Average House Maintenance Cost
May 3rd, 2010 | 
Author: 
There are many factors that will determine an average yearly house maintenance cost. Below you will find a list of suggestions for maintenance throughout the year as well as an estimate for an average home.
1. Make sure air vents indoors and outside (intake, exhaust and forced air) are not blocked by snow or debris.
2. Test the ground fault circuit interrupter monthly by pushing the test button. This should then cause the reset button to pop up.
3. Regularly check the house for safety hazards such as a loose handrail, lifting or buckling carpet, etc.
4. Inspect fire extinguishers to ensure they are fully charged.
5. Check automatic garage door opener’s safety reverse.
6. Grind ice cubes to clean garbage disposal. Flush with hot water and baking soda.
7. Defrost manual refrigerator; or if automatically defrosted, wash off shelves and clean.
8. Clean faucet aerators and shower heads.
9. Clean or replace air filters when the system is in use for heating or cooling. Vacuum heat registers, vents and radiators.
10. If you have a septic tank, measure the sludge and scum to determine if the tank needs to be emptied before the spring. Tanks should be pumped out at least once every three years.
11. Ensure all doors to the outside shut tightly, and check other doors for ease of use. Renew door weather-stripping if required.
12. If the heat recovery ventilator has been shut off for the summer, clean the filters and the core, and pour water down the condensate drain to test it.
13. If there is a door between your house and the garage, check the adjustment of the self-closing device to ensure it closes the door completely.
14. Check fire escape routes, door and window locks and hardware, and lighting around outside of house; ensure family has good security habits.
15. If you have a plumbing fixture that is not used frequently, such as a laundry tub or spare bathroom sink, tub or shower stall, run some water briefly to keep water in the trap.
16. Monitor your home for excessive moisture levels—for example, condensation on your windows, which can cause significant damage over time and pose serious health problems—and take corrective action.
17. Check plugs and outlets for all indoor and outdoor seasonal lights to ensure fire safety: if worn, or plugs or cords feel warm to the touch, replace immediately.
18. Check eaves troughs and downspouts for loose joints and secure attachment to your home, clear any obstructions, and ensure water flows away from your foundation.
19. Examine the foundation walls for cracks, leaks, or signs of moisture, and repair as required. Repair and paint fences as necessary.
20. Note any sagging on the roof that could indicate structural problems requiring further investigation from inside the attic. Note the condition of all shingles for possible repair or replacement, and examine all roof flashings, such as at chimney and roof joints, for any signs of cracking or leakage.
21. If you have a plumbing fixture that is not used frequently, such as a laundry tub or spare bathroom sink, tub, or shower stall, run some water briefly to keep water in the trap.
22. Expect to pay $500 to $8000 yearly for a median value home.
You may also be interested in:
GreenSense for the Home: Rating the Real Payoff from 50 Green Home Projects When does a green home project make financial sense? The authors of this book provide the answer to ... Read More >
Affordable Remodel: How to Get Custom Results on Any BudgetCall him cheap, but Fernando Pages Ruiz enjoys luxury remodeling that doesn't pull at the purse strings. Now he shares his hard-won secrets, revealing... Read More >
How to Increase the Value of Your Home: Simple, Budget-Conscious Techniques and Ideas That Will Make Your Home Worth Up to $100,000 More!The guide to maximizing the value of your most valuable asset Millions of Americans are investing in home improvements, hoping to increase the l... Read More >
Incoming search terms:
Other Post You Might Like:
Related Websites
- Do Something Let’s take a routine activity. One we often don’t worry about. Someone want to offer one? Cleaning house? Ok, yes. For some people house cleaning is very simple and not seemingly stressful. Some find it stress relieving. It is, but for one reason, and we can tap this reason in every......
- Getting Back To The Chore Chart Man have I been a lazy bones recently! It's the worst! People tell me to rest while I still can, and I think I am taking that advice way to literally. My house is a disaster, and I wish I could say that I was doing something so productive......
- Colours Of The World The world is full of colors . Just look at that image that is up, you know they are? Powdered spices and dyes are both clothing and textiles to food and the truth is that they can be more vibrant, because although we know the colors basic shades and tones......
- 4 Easy Little Touches Anyone Can Do To Their Home When it comes to home renovation, many people are under the impression that it means big projects that are costly. Actually, there are many different small and inexpensive projects that can be done that will not only make your house look great, but also increase its value. Most of these......
- Do Not Buy A House Before You Are Ready And Able. The following is a guest post from Trees Full of Money. Don't buy into the hype that if you are renting you are "throwing money away". When making a decision to buy a new property, make sure that you are truly ready. With the run up in home prices over......
Posted in 
Tags: 