7 DIY Home Maintenance Tips
Every New Homeowner Should Know
As the old saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." In other words, by learning how to perform these routine maintenance tasks yourself, you can avoid costly, unexpected bills resulting from poor maintenance.
Let's explore seven new homeowner tips every homeowner can easily tackle independently.
Finding and Knowing How to Turn Off the Main Water Line
One of your first tasks as a new homeowner should be to find the shut-off valve for the main water line. Why is this so crucial? If a pipe bursts or an appliance starts leaking, you must act quickly to prevent serious and expensive water damage from ruining your new home. The good news is that it's a simple task that could save you thousands of dollars, making it a no-brainer.Make time shortly after moving in to locate the main water valve and practice turning it on and off again. It's usually in the basement (if you have one), garage, or outside near the curb – it varies by location.
When practicing, run a cold water faucet each time to demonstrate that you've done it correctly. Once you've mastered it, you'll know what to do in an emergency flooding scenario and avoid potentially disastrous repair bills.
Repairing Drywall Holes
Holes in drywall are common mishaps. Whether you've knocked a hole into the wall when moving furniture or one of your children has accidentally damaged it, you'll be glad to hear that a repair is much easier than you might think.Fill small holes and imperfections with spackling paste before sanding and repainting. Plenty of hardware stores sell patch repair kits for slightly larger holes that provide all the tools you need to restore your drywall.
Lastly, medium-to-large-size holes benefit from the "pumpkin patch" technique, whereby you cut a circular piece of new drywall larger than the affected area and trace it on your wall (over the damaged area). Then, cut out the same-sized piece from your existing drywall along your drawn lines, fit the new piece, secure it with drywall tape, add a suitable joint compound, sand it down, and repaint.
Cleaning Gutters
One of the most overlooked aspects of home maintenance is the gutters. But ignore them at your peril. Clogged gutters can lead to severe issues, from damaged roof decks to structurally compromised walls and foundations. So, it pays to make an effort to inspect and clear them regularly.Each spring and fall, take a ladder, ensure it's secure, and climb up with gloves and a long-handled brush to start your clearing efforts. Remove any debris you can. Once you've done everything you can, run a water hose down each gutter to check the water is flowing correctly (diverting water away from your home and into the downspouts). Doing so will help ensure you won't be on the receiving end of expensive water damage.
Stopping a Leaking Faucet
Leaking faucets might not seem a cause for concern, but they can waste up to five gallons of water a day and needlessly raise utility bills. They're usually an easy fix, so there's no excuse not to fix them yourself.Turn off your water supply and start disassembling your faucet assembly (you can often do this without needing tools), using an adjustable wrench if necessary. In most cases, the culprit will be a worn-out rubber washer. Take the washer to a local hardware store to ensure the replacement matches.
Once you've returned, substitute the new washer for the old one and assemble everything. Voila, you've fixed the leak!
Cleaning the Dryer Vent
Another relatively easy task that can save your life and those of your family is cleaning your dryer vent. Lint buildup in your dryer vent is a huge fire risk, causing 15,000-plus fires and north of $100 million in property damage yearly, according to the US Fire Administration.To prevent this from happening to you, disconnect your dryer, purchase a vent cleaning brush (available from many online retailers and big box stores), and attach it to your drill. Use the brush to extract the lint from the venting system. When you finish, hoover up any remaining lint debris and check behind the dryer for any loose pieces.
Since you're moving into a new home with brand-new appliances, you should only need to do this DIY job once a year initially. But keep on top of it to avoid an unnecessary catastrophe.
Testing and Replacing Smoke Alarms
Speaking of fires, the best prevention of a deadly incident is the installation of smoke detectors. They save tens of thousands of lives yearly – but only if they work. That's why you should regularly test yours to ensure they are functional and replace any batteries if necessary. For reference, batteries for these devices tend to last around a year. So, swap them out for replacements at least annually.Lastly, remember that most smoke detector manufacturers state that smoke detectors in place for over a decade should be removed and replaced. This simple task requires no tools beyond a screwdriver or drill.
Replacing Your Air Filters
Did you know that you should change your air filters often? How often you change your filters depends on several things: the quality of the air filter, the number of days you use it, whether you live in a dusty environment, and whether you have allergies and pets. Since you're a new homeowner, the age of your system won't become a factor for several years.
These factors are essential when deciding how often to replace your air filters. Some experts recommend using lower-quality home filters and changing them every month, saying that these filters won't make your system work harder; others recommend using higher-quality filters that last three or six months. We build homes in every region nationwide, and every homeowner has a unique lifestyle and living situation. It's best to ask an expert how often you should change your air filters after settling into your home.
Each month, you can check your air filters by holding them up to a light source to see if light passes through; if not, they're clogged and need to be changed. Other signs your filters need to be changed include
- Dust around your air vents
- Strange odors
- Increased energy or electricity bills
- Increased allergies
- Overheating or malfunctioning AC unit
The good news is that changing your air filters is easy. Once you've sourced a pack of replacement filters (make sure they are the correct size), find your return vent, usually on one of your indoor walls or ceilings. Pop it open using a screwdriver, remove the dirty filter before replacing it with a fresh one, and seal everything back up.
Not only will replacing your filter improve the air quality in your home, but crucially, it will ensure your heating and cooling systems keep working at maximum efficiency. You benefit through lower utility bills, reduced wear and tear on your HVAC system (as well as any unnecessary repairs from excessive clogging).
Safeguard Your Family and Finances with Straightforward DIY Maintenance Tasks
Mastering these relatively straightforward tasks will give you a sense of accomplishment and peace of mind, as you will know that you can better protect your family and your new home investment.
Making these tasks part of a regular home maintenance schedule can build a solid foundation for your home's long-term health and enhance its comfort and functionality. With the basics taken care of, you can focus on creating cherished memories with your loved ones.
If you want to learn more about getting the most out of owning your home, dive into our homeowner resources section. It's packed with detailed guides and practical advice tailored specifically for homeowners, including tips for moving day, ways to make your home safer for kids and ideas to unlock the full potential of flex spaces in your new home.