Monitoring Your Systems

There are two types of home improvement projects.  The first type is the kind you get to think about, research, plan and imagine how much you will enjoy when it is finished, for example, a kitchen upgrade.  The second type is…insulation for your crawl space.

We would all prefer to spend our home improvement budgets on projects that are more cosmetic in nature or done to enhance living style.  No one really wants to spend money to have gutters cleaned and trenches dug to keep water from backing up against the foundation.  This is a reminder to take a “peek under the hood” at some items around your home that require regular maintenance to keep your home safe, sound and functioning well.

Here are a few areas that should be monitored regularly for signs of trouble:

·      Water-are there unusual sounds from pipes, small leaks, drips, or areas of discoloration on walls or ceilings especially after there have been large temperature changes up and down within short periods of time

·      Electricity-take note of odd dimming of lights, constant blown out light bulbs in multiple fixtures or power outages when nothing is going on in the neighborhood

·      HVAC system-check and change filters regularly, listen to how the unit runs when it starts and stops, and review run history if you have a smart thermostat to detect issues early

·      Pests-check closets, attics, basements, garages, and crawl spaces for unwanted guests and treat appropriately to stop early infestations before they multiply

·      Cracks-any cracks that have formed in drywall, concrete block, or bricks inside or near the foundation could be early warning signs of trouble ahead

 It would be great if we could just do the fun projects, but unfortunately, if you don’t take care of regular maintenance in these areas from time to time, small issues could easily become expensive emergency repairs.