Good Lifestyle

As the owner, you want to make sure you take the appropriate precautions and do everything you can to avoid any serious - not to mentionDamage to your home. And while this certainly includes being diligent on the deactivation of lights and electrical devices before leaving the house to eliminate the risk of fire and not start the dishwasher or washing machine if you are not going to be at The house while it works, it is relatively rare that accidents like these occur. Instead, these are the mistakes you are not even aware that you do this canlead to major repairs long-term. And with the increase in the time you have beenSpend at home because of coronavirusThis means that you will also spend more time cooking, clean up and do home projects - creating more opportunity for error. That's why, with the help of architects, builders and other home experts, we gathered the way you cause damage to your home without even realizing it. And for some ideas about things you can do at home, check50 easy DIY projects that you can approach this weekend.

Keep your blinds open MayMake your house brilliant and happyBut this can also cause serious damage to your floor if you are not careful. "Hard UV rays can cause premature discoloration and soil discoloration, including hardwood floors," explains the floor of the flooringPaul CarterExecutive vice president and director of chief purchases atEmpire today.

This does not mean you have to live in the dark, although Carter simply recommends to make sure that you have closed your blinds when you head for the day. And to decorate traps to avoid, checkThe design of a house of the house that everyone does.

Do you want to keep your hardwood floors or laminate looking for brand new? The answer is not expensivecleaning product-It is a dehumidifier. "If the moisture strikes above 55%, you could open a chance to have a moisture chance to filter into the wood," says Carter, noting that it can bring your floor covering and to distort over time.

What is the problem to break the broom to clean dirt on your hardwood floors? It can actually shorten their life. "If you go to the mop or scan, be sure to be empty first to prevent moving these ITTY-BITTY particles and sand abrasives - along the ground surface, which can scratch or damage the soils, "says Carter. And for more means, you can keep your house tidy, check30 incredible cleaning tips you want to know earlier.

Water can be effective to get your floors clean, but use too much and you may find some replacement floor coverings before knowledge. Excessive amounts of water on your hardwood floors or laminate can deform them or stain. "If you want to clean your wood floors, use the minimum quantity [of water] possible," suggestsAlberto Navarrete, general manager ofFrisco queue.

These small furniture buffers covering the bottom of the table and the feet of the chair are a must if you have hardwood floors in your home. If you do not use them, whenever you steal on a chair or move a thumb cabinet on the left, you potentially scrape your floors in a way that does not refine it to cover.

Unless you want chemical repair to your future, always use a stud before nailing or drilling in a wall. If you do not do it, the Sheetrock or the plaster below may not have enough support for the article, which can "damage the wall and break the article that hangs" "saysMike Morgan, Owner ofMorgan Inspection Services in the central Texas.

While using mulch in your garden can help protect your plants and cover uneven areas, to put it too close to your home canCause serious damage overtime. "The mulch retains moisture, causing rot and allowing termites an easy access to home", explains Morgan. And for a must attempt to tackle the hottest months, checkThe unique maintenance task you should do each summer.

Looking for an easy way to protect your home in a hurry? Start by cutting your trees. When tree branches grow too close to your home, it can "cause significant damage to the roof or coating ... and cause significant rot" of the humidity of the branches ", according to Morgan.

The vineyards can make your house majestic, but they can cause serious damage to your structure before knowledge. "These traps with water, vermin, insects, [and] are not a friend at your home," says Concierge Real EstateShannon room ofRudy & Hall's Housing.

Although your slope landscape can offer you some intimacy of your neighbors or passers-by, it can also say that you have major repair invoices to hope. "Never leave the ranking around your home slope towards your home," Hall warning, who says it's a recipe for damage caused by moisture.

Do you think this gutter cleaning can wait until next year? Still think. "Debris accumulates and blocks or hinder the flow of gutter water", resulting in water damage inside your home, according toMark ScottPresident ofMark IV Builders, Inc. This accumulation can even cause the fall of your gutters or an outdoor wood trim for over time due to extended moisture exposure, Scott therefore recommends cleaning them at least three times a year.

