Beech Tree News Network

Recently, I had some home repairs done. Because home repairs are commonly worrisome and costly, prevention – when possible – is a great choice. And home-maintenance advice is even available on the Internet.

I read an interesting statistic: on average, homeowners spend between 1 to 4 percent of the home’s value on maintenance and repairs each year, and the percentage tends to increase as the house ages. For example, on a $100,000 home, the home owner could expect to spend between $1,000 and $4,000 annually for repairs (http://www.choicehomewarranty.com/blog/home-cost-statistics/). As the home ages – like mine, the home owner may anticipate spending more.

One website, houseplansandmore.com, included articles about home maintenance. Several interesting facts from those articles are listed below (http://houseplansandmore.com/resource_center/home_maintenance_facts.aspx, http://houseplansandmore.com/resource_center/cleaning_facts.aspx, http://houseplansandmore.com/resource_center/home_improvement.aspx):

•To keep rodents out of your house tidy up your garage. Store pet food and birdseed in hard plastic containers. Remove shoes, blankets and other cozy home sites. A mouse can squeeze through holes as small as a dime, so plug gaps around pipes with coarse steel wool and then caulk over it.

•Outdoor faucets mounted on the side of a house can freeze in cold weather, causing pipes to burst. Be sure to drain them before the first freeze. To do this, shut off the water supply leading to the faucet, then open the faucet to drain off any remaining water trapped between the faucet and the shut-off valve. An alternative to this seasonal chore is to have a freeze-proof spigot installed.

•When a toilet begins to overflow, don’t grab for the plunger and towels; reach for the shut-off valve. It’s right at the base of the toilet and will close off the water supply so that you can deal with the clog.

•Mildew is a nuisance in many parts of the country, and even vinyl siding provides a suitable surface for it to grow. To remove, mix a cup of household bleach into a gallon of water and apply the mix with a pump sprayer. Let the solution sit for about five minutes, being cautious not to let it dry out. Then rinse the siding thoroughly from top to bottom using fresh water. Bleach can harm plants, so protect them by spraying their leaves with clear water before and after you treat the siding.

•Never use disinfectants to clean a refrigerator. The food inside will pick up the taste and odor of the cleaning solution. Warm soapy water works well and is a less harmful choice.

•Clean the inside of the dishwasher once a month. Use some lemonade mix to fill the soap cup and then run it through a cycle. The citric acid in the lemonade will clean the racks, the jets and the interior walls.

•If you rub some waxed paper on your countertops and appliances after you clean, it will give them a nice, shiny finish and help repel dust and dirt.

•Never use a wet mop on a wood floor. Squeeze out as much of the water as possible before beginning this chore.

•To remove musty smells from a cabinet or piece of furniture, fill plastic containers with white vinegar and punch holes in the top. Putting one container in each drawer overnight will absorb musty odors. 

•When using caulk to seal the joint between the wall tile and a bathtub, fill the tub with water first. The weight of the water will open the gap to the size it will be when the tub is in use. Otherwise, the caulk’s seal could break the first time you take a bath.

Wondering how others view home maintenance, I asked friends and family what advice they would give others regarding home maintenance or repair. Their responses are listed below:

•Don’t put it off any longer than you have to – which I am bad about. Make sure if you can’t do it yourself that you get a quality contractor.

•Hire a good repairman who comes with good recommendations.

•Use tried and true, ask a trusted neighbor/family member – or three – about similar experiences and recommendations first. Someone local may be excellent at what you want completed. Check on written warranty for work, licenses, and bonded status. Then check two information sources before contacting the better business bureau or Angie’s list. Ultimately, often you get what you pay for, making price an interesting variable. Don’t forget that commercial contractors may be interested in a residential job of a larger scale.

•1. Troubleshoot yourself first to see if it’s a simple fix (fuse, bulb, or outlet). 2. Be cautious of family members who say they can fix it for you. 3. Use professional people with good reviews from friends.

•Do it before it’s needed, or slight maintenance turns into costly repairs. 

•Make sure you get someone who knows what they are doing so you just have to have them come once!

•Prepay in the summer for your winter propane. It can save hundreds! And change out the air filters on a regular schedule.

•Having yearly maintenance checks will save you money in the long run. Just had our furnace serviced today and got a new filter. It can also help make sure everything is safely working.

•Watch YouTube for repair ideas, and don’t be afraid to ask people that work at Lowe’s or Home Depot for help with implementing the repair ideas.

•Do what needs to be done…. If not, at some point everything will need to be addressed. Pay a little along the way or a huge amount all at once….

•Stay on top of it; don’t let anything go that you don’t have to. The culmination will eventually become overwhelming. My husband is pretty good at taking care of most things – notice I said most.

•Somebody needs to give me some advice. I need some repairs done!

•I call my dad.

•Pay someone else to do it.

•Rent, don’t own.

•Stay on top of them so they don’t overwhelm you. 

Someone said: “A house is made of walls and beams... a home is made of love and dreams,” (http://www.searchquotes.com/search/Home_Maintenance/6/#ixzz4WpoCdTMB). And maintaining the house increases contentment within the home.