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5 home repair and maintenance tips

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home repairMaintaining a home can be a tough job.  You cannot wash your hands of it once you have gone ahead and bought the property.  A house is a long-term investment that you need to keep in great shape. Not only will it help it retain its market value, but it will also improve your quality of living.

5 Home Repair and Maintenance Tips

Home repair and maintenance can prove to be a costly affair depending on the size of your home.  Air conditioning repair, for instance, needs to be done regularly.  You need to clean your HVAC system at least once a year, before the summer sets in.  This will get rid of all the dirt and dust that has collected inside it over the year, as well as make sure that it keeps on running properly.

It helps if you are open to innovative ways to keep your house in perfect condition. The following tips will help you out.

  1. Make Sure that the Paint is Flawless

Over time you will notice the paint inside your house is starting to wear or chip off. A perfect coat of paint can make all the difference between an attractive interior and an unpleasant one. Sometimes, you just need to cover a few spots here and there. Calling in professional help for this situation is an unnecessary expense. It is best to learn how to paint your home yourself.

Once you have become familiar with a paintbrush, you will be able to spruce up your place with just a few strokes. Touching up the colors regularly will keep the value of your house intact. Moreover, you will enter a stylish environment which will improve your mood.

In order to execute the perfect paint job, you need to prep well. If you find that there are fixtures or hardware on the wall that obstruct the paint, remove them. Clean the walls thoroughly because paint does not sit well on grime and dust. Don’t forget to sand and prime if you want to paint the wall entirely. Otherwise, you can touch up certain spots that have faded over time. It is best to preserve some of the original paint to color match perfectly; otherwise, the job can look unprofessional. Remember the shade number and purchase it from your local hardware store when you begin a project. Adding a few drops of vanilla to your paint can eliminate odor problems that you might face.

If you want to paint over walls that have been stained with nicotine, then you should use a stain blocker first so that the color shows up.

  1. Keep your Toilet in Good Shape

You will have to spend a great deal of money on toilet repairs if you let problems persist over time. A common problem faced almost by every homeowner is water leaking from the toilet tank from time to time. This will reflect on your utilities bill. Moreover, the leak can cause water damage to both the internal workings and external appearance of the bathroom. If you are sure that your toilet tank is leaking into the bowl, then you should set about replacing the flapper. You will be able to do it yourself if you take some time to understand the mechanical workings of the toilet.

  1. Control Pests

Nothing is worse than a pest attack. No homeowner wants to be faced with the ominous situation of their house being invaded by insects and other pests. Most of us have faced problems with rats, termites, mice, and cockroaches from time to time. To avoid long-term damage, you should schedule professional pest control checkups every few months.  In between these appointments, you need to take matters into your own hands.  Orange Guard, Boric acid and spearmint plants are known to keeps pests away.  Preventive measures are better than damage control.

  1. Make Sure that Your Plumbing is in Order

You will find that clogged faucets can be a common problem in the house. Avoid pouring oils and fats down a sink as they can clog the pipes. A cleansing solution in hot water helps to unclog sinks when poured through it. Do not opt for acids as they can damage the plumbing. Use a small drain snake instead to pull out the clog.

  1. Keep an Eye on the Roof

The roof often goes neglected and might be hiding a lot of damage. Inspect and make minor repairs to the roof once every two months.  This can save you exorbitant repair costs in the future.

Give your house some love!

These few simple tips can help you keep ahead of major home repair costs in the near future.

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