Your home is where you spend your most cherished moments with your loved ones. As the holidays start, your home will likely be the destination of choice for your friends and family. It’s important to address its maintenance needs on time with the help of these professionals to focus on valuable fun time ahead.
1. Chimney Sweeps
With the cold months already here, your chimney should be ready for long hours of heating. For this, you’ll need to hire a chimney sweep. When this professional comes to your house, they’ll check your chimney for soot and creosote buildup and clear it up. Such debris increases the risk of a fire in the chimney. They’re also harmful, and their buildup can lead to fumes and smoke flowing into your house.
2. Roof Repair Contractors
Plan early for your roof repair needs since parts like shingles must be worked on during warm weather to seal them down properly. Start by hiring a roofing technician to go up and examine your roof for areas of weakness. They’ll check for roof piercings, which could lead to a leak. Besides that, they’ll look for broken seals around roof vents, which could be allowing rainwater to seep in.
The roofing contractor will start repairing the roof once they finish the inspection. Repairs could be as simple as replacing shingles or as complex as reroofing. Whatever the case, ensure the roofer you hire has a track record of delivering quality.
3. Plumbing Technicians
Plumbing work is an inevitable cost of owning a home. In most cases, plumbing issues are due to the normal wear and tear of the components. However, how you use and maintain your equipment is also a contributing factor.
Some common plumbing problems include leaky pipes, running toilets, slow and clogging drains, water heater problems, and dripping faucets, among many others. Failed plumbing can be annoying, not counting the costs incurred in wasted water. Make sure you take prompt action. Clogged drains are usually due to excessive hair, food, and other insoluble material being pushed into the gutter.
Professional drain clearing and cleaning will help unblock the system. For the leaking pipes, a plumber can fix them permanently to curb water wastage and other damages due to leaks. Approximately 15% of homes are experiencing a water leak, according to Gitnux. This makes plumbing repair a significant market, with a high demand for plumbers. You’ll want to hire one as soon as possible to avoid long waiting times.
4. Foundation Services Experts
Your home’s foundation holds your house in place, so it needs constant care. There are signs of potential issues you need to look out for. Your foundation needs professional attention if you notice leaning walls in your home.
The walls may lean or bow when the foundation settles due to moisture accumulation around the base. Another sign is cracks in your foundation, whether big or as thin as a hairline. Homeowners pay up to $4,640 to have their foundation repaired, according to a HomeAdvisor report. However, you can significantly reduce this amount with timely action and routine inspections.
5. HVAC Technicians
A faulty heating and cooling system spells discomfort and even sickness. Have a qualified HVAC technician check yours for servicing and maintenance needs. Don’t open up the HVAC unit, as you could injure yourself or interfere with the complex parts inside the unit. A seasoned technician is best placed to inspect and recommend solutions, such as increasing the refrigerant or other gasses that have been used up. They also know how to safely handle the system’s circuit breakers and other electronic components.
According to This Old House, nearly half of the energy used in a standard U.S. home is used for heating and cooling. Running your HVAC unit while it’s faulty will result in higher electricity bills and make fixing the unit harder. Act promptly.
Owning a home is a great achievement. However, for the home to continue serving your family, always keep a budget for the recurring maintenance and service costs. Your home should be the destination you want to spend lots of time in. Make it worthwhile.
