Repair Not Replace: 5 Ways to Keep Your Home Maintenance Costs Down

As a homeowner, one fact you’ll soon find etched at the forefront of your mind is that it’s your responsibility to fix things in your home when they break. Some homeowners are lucky and seldom have to pay much money each year to maintain their abodes.

But, other people aren’t so lucky and end up paying thousands of dollars to replace fundamental elements of their home’s construction. You undoubtedly want to spend as little as possible keeping your home well-maintained.

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Did you know that it’s possible to achieve that goal by repairing things instead of replacing or rebuilding them completely? Take a look at the following examples of how you can save money through minor repairs instead of having full-scale reconstructive work done:

1. Drywall Holes and Damage

One of the most common problems you’ll have in any home is damaged drywall. There can be any number of reasons why drywall gets damaged or ends up having holes in it. For example, leaking water from a bathroom water pipe can damage a ceiling.

Another reason might be if something (or someone) accidentally knocked a hole in a wall. The good news is you can have damaged sections of drywall cut out and replaced instead of refitting an entire room with new drywall!

Companies like The Patch Boys Drywall Repair can repair any section of drywall and even paint the repair area afterward for a seamless look. As you can appreciate, it’s a lot cheaper to have that done instead of a completely new wall or ceiling.

2. Kitchen and Bathroom Faucets

Homeowners tend not to give much thought to their kitchen and bathroom faucets, other than choosing a specific style when having renovation work carried out in their homes. When your faucets start leaking or malfunctioning in other ways, you assume you’ll need new ones.

The problem is, replacement faucets can often be expensive – and that’s not even taking into account the cost of having a plumber fit them for you! However, did you know you can have almost any faucets repaired?

Faucets are virtually universal in operations and comprise several components. One of those parts that often fails due to wear is the rubber seal inside each faucet. They cost a few cents to buy, and you can change them yourself if you’ve got some basic tools.

3. Lighting

Another common problem for homeowners is lighting. When a light is difficult to turn on or off, or the lights flicker (but the bulb is okay), many people might assume they have a big bill landing their way soon for a partial rewire of that room’s lighting circuit.

The truth is, many common lighting problems can usually get repaired with inexpensive parts. Plus, even if you have an electrician do the work for you, it will still be cheaper compared with a rewire.

Often, the problem can be down to faulty wall or ceiling switches. The lighting unit itself, along with the wiring going to it, is usually fine and doesn’t need replacement.

4. Dryers

Many homes come with clothing dryers that have ducting, which vents hot air into the atmosphere. Home appliances like dryers are generally trouble-free for many years – providing they get appropriately maintained.

For example, each year, you should have your ducting inspected as it could get blocked up due to lint accumulation, causing your dryer to work inefficiently and potentially malfunction. Checking your ducting isn’t a repair as such, but it means you don’t have to buy a new dryer.

Companies like Dryer Vent Wizard can come out and check your ducting if you’d rather not get up a ladder and do the work yourself.

5. Door Locks

Let’s face it: door locks are simple, mechanical devices. They ensure your home gets kept safe and secure, whether you’re there or not. There isn’t much to a door lock, and they last for several years without an issue.

If you find that your exterior doors are getting harder to lock and unlock, don’t assume that you need a locksmith to come out and replace them. The chances are high that they just need some lubrication as the internal components are sticking.

You might need to realign your door locks in case movement has occurred in your home in some cases. Even then, it’s a simple repair, and all you need is a screwdriver.

Final Thoughts

The above hints and tips are perfect examples of how you can save lots of money on your home’s maintenance by repairing items instead of replacing them outright. Hopefully, you’ve found them helpful. Thanks for checking out this article!