Common Household Repairs That Are Often Ignored

Posted On Monday, 23 May 2022 13:19

One of the biggest benefits of owning a home is the financial freedom it allows you and your family. Your monthly mortgage payments are going towards owning something permanently. You can settle in, make renovations and repairs, and make the space your own. But your house can become a costly investment if you aren't sure to keep up with household repairs. 

When purchasing a home, people underestimate how much upkeep will be needed over time. You should be checking your home monthly for inconsistencies. It may seem like overkill, but catching a problem in your home before it has a real chance to settle can save you a lot of money. Maintaining your home is part of the deal when purchasing one, and doing so will help ensure your home's value increases over time. 

It's important to know what to be looking for and where to be looking when assessing your house for issues. There are quite a few areas of the house that are often ignored, leading to severe damage and expensive construction to fix the problem. Below, we've highlighted seven common problem areas you may overlook when making household repairs. 

Gutters 

Gutters are an easy spot for your house to miss because they’re fairly hard to see. Unless you’re up on your roof often chances are you won’t know your gutters have gone to crap until they’re at their worst stage of decomposition. It’s recommended to check your gutters at least twice a year. Depending on the type of foliage in your area and the weather patterns, you may want to check them more or less often than that. For example, people who live in a desert climate can go about a year between gutter cleanings, whereas people who are prone to snow or live in a heavily wooded area may want to check their gutters numerous times each season. 

Roofs & Chimneys

Faulty roofs and chimneys can cause detrimental problems, especially when left untreated. According to It’s the Brick Guys, a company that specializes in chimney repair in Michigan, you should check your roof twice a year yourself and have a professional look over it at least once a year. Preferably, you should get a professional opinion in the spring. This is when you're most able to tell if your roof has a leak or any structural problems, as the fall and winter often bring the worst weather. When inspecting your roof yourself, head into your attic space to check for signs of mold or mildew. 

Chimneys should be checked before their use every year. You can do so yourself, or if you don’t feel like you know what you’re looking for you can enlist a professional to ensure your chimney is in good condition. A cracked flue in your chimney can cause serious harm to both your house and your health, as it can lead to toxic chemicals and smoke building up within your house. 

Leaking Faucets 

It may be hard to believe but a leaky faucet can cost up to thousands of dollars if left untreated. This is because a leaky faucet puts extra wear and tear on your sink and waterline as a whole. Leaving it untreated will result in the replacement of the entire sink and faucet unit sooner than you would have had to. A leaky faucet will also lead to an increase in your utility bill, as it still counts as water usage. When you see a faucet leaking, get it fixed as fast as possible. 

Foundational Cracks

Foundational cracks can spell disaster for your house. When left untreated cracks grow worse over time, becoming more expensive to fix. Foundational cracks also let in moisture which encourages the growth of mold. Unless you are a licensed professional, we wouldn't recommend addressing foundational cracks on your own. Consult with a professional that has experience dealing with all degrees of foundational cracks and work with them to solve your problem. It may cost you upfront to fix the damages, but trust that you'll be saving plenty by addressing the issue sooner rather than later. 

Rodents or Pests

It may be hard to believe that household owners often ignore the presence of rodents or pests in their homes, but it's true. Oftentimes it's through no real fault of their own, however, as rodents and pests can find their way into the foundation, walls, roofs, and basements of homes. For instance, termites are hard to find until it's too late because their main source of food is within your walls. Think about having an inspection once a year to ensure there hasn't been an outbreak. 

There are ways to check your home for rodents and pests and we suggest doing so even if you feel your home couldn't possibly be housing them. Look for the destruction of your insulation, baseboards, or drywall. If you hear random noises in your walls or attic, it's typically a rodent or family of pets. It's important to contact a professional exterminator right away if you suspect your home has become inhabited by rodents or pests. 

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