This guest post was written by Go Banking Rates, bringing you informative personal finance content and helpful tools, as well as the best interest rates on financial services nationwide. Follow them on Twitter at @GoBankingRates.
There’s nothing worse than suffering the financial repercussions of house-related disaster, only to realize it could have been avoided if you had taken the necessary precautions. Many times, all you really need is an annual or bi-annual check performed that might cost you a bit in the short-term but save you hundreds or thousands in repairs down the line.
If you want to avoid falling into debt at the hands of something as avoidable as home damage, begin checking a few key areas around your house on a regular basis. This could save you from dealing with an out-of-pocket financial nightmare when you least expect it.
Check Your Water Heater and Gas Pipes
Checking your water heater and pipes periodically is essential to avoiding a financial disaster. If your heater or one of your pipes has a leak that you don’t know about, your home could suffer extensive water damage including wood warping, buckling of your floor and mold growth that could make your family sick and cost up to $3,000 per wall to remove.
To avoid these issues, get the heater and pipes checked by a licensed professional at least once every year (spring is traditionally the best time).
When it comes to natural gas pipes, it’s also good to check them once a year for leaks. Remember that gas leaks can be deadly, so if you smell natural gas in the house (which is likened to a rotten egg) or hear any hissing noises, turn off your lights and call the gas company immediately from a source outside the home (don’t use your phone indoors).
Regular Maintenance for Your Gas/Electric Furnace and Air Conditioner
If you have a gas furnace, it’s important to look for signs that could alert you to problems. For instance, if the heater has problems establishing a flame or the flame pattern is unusual, you may have a gas output issue that requires an emergency call to your utility company.
However, if there seems to be blockage at the burner ports (or evidence of corrosion) or you just want a regular one-year checkup, call the furnace manufacturer or a local technician.
If you have an electric furnace or air conditioning system you should have them regularly inspected for thermostat, breaker (fuse) and blower issues. It also doesn’t hurt to spring for a regular tune up.
Finally, with all three heating/cooling systems, it’s good to make sure your air ducts are clean to avoid backups that could cause damage to your systems and presents fire/gas hazards to your family.
Make Sure Gas and Electrical Appliances Are in Good Condition
Both gas and electrical appliances should be checked regularly to ensure they’re in good condition and not posing a threat to your home. A few appliances to consider for regular checkups include:
- Stove/oven: If you have a gas stove/oven, use the same precautions as gas pipes to ensure there are no leaks. If they run on electricity, ensure the wiring and appliances themselves are in proper condition.
- Washer/dryer: Cords or water hoses running from your washer/dryer unit could crack or leak causing dangerous issues, so have them checked for safety and proper working order.
- Refrigerator/freezer: Water line supplies for refrigerators and freezers could leak onto your floor, presenting water damage. Also, a malfunctioning fridge could cause food could spoil and create bacterial hazards.
- Dishwasher: Dishwasher leaks can damage your floor and should be checked for excessive oil and grime build ups (adding 1 cup of vinegar to the dishwasher once a month helps) and leaky hoses.
As for when you should have your gas and electrical appliances checked, it’s good to refer to your instruction manuals or appliance retailers for specific details.
Also, don’t forget your electric blanket and electric heater are considered appliances and need to be watched for safety. But remember, unlike other appliances, you don’t want to leave these two items plugged in when not in use (or away from the home) to avoid fire hazards.
Look Over Your Home Wiring
There is no doubt that exposed or severed wires in your homes could create fire hazards. Many cords and wires you can check on your own, including those that go with items around the house (lamps, fans, TVs, etc.). When it comes to having your electrical outlets and internal wiring checked, however, you should leave it to a professional. During an inspection, they should check the panel board, branch circuits and service entry.
Other Precautions to Consider
Some other areas of your home that are good to have checked include:
- Tub/shower: Grout and caulking can decay causing cracks and slow leaks that worsen over time.
- Chimney/fireplace: If you have a fireplace/chimney that is in use, you want to have it checked annually to ensure it’s not too dirty or plugged completely, which both pose fire hazards.
- Toilet seal: Replacing your toilet can be very costly if it has issues over time. Check the base periodically to see if a leak is present and that the seal isn’t damaged.
- Roof: Talk about expensive! If you have a leaky roof, you could have repairs that add up into the thousands very quickly. To avoid this issue, have your roof inspected twice a year (spring and fall) to ensure no major issues have occurred.
Some homeowners might think that their home insurance policy should cover many of these repairs, but in actuality, most of it isn’t. B y educating yourself on your home insurance coverage and getting regular inspections, you should be able to get away with spending only a little bit in repairs, as opposed to plunging into debt because your home was silently falling apart.
