5 Things Often Neglected By Homeowners That Cost Money

      5 Things Neglected By Homeowners That Cost Money

By Dennis Pulley

  

   Whether you’re a new homeowner or still live in the home you were born in, it’s a good idea to reacquaint yourself with the spaces and systems that see little light of  day. Out of sight really is out of mind and in the case of your home, is costing you money by shortening the lifespan of your appliances and claddings. The items on this list are universal, and I can just about guarantee that one of these items, at least,  will apply to you. Wood, metal, floor and shingle all age and degrade even if you don’t see it happening. Make a point to walk it thru once a year or so and address small issues before they become emergencies. 



 1. Your water heater.

Long forgotten water heater

     It can be in a closet, the basement, an attic and even in an outside utility space, but, wherever it is, when was the last time you actually put eyes on it? Any maintenance? Is it leaking? How do your gas lines look?  The nature of a metal tank full of water is to rust. Add that to the electrolysis of the dissimilar metals at the water and gas hookups, and you can easily cost yourself some loot by ignoring it.  Even the smallest of rust holes will require replacement and and bare minimum $500. Personally, my 12 year water heater, which is in my attic, will probably last me for 20 years because I am aware of how big of a pain it is to replace it. I wipe it down and purge the whole system about twice a year which allows me to catch  any issues relatively quickly. If I see a chip or ding, I repair it with spray enamel. I also make sure to remove any debris from the pan. I have replaced hundreds and 90% of them are leaking from where the bottom has rusted through due to sitting in a pan that doesn't drain correctly.


2. Your Central Cooling Unit.

       I’m primarily concerned with the air handlers mounted in the attic. A great deal of water condenses in the unit and it has to be drained somewhere. These will usually sit in a shallow pan with a drain to the outside. On my homes I place the drain out of the rear soffit near a window so that it’s easily checked by looking for the steady drip. The problem usually begins with a piece of insulation falling into the pan and clogging the drain, couple that with an uninformed homeowner and you could have a pan that fills to overflowing during the day, but just enough to grow mold and rot the wood before the sheetrock finally falls in. Can you imagine a worst case scenario all caused by a little wad of fuzz.


3.Your crawlspace.
 

Worst case scenario for a crawlspace.

      I don’t like spiders either but someone has got to go in there at least once a year. BILLIONS of dollars are spent each year to repair rotted out foundations because nobody checks them. Standing water and small plumbing leaks go unnoticed, or even ignored, for years. Years. Your crawlspace needs to be clean and dry all year round. The ground underneath your home needs to be a few inches higher than the surrounding grade to ensure drainage and you need to be able to access and inspect it entirely. Water is only half the problem, your insulation and ductwork is the other. The insulation is applied underneath of your floor and secured with thin metal wire and staples. These have a tendency to rust out quickly, allowing your insulation to sag and/or fall out completely, allowing your heated or cooled air to escape and costing you money.

4. Attic Ventilation.

A ridge vent can move more air than any other passive system

        At one time, I was a roofing salesman and I can promise you that your attic ventilation system is directly responsible for the life of your shingles and a large factor in your homes' climate control efficiency. If your roof is more than 10 years old, you probably have an older gable or soffitt vent system. These are louvered vents at the gable ends and perforated panel at your soffitt overhang. You can immediately feel the problem as you walk up into your attic during the summer. It can easily be 120 degrees during the hottest part of the year and those temperatures are baking your shingles from both sides, not to mention the loss of cooling efficiency as your cooled air bangs against that ceiling sheet rock with a temperature difference that large. New roofs require a ridge vent simply to stay within warranty and although they are just as simple, a ridge vent is many times more efficient than any other passive ventilation. No matter how well your attic is insulated, you must have ventilation. If you do not have a ridge vent system, you probably have options in the way of powered fans but this would definitely be case by case design.

 5. Sewer Lines.

Snaking a sewer line.

   Within city sewer systems, you are responsible for the lines on your property. What this means is that, you must unclog anything on your property yourself. There is probably a sewer lateral at the street end of your property where your 4" line ties into a much larger collection line that drains to a treatment facility, but, the majority of all clogs happen within the property and  are actually caused by tree roots. Older homes with terracotta and cast iron  piping are much more at risk than those with a PVC sewer line, but as a homeowner, no one is immune.Know thy sewer lines.
     Most homes will have a clean-out stack built into the line with access at about 5' from the house, in a straight line with the largest vent stack on your roof. These may be marked but are usually no more than a half-buried white cap. These clean-outs are easily lost and buried making an already unpleasant job take much longer. It's very important to keep track of this access and understand what you are working with.
    Sewer lines are the accumulation of every drain in your house. They start at 1 1/2" at your bathroom sinks and get larger as they move from one end of your home to the 4" line on its' way to the city sewer system. If you've ever had a backup, you know what an inconvenience it is and if it proves to be tree roots, it will be an unending process. You have got to maintain your lines and the easiest way is with additives that kill and clear the line of tree and bush roots. A tree is nearly as large in its' root system as its' branches are, which means that trees easily become a problem. Roots grow fastest in the fall and the end of summer so don't wait until you have a problem to address the potential for one. It's not unusual for a bad spot to form and require mechanical snaking on a regular basis which aggravates the situation because the line can actually break, leaving a hole for dirt and debris to keep caving in on itself. Line replacement can be a very expensive bill, especially if your plumber has to dig through those tree roots to remedy the situation.

    
      Like I said earlier, chances are, one of these will apply to you. Take an hour or two each year to re familiarize yourself with these things. Make a routine maintenance schedule that fits you and keep track of what you encounter, An ounce of prevention could and probably will save you thousands on a cure.


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