REGULAR HOME MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR

By doing regular maintenance to your home and taking care of small repairs right away, you’ll avoid the more expensive unnecessary costs later on. One of the best things you can do is to get to know your home as best as possible. Wishing I had decided to do so sooner than later, but a lesson learned after a recent flood in my home due to the ice storm of December 2013. Knowledge is power and sharing is caring so here are some things I feel you need to know:

• Your home is made up of various components that work together. These include mechanical systems (heating, air conditioning and ventilation) and the building envelope (foundations, floors, walls, windows, doors and roof).

• You need to learn enough about the major mechanical systems of your home to be able to perform routine maintenance and handle various emergencies.

Every adult member of your household should know the location of and how to operate the following:

– Main shutoff valves for water and fuel (oil or natural gas);

– Emergency switch for the furnace or burner;

– Hot water heater thermostat and breaker;

– Main electrical switch;

– Fuse box or circuit breaker box.

• Renovations targeted at increasing energy-efficiency may affect appliances venting by a chimney. Check chimney performance if you tighten the envelope or add exhaust fans. Remember that homes, like people, get old. Just as we require regular checkups as we age, It’s a good idea to inspect your home regularly and replace or repair parts and materials that wear out with use and time. And remember that since different components of your home work together and affect each other, minor repairs can quickly become major ones if they are not taken care of quickly.

You will probably be able to do many of the repairs yourself. If I can do it, trust me you can too! However, if you feel it’s too complex of a job to handle on your own, it is best to call an expert. Feel free to contact me for a list of referrals. It’s not too important who carries out the repair, just remember that the work has to be done correctly. Bad materials and poor workmanship will end up costing you more in the end and devalue your home.

Makini Smith

Sales Representative

RE/MAX First Realty Ltd., Brokerage

www.makinismith.com