3 House Maintenance Problems That Require Immediate Attention

Oceanfront Cottage, Southern Coast, Maine | Whitten Architects

Let’s face it: Maintaining your home isn’t always cheap. This simple fact makes it all too easy to procrastinate, pushing those needed repairs further and further into the future. Some home repairs are purely cosmetic, so it’s perfectly acceptable to let them slide a bit – but others? Not so much.

The urge to save a few dollars here and there by skimping on home repairs is understandable. But letting certain repairs slide to save a couple hundred bucks　now　might end up costing you more money at some point in the future. Think of it as an investment in your home’s future value – and an investment in your future bank account. After all, when you decide to sell your home, having these repairs already done will make your house much more marketable.

Following are three home repairs you shouldn’t delay:

Faulty Roofs

Roofs can be expensive to replace, but consider the cost of not repairing a leaky or damaged roof – you may end up with a wide range of other problems, if your roof cannot keep moisture out of your living space.

You don’t need to be an expert to spot possible problems. At least once a year, visually inspect your roof for damage such as punctures, damaged or missing shingles or pooling water – a common indicator that your roof may not slope adequately. And inspect your roof following strong storm that may have blown debris onto your roof.

Unexplained Heating Costs

If your gas or oil bill suddenly skyrockets – and there hasn’t been a recent rate hike – you might have a malfunctioning furnace. Not only does this waste money, it can pose a health hazard, too; damaged heating systems can lead to carbon monoxide buildup, a potentially deadly situation.

At least once a year, have a professional inspect and clean your furnace. 　For extra protection, install carbon monoxide detectors around the house.

A Shifting Foundation

As soil expands and contracts around your home, over time, your foundation may shift. And that shifting could be minor, or it could cause major structural damage in your home.

So how do you know if your foundation is in trouble? Telltale signs include:

·Cracks in drywall, floors and in the foundation itself; horizontal cracks in the foundation, vertical cracks in masonry, and cracks more than a quarter-inch wide.

·Cracks above doors, windows, or on the second floor exterior

·Windows and doors that stick shut or have a gap between the window and frame, or door and frame

·Moist dirt and a musty smell, or extremely dry dirt with cracks in it in the crawl space

Inspect your home, inside and out, for these signs; if you find any, get a reputable foundation repair company to evaluate the problem as soon as possible.

Catching these potentially pesky – and costly – problems before they escalate may cost money up front, but it’ll definitely save you money down the road. A regular schedule of maintenance　and repair helps catch problems before they start. And, when it comes time to put your home on the market, you and your buyers will have peace of mind that the home is in good repair.

Lindsey Harper Mac lives in Indianapolis. She enjoys helping people renovate and repair their homes.