Regular Maintenance to Avoid Surprise Bills at Home: Tips from Experts
In order to save on long-term costs, homeowners must perform regular maintenance tasks on their appliances and systems. According to Paula Higgins, the founder of the HomeOwners Alliance, small tasks can extend the life of appliances, leading to cost savings.
For example, descaling kettles using baking soda or lemon juice helps maintain efficient operation. Alternatively, there are specialized products like Waitrose's Essential Liquid Appliance Descaler, which is also useful for cleaning shower heads with certain finishes. Homeowners can purchase limescale catchers to prevent buildup in water tanks and electrical water boilers.
To extend the life of a tumble dryer, removing lint from filters after each use helps maintain performance. Hotpoint recommends deep cleaning filters every few months by unplugging the unit and vacuuming. Homeowners can invest in small items like drain strainers or coil cleaners to avoid clogs.
Higgins also advises checking appliances for wear and tear, such as inspecting roof tiles with binoculars to spot trouble like cracked tiles or moss growth. Regular maintenance of gutters can save homeowners money by preventing water damage. It is recommended that homeowners service their boiler annually to extend its life.
In addition, testing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms every month ensures fire safety and avoids costly claims. Homeowners should keep a 'just-in-case' fund set aside each month for unexpected repairs or maintenance costs.
On average, homeowners should budget around 1-2% of their property's total value annually for maintenance costs. This translates to £2,715 in the UK, where the average house price is £271,531. Homeowners who own older properties may need to set aside more money due to increased maintenance needs.
By following these expert tips, homeowners can save money on long-term costs and avoid surprise bills related to home maintenance.
In order to save on long-term costs, homeowners must perform regular maintenance tasks on their appliances and systems. According to Paula Higgins, the founder of the HomeOwners Alliance, small tasks can extend the life of appliances, leading to cost savings.
For example, descaling kettles using baking soda or lemon juice helps maintain efficient operation. Alternatively, there are specialized products like Waitrose's Essential Liquid Appliance Descaler, which is also useful for cleaning shower heads with certain finishes. Homeowners can purchase limescale catchers to prevent buildup in water tanks and electrical water boilers.
To extend the life of a tumble dryer, removing lint from filters after each use helps maintain performance. Hotpoint recommends deep cleaning filters every few months by unplugging the unit and vacuuming. Homeowners can invest in small items like drain strainers or coil cleaners to avoid clogs.
Higgins also advises checking appliances for wear and tear, such as inspecting roof tiles with binoculars to spot trouble like cracked tiles or moss growth. Regular maintenance of gutters can save homeowners money by preventing water damage. It is recommended that homeowners service their boiler annually to extend its life.
In addition, testing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms every month ensures fire safety and avoids costly claims. Homeowners should keep a 'just-in-case' fund set aside each month for unexpected repairs or maintenance costs.
On average, homeowners should budget around 1-2% of their property's total value annually for maintenance costs. This translates to £2,715 in the UK, where the average house price is £271,531. Homeowners who own older properties may need to set aside more money due to increased maintenance needs.
By following these expert tips, homeowners can save money on long-term costs and avoid surprise bills related to home maintenance.
? Anyway, I'm pretty sure they're getting a new kettle soon because their old one was being super finicky lately 
. I heard the staff talking about it and how much they hate dealing with limescale buildup 
. It got me thinking, have you ever tried descaling your coffee machine? I know I have to do that every now and then... 
I'm thinking, it's pretty cool that they're giving us some easy peasy tips to keep our homes in check. Like, who knew descaling kettles could be done with baking soda or lemon juice? 
And those limescale catchers are a total game changer for water tanks and boilers! 
But what I find really interesting is that they're saying we should budget around 1-2% of our property's value for maintenance costs each year. That sounds doable, right? 
. It's like, I get it, my old kettle isn't gonna fix itself (descale it with some baking soda, duh!), but come on! Regular maintenance is key, fam 
. I've been doing this for years and it's saved me so much cash in the long run. From checking those tumble dryer filters to investing in a good drain strainer, it's all about being proactive 
. And don't even get me started on smoke alarms - I test mine monthly like clockwork 
. It's just common sense, right? Budgeting 1-2% of your property value for maintenance sounds pretty reasonable to me 
. I think it's a good idea to check the gutters like they said, water damage is no joke! And yeah, I recall those limescale catchers were a thing back in 2015... but seriously though, 1-2% of the property value is kinda steep for some people. I mean, I've seen families struggling to pay rent, not maintenance costs 
. Still, it's good to know these tips from experts, maybe it'll help me when I get a place someday! 
Think about it, just like descaling kettles can help maintain efficient operation, taking care of our bodies through regular check-ins with a doctor or doing self-care activities can help prevent health issues from arising. And instead of relying on expensive products to clean out clogged drains, we could be investing in meditation retreats or massages 
. Plus, setting aside that 'just-in-case' fund for unexpected repairs or maintenance costs is like setting aside time for self-care - it's all about being proactive and taking care of ourselves so we can avoid those surprise bills 
. And what's with all these specialized products? Can't we just use good ol' fashioned elbow grease instead of shelling out extra cash for fancy cleaners and descalers? Not to mention, some of these tips sound like more hassle than they're worth - like vacuuming filters every few months 
. Like, who even checks their tumble dryer filters or inspects their roof tiles with binoculars? It's all just a bunch of money wasted on unnecessary maintenance costs 
. I mean, come on, if you can't even budget 1-2% of your property's value annually, how do you expect to save money on long-term costs? It's all just a bunch of advice for people who already have their act together 
.
and they're going to need a brand new boiler. And now I'm reading that regular maintenance isn't even enough to prevent this kind of thing from happening... 1-2% of the property's value is barely enough to cover the cost of a new boiler, and that's not even counting other repairs like electrical work or roof damage. It's just so stressful trying to keep up with all these potential problems