Termite Inspection Orange County Termite Terry Pest Control

Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, South Orange County, Long Beach Area

How To Lower Your Home Maintenance Costs

Everyone knows that they should change oil and maintain their car on a regular basis. Otherwise, your car won’t last very long and you’ll have to spend a “whole bunch of money” to buy a new one, right?

A home needs to be maintained as well. Your home is probably your largest investment and if you’ll take care of it on a regular basis, it will provide many years of good use. And, history has shown that a well maintained home will see substantial gains in value over time.

In this article, we would like to talk to you about some of the most important maintenance items you need to address. The good news is that some of these items can be corrected at minimal expense. In fact, some of these items are perfect “do-it-yourself” projects! Here are 7 key areas of maintenance you should focus on:

 

1. Moisture Control is probably the best place to start a maintenance program on any home because, “Homes that stay dry usually have fewer problems”. Do you realize that something as simple as a one dollar faucet washer can cause a water leak and create massive damage to your home? That’s right! It only takes is a small leak to attract termites, dryrot and mold problems and any of those conditions can lead to monumental repair costs.

Periodically, you should take a walk around your home and check everything related to plumbing. Check all of the plumbing in your baths, kitchen, water heater and exterior water faucets. If you see any of these items leaking, you need to have them repaired right away. Do yourself a big favor and spend a little now so you can save yourself a fortune, later!

Keep a close eye out for signs of roof leaks. If your roof hasn’t been inspected in the past 2 years, it is probably a good idea to have a licensed roofer give it a check-up. Many homes develop leaks around chimneys and roof vents and these can be easily and inexpensively repaired with the application of a little roof sealer. Don’t ignore roof leaks because they won’t go away and they may eventually cost you a small fortune.

While your roofer is inspecting the roof, you may want to have him take a look at your rain gutters. Rain gutters are great for controlling moisture, but if they become clogged or develop leaks, they can create a lot of damage to your home.

Take a close look at your lawn sprinklers and make sure they are not spraying water on your home. Many, many homes are heavily damaged by these systems. You’ll be happy to know that many sprinkler repairs can be made by simple adjustments or the replacement of inexpensive parts. Check to see if you are “over-watering”. If so, cut back on watering times. This will help prevent damage and save you a lot of money on your next water bill.

2. Plants and trees can create a lot of problems that will lead to expensive repairs. You should keep all plants cut back at least 1 to 2 feet from your home. Trees should be cut back at least 4 feet away from the house and none of the tree branches should be left hanging over the roof. By doing this, it will help to keep your home dry, protect your home’s paint and help to prevent damage to your roof. This will also help to keep insects and rodents out of your home.

3. Door and window screens should be inspected. These will help to keep unwanted insects out of your home.

4. Vents on the side of your garage, subarea and attic should all be inspected. Make sure they are not blocked so you’re home will have the proper ventilation it needs.

Also, check the vent screens to see they are in proper order. These screens are important because they will keep birds, rodents and other small animals from gaining access. Remember that these pests can cause a lot of damage to your home, not to mention the fact that they can create a health hazard with all of their urine and feces.

5. Inspect the grading around your home and make sure that when it rains, all of the water drains away from your home. This is really important because you don’t want water to start collecting under your home. Excess water under a home can cause foundation settling and is very attractive to termites.

You can check areas around your home for proper drainage by pouring a large bucket of water out near your home’s foundation. If the water all runs away from the house, you’re in good shape. But, if it puddles up against the house, you need to fix it right away. In some cases, you may be able to solve your problem with a little time and a shovel. In other cases, you may have to bring in a landscape specialist to regrade your yard or perhaps, install a landscape drainage system.

While you’re doing your inspection, make sure that the top of all soil levels around your home are at least 5 to 6 inches below the top of your home’s foundation. This will help to prevent moisture, dryrot, mold and insect problems.

A lot of people have problems with planters around their homes because they fill up with rain water. This condition can bring on major problems and should not be ignored. Regrade the soil to provide drainage or if necessary, have a licensed landscaper correct the situation as needed.

6. Look for signs of earth to wood contacts. All soil levels should be at least 5 to 6 inches below exterior wood siding or other wooden parts of your home. If you allow wood to come in contact with the soil, problems with dryrot and termites are almost guaranteed to occur.

7. Check the condition of your home’s paint. If it has been more than 6 years, it is probably time for you to talk to a professional painter. A good paint job will help protect your home from the weather and it makes your home less attractive to termites. When you do hire a painter, make sure he does a good job in cleaning and sanding your home before he starts painting. Also, make sure he uses a good brand of paint and that he doesn’t “water it down”. A good paint job isn’t cheap and it pays to hire the best so you’ll get a paint job that will last.

Do you have a problem with ants, roaches, spiders or rodents and need help?  Or, maybe you have some termite or dryrot damage that you’d like to have repaired? Call our office at (949) 631-7348 or click on order form and we’ll be happy to provide you with a complimentary inspection. You will get valuable, useful information and it may wind up saving you even more money!

As Benjamin Franklin once said,

“An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.”