Keeping up with home maintenance can save homeowners thousands of dollars in unexpected repairs and help them avoid major issues down the line.
Home warranty experts at Cinch Home Services have shared five maintenance tips that can be done in minutes to help extend the life of your home’s essential systems.
1. Clean Your HVAC Filters Regularly
Time taken: Five to 10 minutes.
Money saved: Potential savings of over $150 for a callout.
Dirty air filters reduce efficiency and put extra strain on your HVAC system, leading to higher energy bills and potential breakdowns. Callout charges for HVAC systems range from $75 to $150 per hour. The best practice is to replace or clean HVAC filters every one to three months to keep your system running smoothly.
There are multiple ways to clean your HVAC filter, some quicker than others. Two popular cleaning methods are the ‘Shake and Brush’ method, where you take the filter outside, shake off the dirt, and give it a quick brush to remove any loose particles, and the ‘Water Rinse’ method, where you clean the filter under a faucet.
If you plan on using the ‘Water Rinse’ method, there’s one mistake you must avoid, and that is using hot water. Hot water, though better at cleaning things and loosening dirt, can actually warp the fibers in the filter and cause distortions, so stick to lukewarm water and loosen dirt clumps with a soft brush or sponge.
2. Check for Leaks and Drips
Time taken: Five minutes.
Money saved: Potential savings of $840 across the year.
Small leaks in faucets, pipes, or appliances can waste water and cause hidden damage over time. Check under sinks, around toilets, near water heaters, and even around the base of walls to catch and fix leaks early.
A faucet that drips once per second wastes around five gallons of water each day. This adds up to around $6 per month on your bill. A faster drip can cost as much as $70 each month in wasted water per faucet.
3. Clear Out Your Gutters
Time taken: 30 to 45 minutes, depending on home size.
Money saved: Potential average savings of $3,814.
Clogged gutters can lead to water damage, mold growth, and even foundation issues. Best practice is to clean gutters at least twice a year, especially after heavy storms or in the fall when leaves accumulate at a much faster rate. Homeowners may be tempted to purchase gutter brushes in an attempt to block leaves from entering the gutter, but this can cause clogs and uneven drainage.
Water damage costs around $3,814 on average to repair (usually between $3 and $7.50 per square foot). On top of this, mold growth from leaks can cause a number of health problems, like allergies, skin irritation, and breathing issues. These aren’t limited to people; it can also affect pets, who are often more susceptible to mold exposure.
4. Test Your Sump Pump
Time taken: Five minutes.
Money saved: Estimated savings between $450 and $16,000.
If your home has a basement, a sump pump is crucial for preventing water damage. Pour a good amount of water into the sump pit. If you have a bucket handy, this will serve as a perfect guide. When you pour the water into the sump pit, you want to make sure that it turns on and drains properly before heavy rains hit.
This small test that takes less than five minutes could save you a lot of time and money. For some perspective, basement repair costs can range from $450 all the way to $16,000 depending on complexity and if there’s any structural damage.
5. Clean Your Refrigerator Coils
Time taken: Five to 10 minutes.
Money saved: Up to $10,000 depending on complexity.
It’s well known that they don’t build things like they used to, and in many cases, appliances have a finite lifespan that has been planned and set before it has even left the factory. While you can’t extend an appliance’s lifespan beyond its design, keeping refrigerator coils free of dust helps maintain efficiency and prevent premature wear. This can cause both a decrease in lifespan, and also an increase in your energy bills.
Bosch, a well-known manufacturer of home appliances, recommends these steps to quickly clean your refrigerator coils:
- Switch off the unit and pull it away from the wall.
- Look around the base at the rear for where the coils are located.
- Use a narrow vacuum attachment to carefully collect any hidden dust bunnies.
- Gently circulate an appliance brush. (Any soft brush will do.)
- Vacuum any loosened dust, plug the unit back in, and push it back.
A standard side-by-side refrigerator costs between $1,000 and $10,000. Taking a few minutes to vacuum the coils every few months can extend its lifespan and delay an expensive replacement.
A spokesperson from Cinch Home Services added to the advice:
“Routine home maintenance is key to preventing expensive repairs, and taking small steps can make a huge difference in the long run. By working maintenance into your weekly routine – even if it’s just checking for leaks – you can avoid any issues from spiraling and affecting the structural integrity of your home in the future.
“Neglecting the maintenance tasks in this list could lead to repair costs exceeding $30,000. This is nearly as much as the average annual college tuition of $38,270.”
