Which Household Maintenance Issues Are Most Common?

As a homeowner, preventative maintenance is going to be one of your most important jobs. While those minor tasks might seem like time-consuming annoyances, ignoring them could result in major problems down the road. This is why you should come up with a maintenance schedule that prevents damage to your home and increases the longevity of some of its key systems. 

Cleaning & Inspecting the Roof

Your home’s roof is your first line of defense against the elements, and you should clean and inspect it at least once every few months. While your homeowners insurance should cover leaks caused by storms and sudden accidents, it might not cover damage that has been caused by a lack of maintenance. Some of the most important steps in roof maintenance include removing piles of debris, replacing damaged shingles or tiles, and regularly cleaning out the rain gutters and downspouts. 

Flushing the Water Heater

Many people never even think of flushing their water heaters, which sometimes results in catastrophic damage. Even though modern water heaters are designed to be very durable, they must still stand up to wear and tear every day. 

Flushing the water heater is going to remove the sediment that has accumulated at the bottom of the reservoir so the device can continue to operate at maximum efficiency. When you’re flushing the water heater, you should also check around the unit for any signs of leaks. 

Sealing Cracks & Holes

No matter what steps you take to protect your home, you’re sure to notice at least a few cracks and openings over the years. As the seasons change and your home becomes older, all the building materials will expand and contract. Over time, this can result in small openings around doors, windows, light tubes, outlets, pipes, and vents. Regularly sealing those cracks can reduce your risk of water damage, pest infestations, and a wide variety of other issues. 

Trimming Your Trees

This is another vital maintenance task many homeowners never even think about until it’s too late. When trees aren’t properly trimmed, it won’t take much for strong winds to blow the branches onto your home and cause quite a bit of damage. In most cases, homeowners should have their trees trimmed at least once every few years or whenever branches come within 10 feet of a wall, roof, or fence. 

Inspecting the Plumbing System

Your homeowners insurance should cover most forms of unexpected water damage from your plumbing system, but it’s still important to inspect the pipes and fixtures a few times a year. No one wants to check under a cabinet only to realize there’s extensive damage that might take weeks to repair. When inspecting the plumbing system, keep a close eye out for mold, unusual smells, discoloration, and any other signs of a slow leak.Taking care of essential maintenance tasks is one of the best ways to avoid experiencing damage to your home, but some issues aren’t foreseeable or preventable. For reliable, affordable home insurance, San Diego homeowners know they can trust Altra Insurance Services. We also provide renters, commercial, motorcycle, and auto insurance , Chula Vista residents can receive a free quote by calling one of our friendly agents today at (619) 404-6311.