Your home is a place where your family spends many hours. It’s also a retreat from the chaos of the outside world. Thankfully, you can preserve its integrity and maintain good overall indoor air quality by investing time and money in essential maintenance projects.
Extending the Life of Your Plumbing
Even if you purchased a new home, you will eventually encounter issues with your plumbing. Frequent use of water will cause pipes to corrode, resulting in leaks. Water leaks in a home can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Having them inspected especially prior to cold weather and adding insulation to plumbing in the basement will help to reduce the possibility of a crack caused by freezing temperatures. For an older home in need of extensive plumbing work, you can use a restorative pipe company to eliminate the need for a full pipe replacement.
Installing an HVAC System
Upgrading to a central heating and cooling system may initially cost more. However, it’s more efficient, which results in lower utility bills. Having the system serviced annually will also ensure that it remains functioning at a level of high performance.
TIP: Central heating grants are available to households struggling with fuel poverty; so why not read through Warma UK’s guide on who qualifies to find out if you qualify for a central heating grant.
Benefits of Insulation
Many older homes are heat/cold saps. They have many drafts that can cause your heating and cooling system to run continuously without sustaining a desirable indoor temperature. Adding insulation, such as a foam filler to the Rafters Attic and basement, will fill in the gaps and prevent air from entering and escaping. For older windows and doors, this type of insulation will expand and retract throughout the year.
Discover how to qualify for an ECO scheme external wall insulation grant by reading Warma UK’s guide, ensuring eligibility and potential cost savings for energy-efficient home improvements.
Windows and Doors
Older windows and doors allow air to leave and enter, preventing you from maintaining a steady indoor temperature. The good news is that, in addition to foam fillers, you can use caulking or weather-stripping. If your windows and doors are older and inefficient, you may want to consider upgrading to double-pane. You can start with Window Replacement Might Dog Roofing, they have services that might help you out!
The Roof
Your roof acts as an umbrella, protecting your home’s structure and contents from the elements. Today, most traditional shingled roofs last from 15 to 30 years. It’s a large expense to replace it. However, if you maintain it, you improve your chances of extending its life. Having it inspected every few years by a professional, especially if it has passed its ten-year mark, will help to reduce the cost of making repairs minor versus major.
Clean Ducts Seasonally
When having a furnace or HVAC system serviced, many people overlook their ducts. Ducts are a vital component in your home’s heating/cooling system. Dirty or clogged ducts can force your system to work harder. As a result, it can take years off of the system’s life, causing a premature replacement or, at the very least, cause it to run longer, creating higher utility bills. Additionally, unchecked ducts can contain moisture that can lead to the presence of mold and mildew. Cleaning them can improve your home’s indoor air quality.
Programmable Thermostat
Today, you can reduce your energy costs by installing a programmable thermostat. Many of the newer high-tech models come with apps that you can use to change the temperature at will. Eliminating waste when no one is home can help to significantly lower your home’s heating/cooling costs.
Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans help move the air around your home. Maintaining a level of comfort is achievable in any season with the addition of several ceiling fans. Installed in bedrooms and living areas, they create a subtle breeze during the spring and fall and can put off the need to turn on the air conditioning in the early days of summer.
House Maintenance will help prevent minor repairs from becoming a major repair that requires large sums of money to fix.