While descent extensions - the long piece of gutter flowing along the ground - may not be aesthetically nice, remove it can cause much larger problems in the line. The downspout extensions keep the water away from the home foundation and deleting them: "You may leave water at the pool directly at your base, which increases the risk of penetration of the water in your basement, "saysKate Zieglera real estate agent withArborview Real Estate In Boston.

This can not only compromise the integrity of your foundation, but can even mitigate the wooden framing of your home, causing structural problems orattract pests.

You will do better to leave this dirty pan cool on the stove rather than trying to pour cooking greasein your drain. "Oil, fats and grease will solidify and form blockages in your pipes, which does not just have a negative impact on the environment, but also creates problems for your septic system," according toChris Diasso, Owner ofRescue Cesspool & Drain. What kind of problems exactly? This could be as bad as an overflow of your plumbing.

Want to shine your wardrobes? If these surfaces are painted, avoid ammonia and bleach cleansers that you use in other parts of your home. "Hard chemicals wear existing finish, resulting in a dull look," saysChloe Brittain, a partner at the kitchen of the kitchen kitchenNot only painting. Similarly, the use of wax products can leave ternous, sticky surfaces and need professional cleaning.

Hydrogen peroxide and vinegar do not effectively clean by themselves, but mix both can causeSerious damage to your home - and your health.

According toLily Cameron, domestic cleaning expert and supervisor forFantastic cleaners"The mixture will create a toxic peracetic acid that can change the color and texture of your sweet surfaces or even leave them with visible chemical burns. Even worse, acid "can cause you respiratory problems or skin irritation."

Vinegar can be effective to clean certain surfaces, but it's aMajor No-No for your dishwasher. "The acidity of vinegar can be difficult on some rubber parts of your dishwasher", as well as polyacrylate, fluorosilicone and buna-n seals, possibly causing the failure of your device, says Cameron.

Although many people see theirDishwasher like a self-cleaning machineeven this could use a little help from time to time. At least once a month, you must clean your dishwasher trap, which is usually located on the lower part of your dishwasher near its sprayer. The rubber seal and soap support also require good deletion, otherwise you could shorten the life of your machine.

It is time to turn away from vinegar-based cleaners if you want these magnificent granite meters to like for years to come. Any type of acid cleaner such as vinegar "deletes the putty and gradually reduces the shine of these counters over time," explainsMelanie Hartmannhouse buyer toCreo Home Buyers In Baltimore, Maryland. These cleaners can even erode the stone below, leaving you on foot the invoice for expensive replacement.

Think of lemon-based products and your deadly enemy marble counters if you want to keep these in advanced shape. "The lemons contain a large amount of citric acid, so when the lemon juice touches marble countertops, it starts quickly to eat on the surface," explainsLeanne stapf, COO ofThe cleaning authority. It recommends using a mixture of dish soap and lukewarm water to clean them instead.

If you do not drain your water heater at least once a year, you can sit at home for significant damage over time. The mineral deposits of your water heater "form a thick and crisp coating that will start taking off and butcher faucets, drains and water heaters," explains the Flipper houseShawn Breyer, Owner ofAtlanta House Buyers. This can cause the interior mucosa crack of your water heater, requiring a possible replacement.

This exhaust fan in your bathroom is not optional. If you do not run it a bit when you get out of the shower, you may cause serious damage to your space without even achieving it.

"[If] someone turns only the fan for the duration of their shower ... the average exhaust fanFor a bathroom Do not delete enough wet air, "says Brayer." The humid air combined with complete darkness causes mold formation. "

It is reasonable to assume that drying on a bath mat is the most effective way to rid your excess moisture body after a shower. But it could really harm your home. "The wet shower mat will allow moisture to filter into the linoleum flooring, causing stain and start deforming," says Brayer.

Leave wet towels on your floor is more than just a maintenance error. A bit like water standing after a bath or shower, a wet towel can trap moisture, causing stain, loop or rot.

This toilet bowl cleaner is not the product of the all-purpose bathroom that you could hope that would be. "Toilet bowl cleaners contain acids. These acids will break down the coulis, which pushed them more porous," explains the cleaning expertMary cherry, Owner ofEvie Cleaning Company.

