NEGLECTED NECESSITIES
4 Chores You Can’t Ignore
Low water pressure, on the other hand, can lead to frustration when washing dishes or bathing.
If you are a homeowner, you know home maintenance chores are never-ending and can begin to pile up — it feels like a part-time job. For many, it’s tempting to just rely on professional repair services when something breaks down, but this can be expensive. That’s why you shouldn’t ignore these simple maintenance tasks — they may present dangers to the home and its occupants. Here are four simple home maintenance tasks you shouldn’t neglect. Maintain your sump pump. If you have a basement, you likely have a sump pump, which transports water from the deepest part of your house to a designated draining point to prevent costly flooding and mold growth. These mechanisms are usually tucked away to prevent them from being an eyesore, making them easy to forget. However, routinely inspecting and performing necessary repairs on your sump pump could prevent catastrophe. Check your water pressure. There is nothing worse than expecting a nice, relaxing shower only to be greeted by a blast of water akin to one from a super- soaker wielded by an overzealous kid. When it comes to domestic comfort, water pressure makes a big difference: On one hand, if your pressure is too high, it can lead to discomfort and damaged pipes — and you’ll waste water, which means higher utility bills.
To prevent this, measure your water pressure: You want a reading of around 75 psi. If it is significantly higher or lower, replace your valves or install a pressure gauge to monitor the issue. Clear window weep holes. The bottom exterior frames of windows often feature weep holes meant to displace excess rainwater. These can get clogged, which can lead to the frames filling up with water and then leaking, causing interior water damage. The easiest way to prevent this is by clearing your windows’ weep holes at least once a year. Drain sediment from your water heater. Many of us rely on water heaters for laundry, dishwashing, and bathing. Hot water is a comfort and a necessity, but the more we use our water heaters, the more sediment collects in the bottom of the tank. To fix this, flush out the tank. Here are some easy steps to follow: • First, you need to ensure its power is off: If it is electric, shut off your electricity. If it is a gas-powered water heater, turn off the thermostat
• Turn off the supply of cold water
• Wait for the water in the tank to cool off
• Connect a garden hose to the drain valve, and put the other end of the hose somewhere the water can drain safely
• Open the drain valve
• Empty the tank, removing any excess sediment
• Then refill the tank
Keeping on top of often neglected home maintenance chores is an investment in your future. The work you put in now will pay dividends later in terms of money saved on costly repairs and lower utility bills.
2 • 888-888-8888 2 • 860.613.6290
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator