, you should consider replacing your drain pipes if your home is over 40 years old and its plumbing has remained untouched thus far. Invest in new pipes and prevent those plumbing issues from popping up.
2. Taking on the Wrong Home Project
According to HomeLight, FSBO (For Sale By Owner) properties sell for around 6% less than homes managed by real estate agents, and that’s often because many homeowners aren’t aware that some things they’re doing to their properties may not be appealing to potential buyers. There’s nothing wrong with renovating or remodeling your home, but you must ensure they provide great returns if you plan to eventually sell your home in the future. Master bedrooms, sunrooms, and garage additions offer the worst return on investments. Avoid those upgrades if you want to maximize your investments.
3. Using Your Air Conditioner Without Cleaning the Clogged Filters
The warm summer weather feels pleasant while you’re at the beach or a park somewhere. When you’re home, the summer heat can border on oppressive. Thankfully, air conditioners can help keep us cool during the warmest months.
However, you should avoid using your air conditioner without cleaning its filters first. Air conditioners with dirty filters operate inefficiently. Using an air conditioner with clogged filters constantly will cause your electric bill to spike. If you don’t want to pay a premium for home cooling, you should clean your air conditioner before the start of summer.
4. Cutting Your Grass Too Short
Lastly, you should adjust your mowing practices at the start of the summer. More specifically, you want to adjust your lawn mower so it leaves taller blades of grass than usual. Taller blades of grass slow down water evaporation, and they can also go deeper into the soil in search of moisture. You can also keep weeds from growing by allowing your lawn to stay a bit taller.
5. Not Updating Your First-Aid Kit
Summer is when many homeowners get the urge to make long-overdue repairs. Perhaps spurred on by the spirit of summer, many of them even decide to handle the repairs by themselves. But before you take on any DIY projects this summer, are you sure your first-aid kit is ready for a potential accident?
Not everyone is aware that some items in first-aid kits expire. For example, some pharmacy-brand creams lose 50% of their antioxidant properties after six months. Other first-aid kit essentials that may expire are bandages and sanitary wipes. You should also avoid using an item in the first-aid kit if it was partially opened and left in that state for a long time.
Change the way you manage your home during the summer if you want to avoid costly mistakes. Remember the tips we detailed above, and your home should be in good shape for the summer. Visit our website if you’re looking for more home care tips!
Using an air conditioner without cleaning the clogged filters is SO true! So many people ignore this maintenance step. And speaking of investments that are really worth it, it’s a swimming pool. Having a swimming pool on your property is not just a nice addition, it also significantly increases the value of your property.
Replacing air filters is a crucial thing. However, it is only one part of air conditioner maintenance. You should also remember to clean the vents and ducts and clear the outer part of your unit.
Even though we are talking about summer now, I think it is necessary to add that the filters should be replaced every 1-3 months if you use the air conditioner regularly during the year.
One big mistake you don’t want to make is not taking care of pests in your house. If you see any signs of bugs or rodents, don’t ignore them or put off getting help. If you don’t take action, a small pest problem can become a big headache. Remember, pests can not only damage your property but also pose health risks to you and your family. So, be proactive, keep an eye out for things like droppings, chewed-up marks, or nests. Make sure to pay extra attention to areas where pests are likely to hide, like basements, attics, and storage spaces.
If you want to increase your home price, consider landscape lighting. It’s cheap and offers a good return on investment. A well-lit home is a more attractive one to potential buyers, making any lighting addition both practical and financially responsible. And what’s also worth mentioning, landscape lighting consistently ranks among the most desirable characteristics for home buyers in NAHB’s annual “What Home Buyers Really Want” survey.
Thanks for bringing up the importance of changing air filters. Changing or cleaning the air filter is a relatively simple task that most homeowners can do themselves. To do this, just check the HVAC system’s manual for guidance on how often to change the filter and the specific type of filter to use.
Regarding filter types, a filter with a MERV rating between 6 and 13 is usually fine for most homes. Filters with a higher MERV rating can make your system work harder and use more energy, so it’s best to avoid them unless your system specifically needs them.