7 Jobs Around The House You Shouldn’t Put Off

After you’ve been working and running around after the kids all day, the last thing you want to do is to address maintenance issues around your home. There are a lot of jobs that it’s fine to put off. Yes, it would be lovely to declutter your spare room, but nothing bad happens if you don’t do it. However, there are some jobs that may put your home at risk if you leave them for too long.

Cleaning The Dryer Vent

Not only is it important that you regularly clean out the lint trap in your dryer, but it’s important that you also clean the vent at least once each year. If you don’t, it becomes a fire hazard.

If you can easily move your dryer this is a job that you can do yourself:

• First, clean your lint screen as you would normally (you should do this every time you dry a load)
• Then unplug your dryer and move it out so that you can get to the back of the machine. NEVER start cleaning your vent while the dryer is plugged in.
• Remove the tube that runs to the vent from the back of your dryer – you will probably need to use a screwdriver to undo the screws.
• Vacuum out the vent.
• Put everything back in place.

If you can’t easily move your dryer then contact a professional to do this job for you.

Clearing The Guttering

Blocked guttering can lead to overflows and leaks, which can cause damage to your property. Be sure to regularly clear any leaves and detritus from your guttering to allow it to drain properly. You should also check for any cracks or downspouts that are not directing the flow of water away from the house and address these issues as quickly as you can.

Caulking

Inspect your shower, tub, sinks and windows for any areas where the caulking needs to be redone regularly. Caulk is very cheap, whereas fixing a leak once it develops definitely isn’t!

Sweeping The Chimney

It’s important that you hire a professional chimney sweep at least once each year to clean any bird nests, soot and other flammable material from the chimney, otherwise you could risk a chimney fire.

Repairing Plumbing Leaks

If you notice a damp spot on your wall or ceiling, a leaking pipe or any other plumbing issues, call a reputable plumbing service like St Louis plumbing to address the problem as quickly as possible.

Not only can an unresolved leak damage your woodwork and masonry, but you will be wasting water and ultimately costing yourself money the longer you don’t fix it.

Touching Up Peeling Paint

Peeling paintwork doesn’t look great, but more than that, it means that your walls aren’t as protected from damp and mold as they could be.

If you notice peeling paint, first assess why it is peeling, is there a damp issue that needs to be resolved? 

If there’s no issue, address your peeling paint with a scraper and new paint tin. If your house was built before 1978, you should get your home tested for lead before you scrape anything.

Pest Problems

Pests can multiply at an exponential rate, so if you notice anything that indicates a pest problem such as chewed wires, droppings or damaged woodwork, contact a professional pest control company as soon as you can.