Owning a home is a fabulous experience, and why not it’s the American dream right? There are, however, some common problems that new homeowners face. Since purchasing a home is an investment in your future, you will want to have those problems resolved quickly, but first, you need to know what those problems are.
Plumbing Issues
One common problem that new homeowners face is issues with the plumbing in their new homes.
This can be anything from a leaky faucet that drips to a toilet that runs too frequently or in between
flushes. Many plumbing issues can be resolved simply by replacing a few parts, and some issues
are best left to a plumber. It’s easy to forget that toilets and faucets are comprised of many moving
parts and those parts can wear out or break over time.
Lost in the Dark
One of the first things that you need to do when you move into a new home is to find out where
the circuit breaker is. Tripping a circuit or having a fuse blow particularly when you are new to
the home is a very common occurrence. Knowing where the circuit breaker or fuse box is and
what each fuse or circuit runs is very important. Many times this will already be labeled on the box,
but if it’s not you will want to do it yourself.
Overloading the fuse or circuit, an especially common problem in older homes, will lead to the fuse
or circuit switching itself off. Unplug an appliance or two and simply flip the switch back on.
Flipping the switch should resolve the problem simply,
but if it doesn’t have a licensed electrician come and check these out.
You don’t want to lose your new home to an electrical fire.
Roof Leaks
Roof leaks are another very common problem that new homeowners face,
and you likely won’t know that you have a problem until you get a day or two of heavy rain. Many times roof leaks can be fixed quite simply by replacing broken or missing shingles. You can also replace the flashing and put down a new layer of caulk in exposed areas to form a barrier against the water. More complex issues may require the services of an experienced roofer.
Heating and Air Issues
Keeping your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer is imperative to being comfortable in your new home. There can sometimes be issues with the heating and air systems if they are not properly maintained. Change your air filters regularly to keep the system working properly and the air quality in your home as clean as possible.
Your heating and air system will need to be serviced by a licensed technician twice a year. Regular maintenance can keep your system running more efficiently and save you money on energy costs. Routine maintenance can also help to extend the life of your system which is important because a total replacement of those systems can be quite expensive.
New homeownership can be accompanied by a variety of problems that you may or may not have experienced before. When you move in make sure that you get a set of common tools and a flashlight and put them somewhere where they can be easily found if you need them.
While you may not know exactly what problems to expect, a quick search online, a YouTube video and some commonly used tools at the ready can help you to solve a lot of problems simply by yourself. The longer you spend in your new home the more handy you will become when it comes to taking care of minor issues and protecting your investment.