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| House projects are a year-long thing, and no matter what you’ve gotten done, there’s always something else on the to-do list. Home maintenance mistakes can cost you big time — a lot of money that (sometimes quite literally) goes down the drain. |
| Winter, spring, summer, and fall… the list is never ending. But while it may be cheaper to handle most of the simple tasks by yourself, there are some things that should be left up to professional contractors. |
| When making a home DIY checklist for each season, avoid these 5 mistakes that could end up costing you a lot of money in the long run. |
| Disinterest |
| Indifference and procrastination are actually the biggest mistakes any homeowner can make. Houses need upkeep, whether from DIY projects or by professional contractors. Putting off house maintenance may lead to serious damage to the structure’s foundation. (One way to keep yourself in the maintenance loop is to bookmark a home, yard, and garden parts link on your phone or computer). Not paying attention, blowing off necessities, and ignoring signs of termites and other insect infestations could end up costing you a bundle. |
| Routine Inspections |
| Checking out the property each season with an eye for detail is something you must do. Make a checklist for each component of the house, such as plumbing, heating and air conditioning, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, foundation inspection, and the crawlspace and attic — just to name a few. If there’s something amiss in these areas, you’ll never know unless you look! Even (or especially) in the best cities for tackling home improvements, inspecting the house is the first step to knowledge — what needs to be done and whether or not it’s a top priority. Putting off until tomorrow what you must do today may lead to a huge maintenance bill. |
| Heating and Cooling Maintenance |
| Ignoring your HVAC system can lead to a breakdown at the worst time…during a freezing cold winter or sweltering hot summer. Replacing the heating and cooling system will cost thousands of dollars –– something that would be necessary at some point, of course. But you may be able to put off that hefty purchase by giving the HVAC system a once-over, at least once or twice a year. |
| Replacing filters is an easy DIY job. But “real” maintenance of furnaces and air conditioners is best done by professionals. Technicians will look at refrigerant levels, air flow, connections, safety controls, and everything else they know about — more than you do. (Watching a YouTube video does NOT make you an expert in heating and air conditioning). Make a mistake with natural gas or electric furnaces and you could end up with a burned-out house. |
| Plumbing |
| Just like HVAC, DIY plumbing mistakes can cost you plenty of dough, especially if they lead to code violations. |
| Fixing a toilet flusher, valve, and leaky faucet are simple enough tasks but most plumbing projects are a bit more complex. Still, one mistake DIYers make is forgetting to turn off the water — not doing so can cause flooding, even if you think you can do the project quickly. Damaged threads or valves can lead to thousands of dollars in water damage. Turning off the main water valve or separate location valves is the easiest way to avoid unexpected – and potentially costly — floor damage. |
| Licensed plumbers are generally bonded and insured and they know local plumbing codes. Plumbers will inspect the entire system and fix whatever needs to be fixed. If any mistakes are made, they are responsible for fixing them. But if you decide to forgo hiring a professional plumber for any kind of work that leads to serious damage, your insurance company may not pay for any claims. DIYers may cause more damage to the plumbing system that can lead to thousands of dollars in repairs. |
| Gutters and Roof Maintenance |
| Gutters get clogged with leaves, bird droppings, twigs, and flying debris. If homeowners don’t clean the gutters at least once or twice a year, the gunk can lead to water damage to the foundation of the house. |
| At the same time, roof maintenance is more than adding some sealant and replacing a shingle here and there, although that must also be done as needed. Holes, rotted boards, torn or missing flashing, and weakened facades can end up costing a lot — damage that an insurance company may NOT pay for, especially when it’s damage that was done over time (and not weather-related). |
| House maintenance projects are a concern when homeowners cannot realistically determine what they can and cannot do by themselves. The biggest mistake you can make is believing you can do better than the professionals. That’s when the home fix-up costs get mighty pricy, especially when the pros have to undo all the wrong stuff you’ve done. |
Teri Silver is a journalist and outdoor enthusiast. She and her husband live on 5 acres with a vast lawn, three gardens, a farm, a pond, many trees, and a lot of yard work! The best parts of the year are summer and fall when home-grown veggies are on the dinner table. |
| Photo by: Eric Schmuttenmaer |