5 Tips For An Easier Thanksgiving Cleanup If You're Hosting For the First Time
Thanksgiving is easily anyone's favorite holiday of the year. With each bite of the glorious roast turkey, spoonfuls of delicious mashed potatoes, gravy, and cranberry sauce, and even a slice of pumpkin pie, we are transported closer to Christmas and the spirit of giving. But with a great feast comes a huge cleanup, which many are not looking forward to. You may be all set and ready for the Thanksgiving dinner, especially if you’re hosting for the first time in your new home, but have you thought about the subsequent cleaning load? Here are five easy and quick tips to make the Thanksgiving cleanup process easier and ensure the day’s more enjoyable for you and your loved ones.
Read More
Don't Forget to Look Up! The Importance of Having A Healthy Roof Over Your Home
A roof is one of the least thought of components of a home, but it's undoubtedly one of the most important. That lovely front porch or lush garden may be the first features that catch your attention when you drive by a home or during house-hunting. However, you shouldn’t fail to notice the roof as well, considering that it makes up a third of the exterior view of your home (or even more) and is a huge part of your curb appeal. And we're here to tell you four reasons why having a healthy, well-maintained roof over a home is critical, and how to tell if it already screams maintenance and extra attention. Roofs are a fundamental element to your home, which is probably one of your largest investments. Because the roof connects the interior of your home to the outside world, it serves as a barrier against inclement weather conditions. A healthy roof guards you against snow, hail, rain, ice, sun, even from branches and debris. If your roof is in poor condition, it can leave your home susceptible to considerable weather damage. Even tiny leaks could lead to mold, mildew, and other similar water problems that could damage your home systems and your health. Aside from braving the elements, a properly ventilated and insulated roof will save you money on heating and cooling. The seals in your roof are what helps in keeping in your climate-controlled air. It releases humidity and heat from your home, which can be as damaging as rain from the outside. A roof in top shape is key to cooler summer temperatures and warmer winter ones inside your home. And when your home's indoor temperature is steady, it doesn’t only make it more comfortable but can also significantly cut down your energy costs. A healthy roof makes the rest of your home relatively safer. This is why many homeowners insurance providers consider the age, condition, material, and shape of your roof when determining your insurance coverage and costs. Remember that this benefit may not work in all situations and still depends on various factors. For example, if you take the initiative to improve the quality of your house and opt for a complete roof replacement, the insurer will likely lower your premiums. Some companies may also provide discounts, which can give you substantial savings. But if the insurance company schedules a roof inspection and enforces a roof replacement, your rates will likely remain the same or could even go up. Likewise, homeowners living on the coast where there's the constant threat of hurricanes, thus prompting multiple insurance claims for roof repairs, could result in an insurance rate increase instead of the opposite. A strong and well-maintained roof is a prominent feature that can improve the appearance of your home. Even if you have no plans to sell soon, a roof that looks “taken care of” increases your curb appeal. If you decide to list your home, it's a good selling point as it can significantly increase your home’s value. Since it’s a conspicuous element of the house, prospective buyers can easily see any visible signs of wear and tear that could deter them from buying. It will prompt them to assume that there might be other areas of the home that are being neglected. Curling, damaged, loose, or missing shingles - These are clear signs that your roof needs some serious repairs, especially after a storm or other natural disasters. Light coming from the attic - Daylight coming from the roof boards means your roof has holes. Address this immediately by calling the pros to reduce water damage in the home. Stains - Notice some ugly black streaks on your roof? They may be dirt, soot, or mold. However, this can be an indication of algae and moss damage, which degrades the shingles and may cause water damage. It could compromise the health of your roof if the damage becomes widespread. How old is your roof? In general, roofs last about 20-30 years. However, the actual lifespan of your roof depends on several factors, such as the roofing material, quality of installation, environmental conditions, among others. The older your roof, the more likely it is to experience issues, so plan ahead if yours is already nearing its life expectancy and a roof replacement is more necessary than just repairs.
