Maintaining a home is a daily job that befalls everyone, however, common house maintenance is not just limited to vacuuming and mopping. There are several minor cleaning tasks that we may forget and major home maintenance duties that we may ignore due to lack of time.
The main pitfall would be not having a maintenance checklist of repair and replacement tasks so it’s always advisable to not make mental notes but have a proper list of items to check, inspect and replace.
Let’s take a look at house maintenance pitfalls:
Not having a toolkit
It’s only natural you’ll need to repair and restore little things here and there. You must have a basic toolbox which should include different sized hammers, nails, screwdrivers (Phillips, spotted, square drive assortments) drill (for bigger DIY projects), tape measure, scissors, power glue, utility knife, woodworking tools like saws, adjustable squares, clamps, etc. for advanced users. You can assemble it on your own or simply order a kit online.
Not checking infrequently used faucets for leaks
Sometimes we overlook this seemingly minor detail but leaky faucets cause wastage of water and can leave marks on the tiles which lead to more expenses in repairs. Other plumbing defects include slow drain flow over time, faulty water heaters due to operating roughly, rattling pipes due to imbalanced water pressure.
Avoiding clogged gutters
If you don’t clear out the regular and storm drain pipes, overflowing water/filthy mulch could lead to erosion of the foundation, and waterlogging could lead to flooding in basements, parking lots, and society pathways. You can hire professional services for cleaning the gutters twice a year at least.
Appliance maintenance not done
Refrigerators, ACs, fans, air filters, and other appliances in your kitchen and home should be serviced regularly including the refrigerator coils and exhaust fans/chimneys, or else they will break down and lead to replacement expenses.
Leaky roofs and ill-maintained overhead tanks
Old pipes, water damage to the foundation of the roof, damaged shingles, and incorrect flashing can cause the roof to leak in different places. Faulty roofing material or storm, wind damage can also cause leaky roofs. These should be examined especially before monsoons. Overhead tanks should be cleaned regularly so that they don’t collect rust, dead bugs, dirt, and algae. Make sure there are no broken tiles or snags in the drain pipes.
Faulty electrical wiring
Signs of broken wiring are too many extension cords, burning smell or blackouts. This could happen due to frayed wires, poor quality switches, or even dead bugs inside the switchboards. Examine circuit breakers, if rats have chewed off wires, and always buy a trusted brand of electrical wires and switches.
Skipping exterior care of the property
The exterior conditions of the house can worsen rapidly than the interiors due to weather conditions and lack of weatherproof paint, and poor caulking. If you fail to give a good inspection to drain pipes, siding mildewing/weather damage, can lead to rot and pests. Another thing to check is the exterior of the air-conditioning system installed outside to see if it holds strongly and get it bolstered before monsoons or storm predictions. Inspect the exterior walls for chipping or cracks and seal them and touch them up with rainproof paint or else water may seep in through the walls.
Neglecting windows and doors
Creaky, loose windows and doors are often ignored as they don’t pose an immediate threat, yet you must tighten up the hinges, oil them to prevent termite damage at the very first instance of creaking, or if you notice termite dust on the floor. Exterior shutters and mesh installed in balconies should be cleaned and inspected as well or else rodents and birds may fly in.
Maintaining lofts, attics, and basements
Clean out the debris from different unattended parts of the home since the dirt (or mold) accumulated in the corners, crevices, and walls can pile up and breed insects, reptiles, rodents.
Seasonal maintenance
Other than daily cleaning, it’s imperative that you take preventive maintenance care before each season like spring cleaning, cleaning vents, servicing washing machines as per the manual, unclogging tiny drain outlets in the pantry, bathrooms, storage room, etc every month or two, check and clean the kitchen sink fixtures underneath for rust, dirt and debris.
Not choosing the right cleaning agents
Soap and water alone won’t do.
You must keep in stock the right tools and supplies for daily or monthly maintenance, such as rubber gloves, squeegees for countertops, microfiber cloth for glass surfaces, along with the right mix of acids (to remove hard water deposits and rust), soft and hard fabric detergents, abrasives for excessive debris, sanitizers, and mild alkalies like baking soda for oil and other sticky residues.
If any of the above are ignored, it defeats the entire purpose of comprehensive home maintenance.