This Polish can make your floors shine initially, but that will only ruin them in the long run. "Adding the varnish to your floor will produce an accumulation and that your floor becomes dull and possibly sticky, causing dirt to stick to the ground," says Cherry, which recommends a neutral cleaning solution pH.

The bleach can be good for your whites, but it is not a cleaning solution for use. If you use bleach forRemove a spot from your hardwood floors, "It will leave an even bigger spot or damage your wood," saysAbe Navas, general manager ofMAIDS OF EMILY in Dallas. Instead, use a wood-specific cleaning product or do you have the floor covering if this task does not move.

Of course you wantrid your dirt matBut exceeding with the carpet shampoo could do more harm than good. If you do not remove a sufficient amount of product from your carpets, "you might cause an involuntary way a mold problem start growing," says a healthy health consultantKIMBERLY buttonofWill be well.

For this to happen, it suggests removing the most moisture as possible with the carpet vacuum and opening windows to help your carpets dry out if they always feel wet after cleaning.

However, your carpets are not the only part of your home that can become seriously damaged by moisture.

"If you see a kind of signs of water in your house that you are not clear from where it comes from, inquiry, preferably with the help of a professional," says the real estate agentJamie Safier withDouglas Elliman. (As a lateral note, Safier says that mold damage is often not covered by the owner's insurance policies.)

YourAC system Maybe not the most attractive element of your garden, but camouflage with hedges can cause major problems. "The AC units need a lot of room for the appropriate airflow to be effectively," saysJeff Trucksaco-founder ofK & J Heating & Cooling, Inc.

If you have a filter on your HVAC system, you must have more than one being better, right? Well, not exactly. While your HVAC system must have a filter in the air manager, the addition of another on the AC vent actually means more stress on the system, explainsChris Forbs, owner of the company HVACChoice Air Care. In fact, an extra filter "has the same result as having a dirty filter," he says.

While adding additional filters to your HVAC system, you can cause serious problems, do not sufficiently replace your existing users, you can also be a problem. "A dirty or obsolete filter will have an impact on efficiency and could even cause damage to your system," saysMark Dawson, COO ofTime of heating and air conditioning,Mr. Sparky, andBenjamin Franklin Plumbing. It recommends changing filters every one to three months.

All extensions are not created equal. "If an extension cord is not classified for outdoor use, it may overheat and potentiallyfire causing"Explains Dawson. So, how can you tell if your extension cord is safe for large spaces? The letter W printed on the cord vest will allow you to know that it is correct to use outside .

Simply add an adapter to an older two-pin outputputs your home at riskWhenever you use one of these "cheater caps". "The earth's thread is there for safety and simply bypass it creates a potentially serious danger," warns Dawson, which means that it could trigger an electric fire or a thrust of power. Instead, ask an electrician replacing the off-time jack if you need to use a three-fold device.

The placement of your devices counts more than you might think. Since virtually all devices emit heat, if you place them for near your thermostat, it "can record the rise in temperature and react accordingly,leading to higher invoices In summer and a colder house in winter, "warns Dawson.

These flickering lights are not always just a quirk of your old house or the result of a defective bulb - and let them down uncontrolled can mean that you put yourself in danger of serious danger. "A flickering light could also be a sign of early warning of dangerous wiring problems," Dawson said. It first recommends verifying that your bulb is screwed correctly and replacing it if the problem persists. If that does not seem to solve things, it's time to call an electrician.

Creating mood lighting by installing dimmers in your home could land with expensive repairs if you try to tinker work.

"The dimmers usually have different threads that have turned off and they are not all consistent," saysGarry Hall, a partner atSunrise Electric. "When it is incorrectly wired, this will usually result in a short circuit."

Although you may need drilled cables in your home to give access to television or the Internet,At a time-Ed to have a less experienced installer doing the job - can create major problems. "Poorly sealed wall penetration goes slowly and invisible on wood and potentially attract wet wood termites," explains the architectColin Haentjens.

