Home Maintenance can seem intimidating and complex to the inexperienced. The fear of causing further damage in an attempt at repairing a fault may discourage you from DIYs and push you to hire a professional instead.

Fortunately, doing proper DIY home maintenance doesn’t necessarily require training and specialized knowledge, as well as a lot of time. Having a home maintenance plan can undoubtedly save you a lot of money.

Top 10 home maintenance ideas for DIYers.

1. Paint

Give your house a new look by repainting its interior. Although, doing so can be costly and challenging. Save both of your time and money by regularly doing a touch-up of your paint job. Use your leftover paint to paint over those dirty spots on the walls if you still have it.

If you have no leftover paint, you can still touch up your house interior by taking a sample of your color to a hardware shop and have the tint matched.

2. Air Filters

Periodically change the air filter of your central air and heat unit. The longest you should ever leave the filter untouched is thirty days, while the maximum for the peak usage months is two weeks.

3. Toilets

Toilet tank leaks will wear your toilet’s internal parts, damage your bathroom, and cause you to spend more on your utility bill. To know if there’s a leak in the Toilet Tank, add red food coloring to the water inside. Wait for an hour to come back and see if the water turns pink. If it does, then there’s a leak.

If there’s a leak from the toilet tank to the bowl, the flapper needs replacing.

4. Faucets

Worn-out washers are the leading cause of leaky faucets. The ones inside the faucet handles are made of rubber and quickly wears out. Replace them by first switching off your main water supply. Then, unscrew the leaky handle, take out the old washer, and replace it with the new one.

5. Refrigerators

The primary part of your refrigerator that you must attend to is the door seals. Keeping the seals tight will keep your fridge working efficiently and decrease the energy it spends to keep your food cool and frozen.

Also, if there are coils at the back of your refrigerator, regularly vacuum them to remove dust and dirt buildup. As these coils keep your fridge’s internal temperature cold, they won’t work well if they become dirty.

6. Washing Machine & Dryer

It’s essential to do a regular inspection for leaks on your washing machine’s water supply hoses. At least inspect the water supply lines annually and make a replacement every three years if they’re plastic. If the metal ends of the water supply lines are rusty or discolored, change them immediately.

For the dryer, it’s vital to clean the lint screen regularly to prevent fires. Remove it physically from the screen between each laundry load. Also, don’t forget to wash the screen with a combination of warm water and dish detergent once a week to get rid of fabric softener residue.

7. Roof

Regularly inspect your roof for any damage. Discolored, gravel-less, or damaged shingles have a quick replacing. During the checking, pay particular heed to the shingles surrounding chimneys, skylights, and vents as they are the most leak-prone areas.

8. Air Conditioning

These appliances are one of the most overlooked when it comes to conducting routine home maintenance. However, air conditioners are one of the most pricey to fix.

Periodically check the condensation hose to make sure water flows freely. If there’s standing water in the drainage of the condensation line, make a drainage path to prevent algae and mold formation.

Also, keep your air conditioner screen free of debris to keep an easy airflow. Doing this prevents your appliance from using unnecessary power to keep the house cool.

9. Water Heater

Like any other appliances, water heaters also need maintenance to reduce possible damage and extend longevity. Water has suspended sediments in it, and as it sits in the heater, these particles will often sink to the bottom and cause damage to the floor of the tank. Drain the water and clean the inside of your water heater at least once a year.

10. Plumbing

To keep a free flow of water through your pipes, bear in mind the following:

Use a hair strainer to accumulate hair for the bathtub drain. Make sure to remove the amassed hair after every shower. This will lessen the volume of hair finding its way into the plumbing.

The leading cause of clogs is the accumulation of oils and fats, so never attempt to pour them down the drain. If you accidentally spill them into the drain, run hot water with a considerable amount of dishwashing liquid to prevent a clog.

Skip the Drano as the acids it contains can damage your plumbing, which may lead to expensive repairs in the future.

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