6 Tips to Keep Your Home in Pristine Condition

By HIWA Inc. Admin.

Routine home maintenance is essential for keeping your home in good condition, but it can feel overwhelming—especially for first-time homeowners. Staying on top of regular upkeep can help prevent costly repairs, improve energy efficiency, and maintain your property’s value. Here are a few key tasks to keep your home in great shape year-round!

Townhome repaired after a fire.

1. Keep smoke detectors in working order

31% of house fire fatalities occur because the home does not have any smoke detectors, and 16% occur due to non-functioning detectors. It is recommended that smoke detectors are tested monthly and batteries replaced at least once a year.

2. Remove build-up from dryer vents.

More than 29,000 homes catch fire every year due to lint build-up in dryer vents. It is recommended that dryer vents are properly cleaned out at least once a year to reduce fire risks.

3. Don’t let dry rot damages snowball.

Dry rot repairs often go unaddressed, leading to costly structural damage. What starts as a few hundred dollars in repairs can escalate to tens of thousands. To learn more about dry rot—how to identify and fix it—check out our blog on the topic.

Extensive dry rot left unaddressed caused almost the entire back side of this home to have to be removed and repaired, costing over $25,000 to fix.

4. Service your HVAC system regularly.

A tune-up twice a year (spring & fall) helps prevent damage and keeps your system running efficiently. Replacing an HVAC system can cost upwards of $12,500, so regular maintenance is key!

5. Keep gutter maintenance lined up.

99% of gutters fail at some point, even when properly installed. Frequent inspections and cleanings can extend their lifespan by 5 to 10 years. For more on gutter maintenance, click here!

6. Stay on top of roof maintenance.

In the 2024-2025 winter season, we serviced over 30 roof leaks —some minor, some causing homeowners thousands due to neglect. Roof replacements range from $5,700 to $12,400! Avoid costly repairs by having your roof cleaned and inspected at least once a year.

Bonus Tip: Call RepairPro for Routine Home Health Inspections!

Give us a call to schedule a Home Health Inspection! We will around the interior and exterior of your property to make sure everything is looking good! If something needs attention, we will provide you with an estimate for repairs.

The interior ceiling of this Chico home began caving in due to neglected roof leaks over the years.