Read More
How Long Do Home Systems and Appliances Last? A Homeowner's Guide on the Average Life Expectancy of Major Appliances
Every homeowner is faced with a huge truth: their home's systems and appliances don’t last forever. Every major appliance has an average life expectancy, although it depends greatly on its usage and maintenance. And with many of us spending more time at home in recent years due to the pandemic, extra use may shorten their lifespan even more. Once their parts stop working, they’re bound to require some costly repairs and replacements, which could be agonizing to any homeowner. Contractors and builders calculate an average lifespan for each appliance, based on experiences on when systems and appliances failed in the past. The majority of the data included here is from the Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components by the National Association of Home Builders. They provide a decent guesstimate by compiling life-cycle data from scores of product manufacturers and testing labs. However, it's important to note that the lifespans for most major appliances have decreased significantly over the last few years, mainly because of the complexity of many smart models. Also, many appliances are often replaced long before they are worn out by newer products that are more desirable in terms of style and technology. Knowing the age of your household systems and appliances, along with their expected life spans, is an excellent way for you to plan for routine maintenance and prepare against hefty replacement bills that could make a huge dent in your budget. For home buyers, it’s also a good idea to factor the age of appliances and home systems into your decision making. Outdated appliances are very costly to deal with, the last thing you’d want is to be stuck with an expensive appliance repair or system replacement bill after you complete the sale and just moved in. Ranges, whether gas or electric, are generally one of the more durable appliances in your kitchen, which is why these can last somewhere around 13 to 15 years. It's often the body or the electric control unit that goes bad before the cooking units. Or the style becomes dated, triggering the desire for a new appliance. Although these appliances are being used often in preparing delicious meals, therefore subjected to a lot of heat and grease, many homeowners still forget to do regular maintenance on them. This could lead to more expenses and fire hazards when they only have simple maintenance schedules. Tips to make it last longer: Regularly clean the stovetop and grates using a mild soap/detergent, warm water, and sponge. Avoid using abrasives and inserting sharp objects. Clean the oven once or twice a year. Just be careful when cleaning underneath oven knobs by removing the knobs first. Your refrigerator is one of the most expensive but hardest working appliances in your home. And even though they constantly operate for 24 hours a day, they can still be expected to run for 10 to 15 years or more, depending on type and brand. Compact fridges have a relatively shorter lifespan, averaging for only 8 years. Freezers, on the other hand, will last anywhere from 12 to 20 years. Tips to make it last longer: Clean your refrigerator's condenser coils and check the door seals regularly. Wipe down handles and dispenser controls daily to remove bacteria. Provide enough space for proper airflow and to avoid overworking the appliance. Due to its intense work of grinding food matter into particles small enough to flush down the drain pipes, garbage disposals have a relatively short lifespan. It might last as little as 8 years, but regular maintenance can last as much as 12 years. And while it's difficult to see when is the time to replace it, watch out for signs including weird metal clanging noises, frequent clogging, unpleasant odors, and water leakage. Have it checked as soon as you can to help you prepare for any possible repairs. Tips to make it last longer: Regularly clearing debris from the bottom of the disposal will help keep odors at bay. Just make sure that the disposal is unplugged or turned off before doing anything. Avoid putting things like coffee grounds, eggshells, animal bones, any kind of fat, grease, or oil, or any hard and fibrous foods down the garbage disposal. Microwaves have one of the shortest life expectancies among major kitchen appliances, which can easily be attributed to most homes getting a lot of mileage out of a single unit. Most brands on average need an upgrade every nine years or less. Look out for some surefire signs that a microwave oven is nearing the end of its life, including unpleasant odors, faulty keypads, and chipped or damaged parts. And even if it remains functional after using it for almost a decade, it's recommended that you upgrade it for a newer, more energy-efficient model to save you money in the long run. Tips to make it last longer: Since microwaves are easy to clean, do it frequently by