6 Essential Home Maintenance Skills..Houses for Sale in Emerald Isle, NC

Home ownership definitely requires upkeep and maintenance. Here, at the coast in Emerald Isle,NC those twin challenges are made more difficult by absentee ownership for significant times during the year. That is why, as a homeowner, you should familiarize yourself with some of the basic upkeep, whether you elect to perform the maintenance, or not.

1. Decks. Walk the deck(s) and look for small maintenance things like broken boards, rusted nails, nails that may be popped up, loose boards, and loose hand rails. It is also a good idea to power wash the deck, top and bottom, periodically to remove mold from the treated wood. And, while the homeowner certainly can pound in a loose nail or two, I'd recommend a carpenter, deck installer or licensed contractor to to an inspection if your deck has not been maintained in a few years.

2. Cleaning out the gutters. Gutters should be cleaned each fall. Removing dirt, debris and leaves from gutters prevents water from getting trapped in there and potentially leaking into your house or running over the sides of the gutters instead of following the proper direction of flow. This is a task that requires getting up on a ladder and it is at this point that I recommend hiring a handyman who has the ladder skills, the gloves, the tools and the time to clean up afterward to make hiring this handyman very worthwhile.

3. Unclogging the drains. A clogged sink, drain or bath can be a hassle you don't want to deal with—but has to be. Before you spend the money calling in the plumber, it's worth trying to fix the problem yourself. While chemical solutions like Drano can help, it's also a good idea to keep a drain snake handy for times such as these. The drain snake can be wound down through the drain to mechanically remove what's causing the blockage. Prevention is also key to keeping drains from being clogged in the first place, so be proactive about keeping particles that could cause problems free and clear from the drain.

4. Changing an HVAC filter. HVAC systems use filters to trap dust and pollen and prevent the furnace or AC compressor from spreading debris throughout the house. Each system has a different filtration system, but most require cleaning or replacing filters monthly or quarterly, an easy task that keeps your system running smoothly and efficiently. The hardest part is remembering when it’s time to clean or change the filters.I recommend changing filters on the first of every month.

5. Resetting a circuit breaker. In homes built after 1960, the electrical panel is typically filled with circuit breakers, which supply power to appliances and lighting in every room. When a circuit becomes overloaded, the designated breaker “trips,” shutting off electricity to that area. When this happens, you'll need to reset the breaker. To do that, you first have to know where your electrical panel is located. It can be inside or outside your home. From there it's just a matter of opening the panel cover and looking for the breaker that’s been tripped and is now sitting in the “off” position. Push it back to the “on” position. If you can’t find the errant breaker, you’ll have to turn each breaker off, then on.

6. Shutting off the main water supply. There are times when you’ll have to shut off the water supply to the house, so it’s a good idea to locate the main water valve as soon as you move in. The shut-off valve mostly likely is located in your basement or crawl space where the water enters the house. When you find it, tag it so you won’t lose it again. There is another valve located at the beginning of your water main, at the boundary line of your property and the street or sidewalk. Find the ground-level metal or plastic utility box trap door located at ground level. Call the water company's 24-hour emergency contact line. Staff may direct you to shut off the valve by yourself or to wait for help.

I hope that you've found this information helpful and that you're building up your home improvement skill set. For more information on home ownership, visit my website, www.EIHomesforSale.com and request my free Guide to Living Where Yo Vacation or text your email address to 919-308-292.