When you purchase your home, it’s important to consider what the actual cost will be to manage your home. Home maintenance costs can start to add up, and there are some hidden dangers about home maintenance every homeowner should know. Here are five hidden dangers of home maintenance.
The Problem May be Larger Than You Think
Home maintenance is essential for any home, but often what seems to be a maintenance need is more of a repair need. Maintenance can sometimes be a band-aid to treat symptoms without addressing the cause of the problem. Let’s say you have condensation building up on the pipes in your basement. You wipe down the pipes regularly and wrap them with insulation as part of your maintenance. However, you never address what is causing the condensation (usually a venting issue). Comfy Living states mold can grow about 24-48 hours after a water damage event.
You have done your best to deal with the condensation through maintenance, but what you need is a professional to identify the cause of the problem and correct that so you can breathe easily. Otherwise, you may end up with a mold problem, and not even notice. Addressing underlying issues is the only way to ensure your maintenance is not for nothing.
Septic System Maintenance
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, about 60 million people rely on septic systems to manage waste. Houses that depend on septic systems to manage their waste require special maintenance. However, maintenance does not always fix a septic problem. You may notice puddling in the yard around your septic and think it is time to have your system pumped. However, this peace of mind shouldn’t blind you to the possibility of larger problems causing these symptoms.
Septic maintenance will extend the life of your system, but only directly addressing the problem at hand will ensure its health down the road. There are also hidden problems that can occur while the septic tank still pumps properly, like a cracked tank, if the crack is up high enough on the tank. Regular professional inspections are the homeowner’s responsibility to invest in.
Inside the Walls
Home maintenance dangers can affect the seen and the unseen. For example, there is no way to tell what is happening inside your walls. You are likely running on outdated wiring in older homes built before the 1950s. This fire hazard requires updating. Most homeowners do not have an electrician do periodic system checks of their electrical system. Electrical fires are one of the most common causes of home fires, and in older houses with dry wood and dated insulation, these fires can spread especially fast. Fire safety is half prevention and half planning. According to the National Fire Protection Association, if you have a sprinkler system installed, you can reduce the risk of death in a fire by 60%.
You may not have planned for the expense of having an electrician do an inspection, and you may not be financially prepared to have your home rewired, but safety should be first. You must maintain what you can see in your home and what you cannot to keep your home value up.
Overconfident Maintenance
A big risk factor when it comes to home maintenance is taking on maintenance activities that you are not qualified to take on. Being overconfident about your skill set can cost you quite a bit of money. For example, HVAC maintenance and repairs should always be left to a professional. Taking on HVAC maintenance as a DIY project when you are inexperienced can cause more damage than good. It is important to recognize your limitations and get professional assistance when you need it.
Roofing Work
There is a big hidden danger if you ignore roof maintenance or, worse yet, try to manage too much of it as a DIY project. Roofing, like HVAC services, should be left to the professionals. Regular roof maintenance (an annual check is fine) can detect problems early on and keep costs down for repairs. Roofing is a risky activity. The risk of injury is high. Let a roofer manage your roof maintenance to keep you and your roof safe.
Home maintenance is a must. However, your home is full of hidden dangers that can only be spotted by trained professionals. This is why your own home maintenance should always be accompanied by regular inspection and planning for malfunction.
