Routine home maintenance can save you a bundle, and it needn't cost much either. Each of these repairs runs less than $25.00.
- Seal roof flashings. Neglect these and you'll soon have roof leaks. Cost: about $5 for a tube of flashing.
- Clean gutters. Clogged gutters can cause water to back up under roofing, or drain improperly and cause basement leaks. No cost.
- Apply deck preservative. Weather eventually takes a toll on untreated wood. Cost: about $10 for a gallon of sealer. Add another $ for a gallon of deck cleaner that removes mildew, fungus, and grime.
- Trim trees touching siding and roofing. The moisture they trap near the house soon leads to rot, mildew and/or insect problems. No cost, if you do the trimming yourself.
- Tighten weather stripping. If you can feel a draft around a window or door, it's adding to your heating and cooling bills. Cost: about $10 to weather-strip a door or window.
- Seal bathroom tile grouting. Deteriorated tile joints let water and mildew seep behind the tiles. Cost: less than $ for a tube of silicone sealant. If grouting has already failed, you'll pay about the same for grout-repair compound.
- Clean the clothes dryer vent. A vent that's stuffed up with lint or other debris can cause a fire. No cost.
- Change furnace/air-conditioner filters. Clogged filters reduce efficiency and shorten equipment life. Cost: $5 or less for many types of filters.
- Test smoke alarms. For the cost of a few batteries, you can save your entire home-and maybe your life-from going up in smoke.
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