Home maintenance can feel scary when you think about the cost. The good news is that DIY Home maintenance can help you fix small issues before they grow. These simple steps also help South Nashua houses for sale and Southern NH houses for sale stand out to buyers. You can keep your home safe, clean, and valuable without spending a fortune.
DIY Home Maintenance for Toilets
A leaking toilet wastes water and harms your bathroom floor. A quick way to check for leaks is by adding food coloring to the toilet tank. Use a bright color so you do not confuse it with anything else. If that color appears in the bowl, the toilet has a leak.
Most leaks come from a worn flapper. You can replace it with ease. First shut off the water supply behind the toilet. Remove the tank lid and flush the toilet to empty it. Use a towel to remove extra water. Then take off the old flapper and attach the new one. Connect the chain and turn the water back on. This small task protects your home and helps buyers feel confident when touring South Nashua houses for sale.
Faucets
A leaky faucet is annoying and costly. Most leaks come from worn washers inside the faucet handles. You can replace these washers in minutes. Turn off the main water supply before you begin. Remove the leaky handle and swap in a new washer. This simple DIY Home maintenance saves water and leaves your home feeling fresh and cared for.
DIY Home Maintenance for Washers and Dryers
Your washing machine needs attention to prevent water damage. Check the hot and cold water hoses for leaks or rust. Replace damaged hoses right away. Stainless steel hoses work better than plastic ones because they last longer.
Make sure the drain lines are tight by using pliers or a small wrench. Washing machine leaks cause major damage, so regular checks protect your home.
For your dryer, clean the lint screen often. This keeps the heating element working well and lowers fire risk. You can wash the lint screen with dish soap and water each week to remove softener buildup. Clean appliances are an easy DIY home maintenance to help Southern NH houses for sale shine during showings.
DIY Home Maintenance for Water Heaters
Few things feel worse than cold water in the shower. A water heater needs care to last longer and prevent damage. Sediment settles at the bottom of the tank and weakens it over time.
To clean it, turn off the water and power supply. Attach a garden hose to the drain valve and place the other end outside or in a sink. Turn on your hot water faucets, then open the drain valve. When the tank is empty, turn on the water with the drain still open so more sediment washes out. Close the valve and let the tank fill again. Turn the power and water back on. This simple task protects your home and adds peace of mind.
Drafty Windows
Drafty windows raise heating costs and lower comfort. Check the caulking around each window. If it is worn or cracked, remove it and apply a new bead of caulk. You can also add insulating window film to block cold air. If you replace windows, add insulation around the frame for extra warmth. These small DIY home maintenance changes help South Nashua houses for sale feel more energy efficient.
Gutters
Gutters protect your home from water damage. When they clog or loosen, water pools near your foundation. Clean your gutters by removing debris and rinsing them with a hose. If you see leaks or loose sections, fix or replace them right away. Gutter covers help reduce debris and save time throughout the year. Clean gutters keep Southern NH houses for sale in strong condition.
DIY Home Maintenance for Roof Care
Your roof shields your home from harsh weather. Check it often for worn or missing shingles. Replace damaged shingles to prevent leaks. Look closely around skylights and chimneys since these areas can let in water. Repair any loose flashing to protect the inside of your home. A strong roof gives buyers confidence and adds value to your property.
Need More Tips?
For more DIY Home maintenance ideas for South Nashua houses for sale or Southern NH houses for sale, call our team at Harmony Real Estate at (603) 883-8840. Our agents are happy to guide you with helpful tips that boost your home's value and help it sell for top dollar.
Home maintenance can be scary at times, thinking of making your problem worse, or the huge dent it will make in your bank account! Here are a few ways you can maintain things yourself without having to break the bank by hiring a professional.
Water leaking from your toilet will not only cost your money on your utility bill, but it may damage your bathroom floor as well! Adding food coloring to your toilet's water tank will help you figure out whether the toilet itself is leaking, or if it's something more. Be sure to use a color like red or blue so you don’t mistake the color is the toilet bowl as something else. If the water in your toilet bowl is the same as color as the food coloring you used, then you have a leak. If you find that your toilet is leaking from the tank to the bowl, the flapper needs to be replaced. To change your toilets flapper, first shut off the water supply to your toilet. Look behind your toilet and turn the water valve located directly behind it to shut the water off. Be sure to remove the lid of the tank, and flush the toilet to remove the water from the tank, then use a towel or a sponge to get any excess water remaining in the tank. Remove the flush chain from the lever, and then slide the old flapper up off the overflow tube, then slide the new flapper in place over the overflow tube! Don’t forget to reconnect the chain, and turn the water supply back on.
The main reason why faucets leak is usually worn out washers. The washers inside of a faucets handles are usually rubber, and they tend to wear or break. You can easily replace them by removing the leaky handle that controls the water flow to the spout, removing the worn out or broke washer, and placing a new one where the old one was. Be sure to turn off your main water supply so you don’t make a mess!
It is always important to check your washing machine's water supply hoses and pipes for leaks. It is also important to check your drain hoses for leaks as well. If you do find any leaks, or the end of your pipes start to rust, replace them immediately. Also, be sure you check the snugness of the drain lines by using a wrench or a pair of pliers. If they are tightened properly, you won't be able to tighten them anymore. You should also replace plastic lines every three years to avoid leaks from happening. Washing machine leaks are the main cause of water damage in a home.
As for your dryer, be sure to remove the lint sheet and clean it regularly to prevent fires. Cleaning your lint screen will also increase the life of the heating element. Also be sure to clean the lint screen with dish soap and water once a week to remove excess fabric softener residue.
There is nothing worse than turning on the warm water in your shower and feeling the burst of cold come raining down on you. Water heaters need maintenance to increase longevity and to reduce the possibility of damage as many other appliances do. Most people dont realize that water has sediment in it, and when it settles it can damage the floor of your water heater. You should drain the water from your water heater at least once a year to clean the inside surface of the floor.
To drain your water heater, be sure to turn off the water supply and power to it. Then, connect a hose to the water heater and put the other end somewhere it wont damage anything, such as your driveway. Usually a typical garden hose fits a water heater perfectly. Turn on all the hot water faucets in your home to open the drain valve to you water heater. When your finished with that, turn the water supply back on with the drain valve still open to remove any built up sediment at the bottom of the tank, Then close the drain valve, refill the tank. Don’t forget to turn the power and water back on!
Drafty windows are the worst! They are the leading cause of running up your electric bill, whether you are using an air conditioner, or the heat to warm your home. Often check the caulk line that runs along your window. If it seems to be damaged or weathered remove whatever is left with a razor blade or a knife, and replace it with new caulk. For further insulation, you can add insulating window film against your glass to keep the drafts out.
While gutters usually go unnoticed, they are one of the most important aspects to keep your home. Gutters are designed to capture water and debris and take them away from your foundation. Another main cause of water damage in a home is from gutters that are not properly maintianed. To clean you gutters you simply remove debri manually as you wash the gutters with a garden hose. If you find any spots that are leaking, or parts of the gutter that are not properly affixiated to your fascia boards be sure to replace or repair them right away.
Be sure to regualrrly check your roof, and replace any shingles that are missing, worn, or the that gravel has worm off of. The shingles protect your roof from any type of weather, whether it be rain, snow, or the hot summer sun. Make sure you check around any skylights or chimmneys where there could be a leak.