wiping down the inside to clean it of food splatter. Remove the carousel tray and clean it in the sink. Also, clean the area underneath the carousel to ensure smooth rotation. Run the microwave only when food or liquids are inside; never run the microwave when it is empty. Use the appliance only for its intended purpose, such as quick-heating tasks, and leave the heavy work for your conventional oven instead. Your oven is typically one of the longest lasting appliances in your kitchen. A gas oven will generally last around 15 years, while an electric oven will last around 13 years. As with most household appliances, regular checks and simple maintenance can keep your oven looking and working its best. Tips to make it last longer: Clean your oven seasonally, especially after using it on any big holiday cooking marathon (aka Thanksgiving or Christmas). Follow the manufacturer's directions for cleaning. You can also rely on a paste of baking soda and water to be used as a mild abrasive, or clean using a commercial oven cleaner following its instructions. Dishwashers have a life expectancy of about 9 years but can last longer with proper maintenance and less usage. Obviously, the more you use it, the sooner it will wear out, especially if build-up occurs due to improper cleaning. And once a dishwasher breaks down, it's wiser to replace than repair even if it hasn’t been with you for around its average lifespan. Tips to make it last longer: Clean its filter regularly. Keep an eye on the bottom of the appliance to make sure that it is properly draining. Remove food scraps, plastic bits, bones, or anything else that could clog the filter or drain lines. Don the rubber gloves and wash the dishes by hand once in a while to avoid wearing out your dishwasher. Water heaters typically last about a decade or more with proper maintenance. Tankless water heaters last more than 20 years, while an electric or gas tank water heater has a life expectancy of about 10-11 years. How can you know how old your water heater is? You can tell just by looking at the serial number on the tank to know exactly when it was created. If your tank is older than a decade, and you haven't flushed the sediment out of the bottom and live in a state with hard water (i.e., water with lots of minerals), you could be looking at a replacement. Likewise, any signs of rust in the water or of moisture around the heater show different issues that might require replacing the unit. Tips to make it last longer: To reach its average life expectancy, water heaters need annual descaling to prevent sediment buildups, especially if your area uses hard water. Failing to do so can cause damage to the heat exchanger, which isn’t usually covered by a manufacturer’s warranty. A so-called sacrificial anode rod, a corrosion-control device in your water heater, should be replaced every three to five years to significantly extend its lifespan. You can expect your washing machine to last up to 10 years, although this time frame depends on the machine's design and how well it’s been maintained. If it starts to work less efficiently and you’ve had it for almost a decade, sometimes repairing it only to last you a few more years could be more costly than replacing it with a new model. Tips to make it last longer: Both front load and top load washers should be cleaned monthly to remove detergent residue that traps soil and bacteria. Similar to the dishwasher, excessive soap is the leading cause of washer issues. Use the right type and amount of detergent to avoid build-ups in the machine, which can cause the tub to smell musty and damage the gaskets, seals, and bearings. Check the water hoses regularly to assure that there are no kinks or rips. Avoid overloading the machine. Whether electric or gas, most dryers will last around 13 years, longer than the life expectancy of washers. Tips to make it last longer: Remember that a clogged trap is the top reason for stress on your dryer. So no matter how tempting it is to skip cleaning the lint trap between loads, clean it after every use. Remove and clean debris from both the screen and the vent leading to the outside. The buildup in there will impair the operation of your dryer. Cleaning out your exhaust vent every year or two can go a long way toward extending the dryer's life span. Never put soiled clothes in the dryer. Make sure to wash the dryer ducts annually. One of the largest systems in your home, and one of the most important for your comfort all year round, is your heating and cooling system. If you have a typical HVAC system, your air conditioner and furnace will both last an average of 15 to 20 years. Most thermostats generally last about a decade, but can last longer depending on the make, model, and type. Tips to make it last longer: Aside from proper maintenance, cleaning and replacing air filters regularly can help keep your HVAC system running smoothly for as long as possible. Avoid overworking your air conditioning units.
