5 Home Maintenance Projects for the New Year

Now that we are a few days into the new year, you’ve probably already made your resolutions. That is great! We hope you can stick to them all year, but don’t forget to add your home maintenance projects to the list! When you consider that we spend around 90% of our time in our house – possibly even more with everything that has happened in the past couple of years, it is vital to make home maintenance a priority. Below are five essential home maintenance tips:

Reduce Your Energy Use

Decrease energy use by sealing and insulating the ducts from your heating and cooling system. Ductwork is usually found in hard-to-reach places, for example, crawl spaces, attics, and the inside wall cavities. Try to concentrate on the areas that are the most accessible first. Use duct sealants and fiberglass insulation which you can find at most hardware stores.

Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Improving your indoor air quality is one of the most important home maintenance tips! You can do this by maintaining your HVAC system and changing furnace filters regularly. Reduce humidity and airborne pollutants by ventilating your kitchen and bathroom. Use low-VOC paints on walls for a fresher home. If you have a fireplace, avoid using pressed wood which normally contains formaldehyde. Instead use real firewood.

Declutter Your Home

Declutter your home room by room. Focus your attention on one area or room at a time. You can use boxes or containers to separate each item into different categories. If you have items you don’t want to get rid of but don’t have space for, use the areas between wall studs or under the stairs for extra storage space. Consider investing in home organizers such as extra cabinets or shoe organizers to keep your house clean and organized.

Decrease Your Water Usage

One huge way to decrease water consumption is by installing EPA-certified WaterSense products. Another valuable water-saving product is the low-flow showerhead, which reduces water flow while keeping the pressure high. If you have a toilet made before 1994, consider replacing it with a low-flow toilet that needs only one gallon of water to flush.

Maintain Your Water Heater

Drain a quart of water from your water heater about every three months. To do this properly, follow the steps below:

1. Attach a hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the heater

2. Drain the water into a bucket or other container. 

This home maintenance project will reduce the amount of sediment build-up in the water tank. Ultimately this will extend the life of your water heater.

These are just a few great ideas to put on your home maintenace project list! It’s also never a bad idea to do a thorough home inspection. Simply walk around your home and examine the structure and mechanics to ensure there are no issues. For professional fire, water, mold, and biohazard restoration services, call us at (843) 972-4200!