While being a homeowner is very rewarding, it comes with quite a bit of responsibility. There’s an overwhelming amount of advice out there about being a good homeowner, which is why we picked a few of our favorite tips to share with you today.
1. A Leaking Water Heater Is A Time Bomb
Water heaters can sometimes leak from the drain valve or relief valve. Those valves are generally pretty easy to replace, but if a leak is coming from the tank, you’ve got serious trouble. The tank is lined with a thin coat of glass, and eventually, that glass can begin to crack, the steel begins to rust away and a puddle appears. If it goes untouched, the tank will rupture, causing an instant flood. It may take months for a leak to become a flood, or it may take days. But it will happen so don’t take the gamble and replace that leaking time bomb now!
2. Make Your Furnace Last
Regular filter replacement is the absolute best thing you can do to keep your furnace in top condition. A great way to keep track of that task is by buying several filters and labeling them by month. With an active system in place, monthly filter changes are best, but some can go a few months between changes, so it’s important to do your research before you buy!
3. Shut Off The Water Before You Leave Town
Every insurance agent has heard numerous stories like this one: The homeowners left town Friday and returned Sunday evening to find thousands of dollars in water damage. The moral of these stories is simple: Before going on vacation, turn off your main water valve! With just a minute of your time, you can eliminate the most common cause of home damage.
4. Start An Emergency House Fund
You never know when something might go wrong, or how much it is going to cost. A great homeowners tip is to start an emergency savings account as soon as possible!
The longer you live in your home, the more likely you are to experience a surprise plumbing, heating or roofing issue, so start saving early to take a bit of stress out of this typical homeowner experience.
See Bankrate’s tips on starting an emergency home fund.
5. Make Sure You Have Adequate Homeowners Insurance
It’s important to fully understand your homeowners policy, so if you have questions, ask your insurance agent! You want to be sure you don’t miss anything, like flood and fire protection. Take out life insurance coverage so your family won’t lose their home if something were to happen to you.
There’s a lot to learn about owning a home, and it’s important to stay on top of regular house maintenance. For more advice on being a homeowner, give the Corwin-Rey Agency a call at 360-414-8754.