5 Secrets to a Healthy Home – Resolve to maintain your home in 2020

The new year is here, and with it comes all the promise and good energy of resolutions. Our annual motivation to start making positive changes, resolutions are about improving the way we live, from starting a diet to giving up bad habits.

And that got us thinking—why not make some resolutions for the home, too? After all, our home is closely tied to our quality of life. A little focus here will go a long way in keeping your home in great shape for years to come. But if you’re not sure where to start, read on for our top five secrets to maintaining a happy and healthy home in 2020. 

Care for Your HVAC System

Your HVAC is a big part of your home’s operational system. Comprised of your heating, ventilation, and air cooling, it has the nonstop task of keeping the air in your home comfortable and healthy. And that’s precisely why you need to take measures to keep it running safely and efficiently.

A neglected HVAC system can cause serious fire hazards and carbon monoxide leaks, but this can be drastically prevented with the right steps. For starters, be sure to use quality, high-efficiency air and furnace filters, and change them monthly. Not only will they run more smoothly, but you’ll have less dust in the house too. Also clear about two feet of space around the units outdoors to keep them free of leaves, pollen, and grass.

You’ll also want to call in the pros on a biannual or annual basis, so they can perform high level checks, clean the vents, check for damage, and a variety of other safety measures.

Complete an Energy Audit

Next, to keep the operational check going, it’s always a good idea to complete a home energy audit. The good news is that you’ve already got a big step out of the way if you followed the first tip. However, you should keep going to check anything that can affect your home’s energy use, as this will contribute to the overall efficiency and safety as well.

Locate and seal air leaks:

Eliminating drafts can equal up to 20% in energy savings. Look for indoor leaks, like gaps at the baseboards. Also check for outdoor leaks, which can occur at any openings to the outside, like windows, electrical outlets, and plumbing fixtures. Make sure all of your insulation is intact and install new installation if you find damage or gaps.

Audit appliances:

Check the energy ratings on your appliances, especially older ones. Consider updating if they aren’t up to today’s standards.

You can also perform DIY updates, like vacuuming the refrigerator coils, which use more energy when dirty. Unplug appliances when they aren’t in use, to avoid what’s known as “phantom” energy. Inspect the water heater for signs of leaks, like rust spots or lack of insulation.

Replace lightbulbs:

Replace lightbulbs that are flickering, and swap out higher wattages for areas that need less light. Consider making the switch to LED bulbs, as they use less energy and typically last much longer.

Make a Cleaning Schedule

It’s everyone’s least favorite task, but regular cleaning is a critical part of keeping your home in good shape. Little things can become big headaches over time, or at the very least, big messes. The easiest way to stay on top is by making a schedule for the time-consuming things, and space them out over the year so it doesn’t seem so overwhelming.

We like the idea of assigning one or two tasks per month, and below we cover the important ones that too often get overlooked:

Clean the windows
Clean the grout
Wipe down the baseboards
Clean the oven range and hood
Remove sediment from shower heads
Empty the fridge and pantry
Deep clean the carpet
Polish wood furniture and vacuum upholstered furniture
Clear the kitchen and bathroom sink drains
Dust intensively
Deep clean the kitchen appliances

Perform Routine Maintenance

Make it a priority to finally fix that leaky sink, or patch that small hole, or secure that loose step. Minor issues can become major damage if left untreated, which gets very pricey and can even compromise the safety of your home. If you aren’t trained on how to fix the issue, be sure to hire a reputable contractor. Unlicensed work may cost less upfront, but it will almost always cost more to repair again in the long run.

Inspect Your Exterior

Don’t think about home maintenance as purely an inside job—in fact, keeping a close eye on your exterior is just as important. One of the most important things you can do is keep the gutters clear, as this is your first line of defense against water damage. Also check for signs of pooling, like cracks in the foundation.

Take care to touch up paint that’s peeling or cracking, which helps to protect against water damage and rot. On that same note, wash the house, as grit can damage paint and masonry. A regular garden hose will do the job just fine, and in fact, a power wash is too harsh. Just after winter is the best time for this, since the snow and ice can attract dirt.

Overall, your home is likely the biggest investment you’ll ever make, so it’s important to take care of it. And we can’t think of a better time than to resolve to make it a priority.