Here are six things I see people do that potentially harm their home without realizing it:
1. How do you clean your home’s exterior?
Pressure washing is a great way to tidy up the exterior of your house quickly, without a ton of effort on your part. Unfortunately, it can be equally as swift at inflicting damage. Switching tips based on your distance from the house is a crucial step that could be the difference between helping and hurting. Operating on too high of a setting can cause paint peeling, dislocated siding and scratch a multitude of surfaces including wood, brick & concrete!
2. Where is your satellite dish located on your roof?
If you have a satellite dish or are considering getting one, it’s important to know before placing it on your roof if it could affect your roof’s warranty. Warranties can vary by manufacturer, but it’s not uncommon to see a warranty partially voided against any leaking or damage that may occur due to the placement of a satellite dish or antenna. If you’re not careful, this could easily be the cause of a costly repair later on!
3. Do you have mature trees close to your home?
When branches rub against your siding or windows, they can cause them to wear out much more quickly. Additionally, windstorms can cause large trees planted too close to your home to topple over, causing substantial damage to your home, vehicle, or surrounding property.
Your roof and siding aren’t the only portions of your home that large trees can affect. Consider this: a tree’s roots can reach out three times the height of the tree, causing cracks in a home’s foundation and walls in the future.
4. When’s the last time you cleaned your gutters?
Unless you’ve invested in a clog-free gutter system, your gutters need to be cleaned out several times a year in order to prevent them from backing up. If this happens, water can end up in your basement, your fascia boards can eventually rot, your landscaping can be damaged and your home’s foundation can be weakened. That’s a lot of potential problems that can easily be avoided by getting those gutters clean!
5. Is your outdoor grill too close to your house?
Do yourself a favor and check the location of your grill before you fire it up next time: if your grill is too close to your siding, it can cause the siding to melt, or in extreme cases, catch fire. Additionally, grilling on your deck without a grill mat can cause your deck to stain. Luckily, this is easily preventable, and you can still enjoy those burgers and the nice weather.
6. How old is your furnace filter?
Furnace filters are disposable and are meant to be replaced periodically in order to prevent clogging and potential overheating or fire. Choosing not to change your home’s furnace filter can compromise your home’s air quality and increase the amount of strain put on your furnace. As a result, your furnace can fail prematurely, costing you thousands of dollars to repair or replace. Yikes!
Implement these and other steps to keep your property in great condition. Being knowledgeable on how to safely and effectively maintain your home will benefit you, your family and your checkbook!
Regards,
Mike