If you do not use the ventilation hood of your range, you can compromise the air quality in your home. "Make sure you use a ventilated exhaust fan to eliminate cooking fumes and avoid moisture accumulation," saysRichard Cresi, owner of franchiseRange In Louisville, Kentucky.

It also recommends opening your windows while you cook for crossed ventilation, reducing moisture, smoke and improving your indoor air quality.

This toaster that is always on the Fritz and the microwave that cuts the halfway power of your food is not as harmless as possible. In fact, ignore them can mean that you inadvertently damages your electrical system of your home. "The resulting damage can range from a little wear and tear on other devices at a destructive electric fire," Dawson said.

If you do not have your cleaned fireplace with a certain frequency, CREOSOTE can accumulate inside, putting you a risk of fireplace, as well as the quality of the suboptimal indoor air. "The annual routine cleaning and the inspection of your home and your ventilation system are essential", explains Cresi. "Dirty, blocked, cracked and leakage of chimney fireplaces and ventilation can cause the pollution release of the chimney in your home, as can be properly installed or maintained incorrectly."

It's not because the power washing is good for your coating does not mean that the same is true for your roof. "If the roof granule on your shingle is blown with pressure washing, it will leave your roof exposed to the elements and weaken your roof," explainsJames Otis, Owner ofHometown Roof Atx. Over time, it can even puncture your roof and create leaks inside your home.

While you think the look of this moussu roof is charming, if there is a mold below, you could prepare for serious damage. "Mold and mold cause discoloration on your roof and weaken," says Otis, noting that the mildew of the roof is often a sign that something is wrong with your HVAC system.

These pipes exposed in your glacial cold basement deserve insulation - and if you do not cover them, you might bePut your home at risk of serious damage. "Any plumbing that crosses unheated parts of your home or is exposed outside, is likely to freeze and possibly illuminate," says Dawson.

Also tempting as possible, you can not replace this pipe section that flees with another material. "Some types of plastic can not handle hot water and there are other materials you should not match," says Dawson. For example, "copper connectors on galvanized metal pipes cause electrolysis" a current source of corrosion of pipes and leaks.

You know how to get too much water around the foundation of your home can cause serious damage, but a Sahara type environment is not better better. "The floor is like a sponge and when it dries, it shrinks, creating an unstable base for the whole house of the house," explainsBetty MooneyPresident ofBrick Restoration, Inc., a masonry repair and restoration company based in Houston. Over time, it can lead to cracks in the founding of your home and can even allow water to see inside. For this to happen, make sure to sprinkle the grass and dirt surrounding your home frequently - just as often as water pools near your foundation.

If you want to keep the integrity of your home, make sure to leave a little space between thosePretty perilous And the house itself. Put plants too close to you can cause damage caused by moisture to your foundation or even let you treat with threatening root structures to compromise it.

That does not likegrill in the hottest months? But if you put your grill up your house, you could put yourself at risk. According toNational Fire Protection Association, grilling charcoal and gas are responsible for 9,800 home fires in the United States each year. Not only put a hot grill near you Increases your home fire risk, it can also melt and distort your coating.

While yourThe attic can only be used as storage space, if you let that not isolated, you cause damage to your homeand at your portfolio. According toENERGY STAR, 25% of the heat of a house can be lost through an uninsulated attic. So, every year, you can not insulate, you do not only increase your risk of bursts and other bad weather damage, but also to increase your electricity bills.

Of course, you may not want the masterpiece that your little ones are attracted to your walls, but rubbing it will only damage over time. "Part of the color can take off because of friction", precautionsHarriet Jones, cleaning supervisor forGo Cleaners London. Frotte further and you could even cause damage to humidity at the dry partition below.

Although it can be tempting fromDIY is bigger workWithout securing permits, this could mean major problems in the future. In addition to causing damage to your home, "If the city discovers that you are building without correct permits, they could bring you a lot, close the construction or even demand that the project is completely demolished," says David Crompton, chief of construction Pro.com . A bad DIY work could also cause structural damage to your home, resulting in foundation problems over time.