Texas has a lot to offer — namely professional sports, great food, and southern hospitality. But it also comes with excruciatingly hot summers, unusually timed winter storms, and semi-regular hail storms. As a homeowner, the unpredictable nature of Texas’ seasons proves worrisome. On top of routine maintenance, it can be overwhelming.
But you’re not left to fend for yourself. With careful planning and a bit of effort, you can maintain your home in the Lone Star State. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.
1. Invest in Insurance Coverage
Buying a home is one of life’s biggest accomplishments. It requires years of saving and sometimes months of searching to find the right house. With as much energy as you’ve put into your home, one thing you can’t overlook is insuring your investment.Many factors contribute to the cost of coverage for your home. The house’s age and the age of big-ticket items like the HVAC system and roof factor in. Where your home is located plays a big role in insurance coverage too because environmental factors can be costly. Texas’ weather runs the gamut with everything from hurricanes and tornadoes to hail storms, adding more complication to the mix.
As such, many homeowners search for the best home insurance Texas has to offer to protect their properties from natural disasters and other potential risks. You can decide which coverage options are worth adding to your policy, but if you’re in an area known for extreme weather, it’s worth considering comprehensive coverage that includes protection against specific weather-related incidents. Ultimately, protecting your investment with the right insurance is one of the most effective maintenance decisions you can make.
2. Take Pest Control Seriously
One thing bugs, rodents, and other critters don’t love? The heat. Your home’s air-conditioned breeze is appealing, which is cause for concern if you don’t love creepy crawlies. That’s why pest control is important for maintenance in Texas.Whether you do it yourself or hire a regular pest service, keeping up with a consistent routine is key. You’ll want to spray some form of insecticide around the perimeter of your home. Plus, you’ll need something for indoor use too. Remember to review warning labels and check ingredients to ensure what you use is safe for kids and pets.
You should also walk around occasionally to check for any signs of pests in your home. Wasp nests, damage to wood, or signs of digging all warrant a second look. With early detection, you can protect your home from further damage and significantly reduce the cost of any potential repairs.
3. Schedule Routine HVAC Servicing
When temps rise to triple digits during Texas summers, the last thing you want is your AC going out. Unfortunately, replacing an HVAC unit is among the most costly home repairs there is. That’s why routine servicing is such a crucial step to take for a few reasons.While there is a cost to get your system serviced, you can save in the long run. Your HVAC unit is just like any other appliance, requiring cleaning and a tune-up to ensure it’s running its best. Professionals recommend getting it serviced twice a year, particularly leading up to seasons with more drastic temperature fluctuations.
In your service, you can also get expert advice on any parts that may require replacing. Your technician can advise on how to extend the life of your unit, too. Regularly flushing any potential build-up can prevent water damage, saving you money and the headache of repairs. Remember to ask about the estimated life left in your unit so you can plan for the future expense.
4. Clean Out Your Gutters
One important home maintenance area that’s often overlooked is cleaning the gutters. Surrounding the entire perimeter of the house along the roof, gutters are intended to help protect your home. However, if they’re clogged with debris, they may cause more harm than good.The main purpose of gutters is to collect water and direct it away from your home. This protects your roof from water damage and can keep your landscaping from being washed away. So, taking time yourself or hiring a professional to remove leaves, branches, and other debris from your gutters is necessary.
Otherwise, you risk significant damage to your home. For one, your roof could sustain water damage from storms and need to be replaced more frequently. Having too many leaves and branches in your gutters is also the perfect environment for squirrels and birds to move in. Plus, if there’s another Texas ice storm, trapped water can freeze and cause your gutters to become so heavy they fall off. Luckily, all of this is avoidable with a bit of planning and some elbow grease.
5. Examine Your Home Inside and Out
You live in your house every day, so no one knows it better than you. That, however, doesn’t mean that you’ll catch every maintenance need right away. Some issues may slip through the cracks despite your best efforts. However, a great maintenance tip is to inspect your home regularly.What you’re looking for is anything out of the ordinary. Signs of water damage like bubbling paint or warped floors are cause for investigation. Changes in the performance of everyday appliances may require a second look. Unusual holes, cracks, or other signs of extreme wear and tear may warrant professional help.
This process doesn’t need to take more than a few minutes every month or so. Write down anything that sticks out and research getting an expert to come out and advise on the next steps. Hopefully, what you find is nothing major and a quick fix can resolve it. But if something bigger is going on, you’ll be grateful you were able to catch it early.
