Getting Started on Home Repairs

Warm weather can be an inspiration for some to start flexing your do-it-yourself muscles and begin building a list of home repairs that you know are lurking on the inside and outside of the house. But for some, knowing just where to start may be a bit confusing. On the other hand, the cost of hiring a home inspector may be a little out of your financial realm right now.

Household repairs to start with

* Make sure you that your gutters are being kept clean and the sump pump in the basement is in working order. In addition, to keeping the rain and snow from ending up on your window wells make sure they are covered properly. You will also need to see that your landscaping is sloping away from the house. There is a purpose to all this. Checking all the above items will help insure a dry basement. Because water in the basement not only ruins furniture and soaks the carpets, it also starts a good breeding ground for mold and other problems.

Check Out: How to Avoid Mold Damage to a Home

* Walk around the outside of the house to see if any of the trim and siding is in need of a touch up job for paint. Anything that does need touching up can be remedied by scraping, priming and then re-painting the affected area.

* Walk through the inside of the house and check for loose outlets, switches that are worn, cords or cables that have become frayed, open junction boxes, and breaker panels that have become weak. Also, it is necessary that you replace any missing smoke alarms or dead batteries in the alarms. If working with electricity is not something you are comfortable with, it is very important that you find someone to help you with this project. Because it really needs to be done.

* Spring is a good time to clean off the condensing coil on your air conditioner. First off, you need to shut off the electricity for a few minutes while you simply hose off the coil.

* Keeping cracks caulked in the concrete will prevent them from getting any larger as the hot and freezing weather continues to contract and expand the concrete.

* Replace any caulk around the windows that has become brittle. This will help hold the window in place much better.

* If you live in an area where the carpenter ants and the termites exist, you will need to check the foundation, or have someone else check for any infestations.

* Also, make sure the furnace filter is changed every spring and fall.

* Take a regular head and a phillips head screwdriver and go around your house tightening screws. Sounds crazy, but you’ll be amazed how many are loose or cause squeaking.

*Next, grab an adjustable wrench and do the same with all of the bolt heads in you house. Not so tough, eh?

*Next, get a small oil can or spray can of WD-40 and lubricate every hinge in the home, Outside doors, inside doors, and cabinet doors, if it has a potential to squeak, give it a shot.

*Go around the house and check every light bulb to make sure it’s tight, and change the ones that are burnt out.

*Have stained furniture? It’s really inexpensive to rent an upholstery cleaning machine and some chemicals to make your furniture look new again.