8 Home Maintenance Myths You'll Wish You Knew Sooner

Written by Posted On Saturday, 09 November 2019 04:42

As a homeowner, you will no doubt be aware of your home maintenance responsibilities. Let's face it: you'll have to spend time maintaining or fixing various things each year. Otherwise, you could end up with a home that falls apart and becomes worthless!


The thing is, you might not realize that the things you do could be unnecessary. Worse still, you may be causing problems in your home rather than trying to prevent them! So, with all that in mind, what should you be doing, and which tasks are nothing more than myths?


Check out these eight homeowner maintenance myths that you need to know:


Myth: You should turn your air conditioner off to save money


At first, it might seem like turning your air conditioner off when you leave the house is a good idea. After all; if it's not running, it's not using any electricity.


However, the reality of such an action is that you could end up wasting money! Why? The answer is simple. If you come home and it's hot and humid outside, your air conditioner will have to work hard.


It will likely consume more energy to keep your home cool rather than less! Instead, what you should be doing is keeping your thermostat about 10 degrees warmer than the current temperature. It's something I do in my home, and I can tell you that my electricity costs have gone way down!


Myth: Keeping your doors closed will prevent flooding


Do you live in an area such as a flood plain? If so, you might think that your doors will keep out any water if they are all closed. I'm afraid that is not true!


Water will find any way it can of entering a home. You may not know it, but your doors aren't watertight! The good news is there are many ways to lessen the risk of your home flooding.


For example, you can use sandbags around the most vulnerable parts of your house. They help to act as a barrier and keep most of the water out.


If you live in a flood plain, it goes without saying that you should get home insurance in Florida or whichever state where you live. That way, if anything in your home gets damaged, you don't have to find the money yourself to replace or repair items.


Myth: You don't need to test your smoke alarms every year


Some people assume that smoke alarms only need testing every other year. The thing is, you must always check them at least once a year!


As I'm sure you can appreciate, smoke alarms can mean the difference between life and death. If a fire occurs in your home while everyone is asleep, smoke alarms give you a fighting chance of survival.


When you do test your smoke alarms, it's best to avoid using the test button on them. Why? Because they only check if the sound is functioning!


Instead, what you should do is hold up a recently burned-out match to each smoke alarm. If the sounder goes off, it means your smoke alarm is working. Of course, if nothing happens, you need to have your smoke alarm replaced.


Myth: Your kitchen appliances are self-cleaning devices


Even if you buy a high-end kitchen appliance that boasts a self-cleaning feature, you still have to do some cleaning yourself! It doesn't matter whether we are talking about a dishwasher or oven, you'll need to clean them out periodically.


That's because dirt and debris can get trapped in places like filters or small crevices. You can use warm soapy water to aid in the removal of any crud. Consider doing this every three months to ensure the longevity of your appliances.


It's also possible to use special chemical cleaners for the job. But, warm soapy water is just as effective.


Myth: Short grass means less time mowing your lawn


No-one wants to be out cutting their grass in the middle of extreme weather conditions. That's why many people prefer to keep their lawns as short as possible, as it means less mowing sessions are needed.


I'm afraid to say that very short grass is a bad thing for your lawn! Sure, it might save you time in the beginning, but eventually, you'll need to spend more time tackling weeds.


Did you know that if you leave a bit of height on your grass, the chances of weed growth are slim?


Myth: Your gutters only need clearing out once a year


Few people relish the idea of climbing up a rickety ladder to clean the gutters around their homes. It's because of that fact, and the assumption that gutters don't easily get clogged up, that they only get cleaned once a year.


The truth is, gutters can become clogged at any time of the year. If you have blocked gutters, several things will happen. For a start, water could leak down your walls and cause mold problems inside. Plus, the guttering might collapse under the weight of any debris, such as branches and twigs from birds nests.


Myth: You don't need to check your attic insulation


Many homeowners believe that insulation material laid down in their attics is maintenance-free. The truth is that they need to check their attics at least once a year.


Some uninvited guests may have removed insulation material to build their nests. Or you may have a hole in your roof, causing water to leak onto your insulation.


A general annual inspection of your attic makes sense anyway. It gives you the opportunity to spot the potential for any major (or expensive) problems in the future.


Myth: Bleach is best for removing mold and prevent it from returning


Last, but not least, if you thought that bleach is the best product to remove mold, think again. If you use it on bare drywall, for example, it could be as effective as splashing some water on it!


What you should be doing is using a specialist cleaner to tackle mold. Yes, they do contain some bleach, but they also have other ingredients that attack mold fast.


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James Stevenson

Hi, My name is James and I've been involved in the property and real estate industry for 10 years now. I hope people will like to read about my thoughts and experiences in the industry and please contact me if you want to discuss my articles further!

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