Last Updated on January 21, 2025 by teamobn
Your home is your sanctuary, and keeping its vital systems in top shape is crucial for comfort, efficiency, and long-term savings. With a bit of creativity and some elbow grease, you can extend the lifespan of the essential components of your home. By using the following tips, you will not only save money on repairs and replacements but also enhance the overall functionality of your home.
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Keeping Your Home’s Water Flowing Smoothly
Your home’s plumbing system is used daily without giving it a second thought. We turn on a faucet and expect water to flow. We flush the toilet and expect our drains to remove our waste. But if (or more likely, when) these systems fail, disaster is waiting in the wings! What follows are some tips to keep the essential functions in your home running smoothly:
Unclog Drains Naturally
Harsh chemicals could damage the home’s plumbing system in the long run, leading to a bigger problem than just a clogged drain. An eco-friendly solution can unclog a drain and also ensure that the internal plumbing system is protected. Pour a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a cup or two of white vinegar. Let the mixture fizz for about 15 minutes then flush with hot water. The natural energy produced can break down mild clogs while deodorizing your pipes.
Silence Noisy Pipes
Pipes that knock or vibrate can be silenced by wrapping foam insulation around them. This will not only reduce the noise but also helps prevent heat loss in hot water lines, in turn improving energy efficiency. This simple solution will solve two problems at once and probably pay for itself in quick time!
Prevent Future Blockages
Wherever possible, place mesh screens over drains to catch debris before it enters the plumbing system.
Check and empty your washing machine and dishwasher filters frequently.
Avoid pouring fat and grease down any drain and establish a regular routine to pour boiling water down kitchen drains to flush the grease that accumulates from washing dishes. Use baking soda and vinegar to finish the clean while simultaneously deodorizing the plumbing.
Be careful what you try to flush! Toilets and sewer pipes can only handle compostable toilet paper. Wipes, tampons and other non-compostable items should never be flushed as they will eventually block your system causing sewage to back-up into your home.
Protecting Your Home’s Exterior From the Elements
Preserve your home’s curb appeal and structural integrity by using the following outdoor tips:
Deck Sealer Applicator
Seal the wood of your outdoor deck to ensure that it withstands rain, snow and exposure to the sun. Create your own deck seal applicator by attaching an old mop head to a broom handle for ease-of-use. This will allow you to cover larger areas quickly without having to bend or kneel down.
Secure Your Garage Door
To protect your garage door from intervention use the following tips. To ensure that no-one enters your garage without permission, install an additional deadbolt that manually locks or consider motion activated lights to prevent tampering. If your garage door is not functioning correctly or makes a sound while operating, get a professional garage door repair company to take a look.
DIY Gutter Guards
Blocked gutters can cause significant damage. Create an inexpensive barrier against leaves and debris that will otherwise enter your gutters by installing pieces of chicken wire at entry points. This will ensure that water can still flow freely while all debris is caught before reaching the downpipes. To prevent further blockages all pieces of debris must be cleared periodically, especially in fall.
Boosting Your Home’s Energy Performance
Use the following tips to reduce energy consumption and lower utility bills.
Solar-Powered Outdoor Lighting
Use solar-powered stick lights along walkways and in outdoor spaces such as gardens or patios for eco-friendly lighting solutions. Installing these products is also easy as there is no need to have an electrical connection point nearby. Although the initial investment may be expensive, consider installing rooftop solar to power your entire home. These systems pay themselves off within an average period of around 10 years. Most systems come with a 25 year performance guarantee so the return on your investment is very good. The bonus is that you are reducing your carbon footprint by reducing your use of gas or coal fired power.
Apply Window Insulation Film
Window insulation film can be applied to windows during winter months. This will create an extra layer of insulation, helping to retain heat and in turn reducing energy costs. Clear window film is also less intrusive and will not affect the aesthetic of your home.
Smart Power Strip Setup
Use smart power strips and sockets to automatically cut power to devices in standby mode. When appliances are in standby mode, they still consume a small amount of power. This can be as much as 10% of your home’s electricity bill per year.
Extend the Life Your Walking Surfaces
Keep your home’s floors looking great and help them last longer with these smart tips:
Protect Vinyl Floors With Felt
Apply small felt pads to the bottom of furniture legs to prevent scratches and dents on vinyl floors. Felt pads placed on moving furniture such as stools can significantly extend the lifespan of your floor and keep it looking like new.
Hardwood Floor Scratch Concealer
Use a walnut to buff out small scratches on hardwood floors. The natural oils of a walnut will blend the scratch with the surrounding wood. The finish of a hardwood floor can also be restored by sanding the top layer and thereafter applying a protective sealer.
Remove Carpet Dents With Ice
Place ice cubes on carpet dents that have been left by furniture. As the ice melts, it helps the carpet fibres to regain their shape. Fluff the carpet up to help it blend with the surrounding area.
Maintain Brilliance in Your Bathroom
Keep your bathroom shining, fresh and functional by using the following tips and tricks:
Shower Head Descaler
If your shower head’s pressure has dropped it might need to be descaled. Fill a plastic bag with equal parts of vinegar and water. Place the bag over the shower head and secure it with a rubber band and let it soak to remove mineral build-up. With this technique there is no need to even remove the shower head.
Prevent Toilet Bowl Stains
Prevent hard water and other stains in your toilet bowl by applying car wax to a clean and dry bowl. This creates a slick surface that resists stains and will make cleaning easier.
Defog Mirrors With Soap
Prevent mirrors from fogging up by rubbing it with a bar of soap and then buffing it out with a dry cloth. A thin layer will be created over the mirror that prevents fogging during hot showers.
Extend Your Home’s Lifespan With DIY
By using these DIY tips in your maintenance routine, you will be able to extend the life and functioning of your home’s essential systems. This will lead to reduced costs on repairs and maintenance in turn creating a comfortable living environment for all.
Do you have a maintenance checklist and schedule for your home?
