Home Maintenance Habits to Start in 2022

Keeping your home in tip-top condition and maximizing its resale value involves new responsibilities. Here are some essential tasks to include in your daily or monthly to-do list as well as poor habits that you need to break in 2022.

Good Habits to Start

1. Remove lint from the dryer trap. When short, fine fibers collect in the trap, it increases the drying time and forces your dryer unit to work twice as hard as necessary. Also, lint is a combustible material that can potentially spark a house fire. By keeping the lint trap clean, you can reduce your home repair bills and keep your family safe.

2. Change the air filter. A dirty air filter restricts airflow and strains your furnace or air conditioner. As a general rule, change your air filter once a month when using less expensive fiberglass filters and at least once every three to six months when using high-end pleated filters.

3. Keep the garbage disposal clean. It is easy for food scraps to accumulate in your garbage disposal. If neglected, the blades can become dull, making it harder for the device to perform its job thoroughly. To keep your garbage disposal clean, mix a two-to-one solution of vinegar and baking soda and pour it into the drain. Let the mixture sit for about 15 minutes before turning on the disposal and rinsing it with water.

Bad Habits to Break

1. Let stored items overflow. After the holidays, make it a practice to donate or discard items you do not need. Otherwise, your attic or basement will quickly overflow with possessions and become a woodrats’ paradise.

2. Reset tripped breakers repeatedly. Frequent resets can run down the breaker. If a breaker repeatedly trips, call an electrician to address an underlying problem.

3. Keeping the curtains closed throughout winter. By keeping your curtains closed during the day in the winter, you force your furnace or heat pump to do all the heating for your living space, driving up your utility bills. Open the curtains and allow the morning sun to warm your windows to reduce the burden on your heater.

You can count on Handyman Connection® of Mason for top-quality general home maintenance services, such as drywall repair, flooring installation, exterior painting, deck building and more. Call our skilled team at (513) 733-3777, or fill out our convenient online form to request a quote or schedule an appointment.