Home maintenance mistakes can end up costing us a lot of time, hassle, and money. Making mistakes is inevitable, really – you can’t be perfect all the time, and things go wrong with the home that we can’t always control. However, if you become aware of some of these home maintenance mistakes, you will be better equipped to avoid them later on down the line.
7 Home Maintenance Mistakes You Might Regret Later
Read on for the home maintenance mistakes that you should avoid:
1 – Not Addressing Water Damage
If you don’t address water damage as soon as you spot it, you could end up in a lot of trouble later on. Keeping your bathroom dry and in good condition is essential. Otherwise, you can experience mold and other issues. This can happen within days and even hours if you don’t address the issue right away! If you do end up with mold, you can end up with expensive repairs to have it removed properly, as it is not easy to get rid of.
2 – Ignoring Appliance Maintenance
Your appliances won’t last forever, no matter how much money they cost you. Making sure you stay on top of your appliances, such as descaling your coffee machine or kettle and cleaning the back of your refrigerator is key. Setting up a sort of schedule can help you remember to do this.
3 – Procrastinating on Things You Know You Need To Do
It never seems like the most convenient time to tackle your home maintenance, but if you put it off you will pay for it later. Prioritize and make sure you deal with things quickly to avoid even more damage and costs later on.
4 – Letting Dust Get Out of Hand
Most people don’t realize just how quickly dust can get out of hand. Buying good equipment for dusting and making sure you swap them out when you need to can help. Make sure you pay special attention to the dust on your air vents!
Dust comes from dead skin cells, decaying bugs, and other pollutants. Left unchecked, some kinds can trigger asthma or allergy flare-ups, sinus infections, or other health problems.
5 – Attempting Unfamiliar DIY repairs
YouTube is a great place to learn how to take care of home repairs yourself, but if you’re brand new, it’s probably not a good idea to try to take care of something that could go wrong. You may end up doing more harm than good, so calling a professional is often the best thing to do.
6 – Not Preparing Your Home For Winter
If you don’t prepare your home for winter, you will end up spending a ton trying to fix things that have gone wrong. Your sprinkler system could freeze up, as well as your faucets and pipes. Make sure you know your water heater lifespan and when that needs to be replaced, too.
7 – Using The Pressure Washer To Excess
A pressure washer is great if you want to keep your home looking clean and new, but a garden hose can be a more gentle option. You may damage the exterior of your home if you use the pressure washer too much, as it can strip paint off siding, and cause other problems. The pressure washer should be used at a 40-degree angle to avoid head-on pressure. Using a low-pressure nozzle is best on materials like wood, too.
The Takeaway: Avoid these home maintenance mistakes
Avoid these home maintenance mistakes. The time and money you invest now could prevent possible dire consequences down the road. As the adage says, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Have a happy DIY day!
Despite freelancing to make a living, her love is "all things home."
Deborah grew up in a family that grew a large vegetable garden and a fruit orchard, helping her parents pull weeds and can home-grown foods as part of her childhood. In fact, she had no idea that she could purchase veggies and fruits in pre-packed steel cans until she went to college and made a food run.
Today, she lives in Bertie County, North Carolina, an agricultural rural area with more chickens than people. She lives with her husband and two rescue pets a sweet toy fox terrier and a cat who showed up one day and moved into the house. Together, they enjoy DIY projects, furniture refinishing, gardening, and canning.
This blog celebrates all things home.