Read More
9 Smart and Practical New Year's Resolutions for Homeowners
Most New Year's resolutions are about self-improvement—learning a new skill or hobby, eating healthier, or hitting the gym. If you’re a homeowner, it’s a no-brainer that you also want to improve your home and keep it in its best shape. Your living space has a much bigger impact on your life than you might realize, so what better way to improve your life than by making your home more appealing and comfortable? In the spirit of new beginnings, we've come up with a list of goals you can adopt to make a lasting difference in your home and eventually, in your life. 1. Start an emergency fund. Life is unpredictable, with or without a global pandemic. Many unexpected costs can easily make your finances go awry. This is especially true when it comes to owning a home. If you suddenly need to fix a leaky roof or a broken water heater, an emergency fund can help save you from stress so you can plan your next steps accordingly. To offset the next emergency (house-related or not), experts recommend putting aside three to six months' worth of living expenses. While that may sound like a big number, you can always start somewhere. Start small by tucking away any extra money you can get. You can also make your emergency fund part of your household budget this new year. 2. Make a home inventory. After taking countless family holiday photos, it's time to start taking snapshots of your belongings and creating a home inventory. A home inventory is a record of all your personal possessions along with their approximate financial value. Because it documents all your belongings, you’ll know exactly what’s missing or damaged after an unfortunate event such as a break-in or a natural disaster. Moreso, it can be valuable so you can get your claim settled quickly and more accurately. If you already have a home inventory, just make sure that it’s up to date by removing items you no longer have and adding new items as you acquire them. 3. Review and update your homeowners insurance. The new year is a great time to get your finances in order, especially in areas in your home where you can save. If you haven't done it yet, review your homeowners insurance policy to make sure your coverage is up to date with your needs and you’re not overpaying. If you’ve made certain improvements to your home within the last year, you’ll want to check with your insurance agent to see if you qualify for some discounts. On the other hand, if you live in a flood-prone area, it might be time to be strategic and consider flood insurance to protect your property. 4. Make on-time payments on your mortgage. Take control of your financial life this year by ensuring that your mortgage payments—and even all other payments, for that matter—are always on time. Set up an automatic payment through your bank so you won't stress about late payments just in case you get caught up with your busy lifestyle. Your credit score will also thank you as you prove you’re a responsible borrower whenever you’re making timely payments. 5. Find ways to be more energy efficient. According to energystar.gov, a typical American family spends $2,060 a year on their home's utility bills. And while that's more than $171 a month on average, the amount you spend on your utilities depends on several factors, including where you live and how large your home is. Make a goal this year to find small ways to reduce your energy consumption and eventually cut down on your energy costs. Little steps such as switching off the lights when leaving a room, turning off power strips, and appliances when not in use, swapping off incandescent light bulbs to LEDs, adding a programmable thermostat, etc... can help you become more energy efficient. There’s no need to think about big-ticket items such as solar panels or hybrid cars to make a difference. Just staying committed and being mindful can go a long way to lowering your energy bills. 6. Work out a realistic cleaning plan. Who doesn't dream of living in a house that’s spotless all day long? If you haven’t got any house help, that’s just close to impossible. So to keep yourself from being overwhelmed by cleaning and organization, this year, devise a realistic cleaning plan depending on your habits and lifestyle. Will you devote a portion of your weekends to cleaning? Or will you take some time on select nights to tidy up? You may break up cleaning tasks into small daily activities and enlist the help of your family so you can get the job done quickly and have a lot more time for other leisure activities. Whatever schedule works best for you, just remember to stick with it as part of your New Year’s resolution for your home. 7. Prepare an emergency kit. Having an emergency survival kit gives you and your family a better chance in case the day ever comes that you need to shelter in place or evacuate after a disaster. Your emergency kit should have enough food and water to last for at least three days. It should also include a change of clothes; some cash, chargers, maps, emergency radios, flashlights, medications, and first-aid supplies, and a copy of important documents like IDs, among others. Make sure to place your emergency bag in a place where you can easily get it should you need it. 8. Address small repairs immediately. Things like clogged gutters, cracking and peeling caulk, leaky faucets, faulty door locks, among others, are often neglected or pushed down the list of other tasks. But small nuisances, when left unchecked, can necessitate big repairs that could cost you a lot of money down the line. Make it a part of your New Year's resolutions to address such repairs as soon as possible to lessen these pain points around your home. 9. Set up a home maintenance calendar. In continuation with the above topic, creating a home repair and maintenance schedule is an excellent addition to this list. So sit down, assess your house, and make a list of anything that will eventually need to be repaired or replaced. How old is your roof? How about your water heater? When was the last time you had the air conditioning unit inspected? Your HVAC, furnace, water heater, and other appliances, need to be serviced and cleaned as the seasons change. Planning for preventative maintenance can help you avoid costly repairs that could result from overlooked wear and tear. Be smart and thorough when plotting out your schedule, and don't forget to keep your budget in mind when scheduling any repairs. You can start saving for those big upkeep costs as early as now to prevent nasty surprises in your finances later on.
Read More
Recent Posts