You can put off some house chores until later without serious consequences. However, there are a few home maintenance chores that can cause serious damage if they are overlooked for too long. Here are some tasks that will keep your home in better shape so you won’t have to pay for costly repairs.

Essential Home Maintenance Chores

Taking care of certain household chores sooner rather than later can save you some serious money. Read on to learn about the most important home maintenance chores to complete in a timely manner.

1. Inspect the Bathroom and Kitchen Caulking

Caulking serves as the seal in bathrooms and kitchens that keeps water from seeping into the drywall behind tubs, showers, and sinks. When caulking is worn away, moisture damage and mold become a threat.

This is why it’s important to recaulk any moldy or deteriorating caulking. While basic home maintenance chores like this may be tempting to put off until later, you’ll be glad you recaulked these areas instead of having to replace damaged drywall or floors.

2. Fix Plumbing Leaks

Fixing plumbing leaks reduces water bills and prevents water damage. Water damage is costly to repair yet simple to prevent. Instead of putting off plumbing fixes, call a plumber right away. Schedule regular inspections to make sure you never miss any hidden leaks.

3. Seal and Clean Outdoor Decking

Outdoor decks are always exposed to the elements. Several seasons without deck maintenance may result in damage to the surface and the structure underneath. Reseal your deck to keep it in excellent condition for longer. Put this task on your schedule for once a year.

4. Inspect for Bugs

Bugs like termites can take a serious toll on your home. Failure to check for these destructive pests can turn into thousands of dollars in repairs. Termite infestations that are caught early with regular inspections save homeowners from costly structural damage and whole-house fumigation expenses.

5. Home Maintenance Chores for the Gutters and Roof

Roof inspections and repairs are other home maintenance chores that many homeowners overlook until there’s a problem. When roofs aren’t properly maintained, water can leak in through vulnerable areas.

Clogged gutters cause water to seep into shingles, siding, and the foundation. By cleaning your gutters now, you’ll preserve the condition of your roof, gutters, siding, and foundation.

While it may be tempting to procrastinate on these tasks, if you don’t want a larger problem on your hands, take care of these home maintenance chores soon.

Inspect It Neil provides home inspection services including wood-destroying organism inspections to New Jersey. Contact us to schedule pest inspections or our other services.