Your house may come with many features. It may come with a remodeled kitchen, a two-car garage, a built-in deck, or even maybe a pool. But if there’s one thing a home will never come with, it’s an instruction manual. No matter how many bells and whistles your house has, it won’t have a handbook that tells you what to do when the roof needs to be replaced, your driveway starts to crack, and the scent of decayed food starts to emanate from the garbage disposal. Hopefully, by following a few new home maintenance tips, you’ll never need one.
At Colonial Van Lines, we know that one man’s dream home is another man’s mancave. But there are some things all houses should have in common: a solid roof, a good heating system, and odorless garbage disposal among them. So, if you’re looking for a few new home maintenance tips to keep the house at its best, here are our best tips on how to do it.
Maintenance for a New Home
Here are some of the things that the previous owners never warned you about.
Changing the HVAC Filters
HVAC filters filter the dust and debris out of your cooling and heating system. They also help filter the air that goes back into your house. Keep them functioning at their highest capacity by changing them regularly – at least once every 90 days.
Caulking the Windows
Air leaks rob you of your heat, your air conditioning, and ultimately your money. Keep your power bills low, and your home comfy, by caulking the windows and doors to prevent air from escaping.
Checking the Crawl Space for Moisture
Excess moisture leads to mold, mildew, and possible health issues. For an inexpensive DIY fix, consider installing a vapor barrier in your crawl space. Visit familyhandyman.com. for step-by-step directions.
Installing a Programmable Thermostat
According to the EPA, programmable thermostats can save homeowners 10 to 30% on the heating and cooling portion of their energy bills. If you want some of that, you can buy one for an average cost of 187.50. Keep them set at 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, and 10-12 degrees lower when you’re not home. Get it to turn up the heat about an hour before you get home for maximum coziness.
Knowing Where Your Utility Shut Offs are Located
Know thyself and know where thy utility shut-offs are located even better. You never know when you may need to shut one off in case of an emergency.
Cleaning the Garbage Disposal
That foul odor may be trying to tell you that your garbage disposal needs a good cleansing. Fill the disposal with ice cubes, add one cup of salt and vinegar, flush and run for a few seconds to crush the ice. Repeat if necessary.
Touching Up the Exterior Paint
For added curb appeal and an attractive moisture barrier for your home, give your exterior paint a touch-up. The proper application of high-quality exterior paint can prevent bubbling, cracking, peeling, and mildew.
Cleaning the Gutters
Ah! The wonders of autumn! The leaves fall off the trees, the air starts to cool, and homeowners to get on a ladder and clean their roof gutters. As most veteran homeowners know, and many new homeowners have yet to find out, the leaves and goo that falls into the gutters of your roof don’t go away by itself. In fact, it freezes up and makes its way back into your house, eventually causing a leak. Luckily, you can avoid this by cleaning your roof gutters regularly. Stores selling window cleaning gear typically sell gutter cleaning equipment. BYOLadder.
Extending the Downspout
And while you’re on the gutter, be sure to check out the length of your downspout. If the downspout is not long enough, it won’t be able to do its job of directing water away from the house. Experts recommend that water should be channeled about ten feet away from your home. For a quick how-to on extending the downspout, visit doityourself.com.
Checking the Smoke Detectors
You certainly don’t want to find out your smoke detectors don’t work when it’s too late. Check them regularly by pressing the test button. If a loud shrieking sound emanates, you’re ok. If not, it may be a sign that the batteries are weak.
A Word on New Home Maintenance from Colonial Van Lines
At Colonial Van Lines, we pride ourselves on standing by our customers from the beginning to the end of their moves. The new home maintenance part usually comes after we’re gone. But at Colonial Van Lines, we want you to have this, that, and the other, so we figured we’d throw in a few maintenance tips so you can keep on fighting the good fight after we’re done with the job.
You see, at Colonial Van Lines, we’re not just any moving company, we’re the nation’s top long-distance moving company, and we earn that title every day. Our long-distance specialists have the expertise to simplify your cross country move, and we won’t leave your side until you reach your destination. Whether you need packing, storage, or simply transportation, we’ll provide a customized plan that works with your budget, and a few friendly faces to lend their support.
Packing and Storage Services
When you’re up to your knees in boxes, clothes, knick-knacks, artwork, scrapbooks, devices, appliances, a flat-screen TV, and two years-worth of subscription packages from Fabfitfun, have no fear. Colonial Van Lines will come to the rescue. Our expert packers will be on your doorstep come moving day ready to survey the area, identify what needs to be moved, and arrange, wrap and pack each item securely.
And if you’re move requires storage, Colonial Van Lines has a clean, spacious, climate-controlled storage facility at your disposal. We offer long-term, short-term, storage in transit, and full-service options at affordable prices.
New home maintenance can be stressful, moving doesn’t have to be. Contact us today for a free rate quote, and we’ll get the job done right.
