After buying your first home, you may be wondering if you’re handling all the maintenance properly. After all, your home is likely the most expensive purchase you’ll ever make, and you want to protect your asset. If you’re new to homeownership, here are some aspects of maintenance you don’t want to forget.

Proper Roof Drainage
The next time it’s raining, grab an umbrella and go outside. Look up at the gutters. No water should be leaking out of them. All the water should be coming through, downspouts and directed away from the house. If there isn’t any water coming out or you see water leaking out of the gutters, it’s possible there is a blockage of leaves or a bird’s nest impeding the flow. Either check out the situation yourself, or hire a roofer to come take a look, as poor drainage can cause a lot of expensive structural damage to the house itself.

Change Your Air Filters
Your furnace and air conditioning unit both have filters in them that remove dust and other irritants from the air. You need to know how to replace these filters to keep air flowing through the unit. If you don’t know how to do this, call a heating and air conditioning company to do it for you or check professional sites like http://www.aircontrolspokane.com for tips. Not only will this cut down on allergy symptoms and dust, it will make your furnace and AC unit last longer.

Inspect Your Windows
Modern windows have two or three panes of glass. Between the panes is a vacuum that acts as a buffer between the inside of your home, and the outside world. This helps keep your heating and cooling costs under control by acting as insulation as well. If the vacuum seal has failed, you’ll see a gritty buildup or condensation inside the window. If this has happened, the window is no longer providing insulation and needs to be replaced. If your windows have only one pane of glass, they need to be replaced.

Handle Plumbing Problems Quickly
If you have a leaky faucet or a toilet that won’t stop running, fix it immediately or hire someone to do the job. While a small leak may seem harmless, it is wasting water and could be a harbinger of bigger problems to come. For example, a corroded spigot that was just leaking yesterday may snap off in your hand the next time you turn it, flooding the bathroom and damaging the floor and the ceiling below it.

Maintaining a home can be a challenge, especially if you are new to owning your own place. By keeping these tips in mind, you can keep your utility costs low and avoid damage to your house.