Your Villa Magazine - Desert Cities - October-December - 2022

Being proactive about home upkeep can save more money by preventing expensive repair or replacement costs in the future. 1. Trim your trees Little known fact, you’re responsible for the damage if a tree on your property falls on a neighbor’s house. Or if a dead branch damages your home, it can result in a homeowner’s insurance claim, meaning you have to pay the deductible. For peace of mind, trim the trees on your property every fall. 2. Check washing machine hoses Did you know a washing machine hose holds 70 pounds of pressure? If it fails, it can spray 650 gallons of water per hour into your home. So if you’re away for the weekend and a hose bursts, you may open the door to the equivalent of a 20- foot by 40-foot in-ground pool’s worth of water, which can damage floors, drywall and personal items. Inspect the hot and cold washing machine supply lines monthly, looking for blisters, worn tubing, cracks or loose connections. It’s best to replace supply hoses every 3-5 years. 3. Conduct a generator safety check First, always unplug and turn off all power to the generator. Examine the AC wiring and alternator to clear dirt and debris. Inspect the air intake system and replace the air filter. Oil in your generator needs to be changed every 25 hours of running, or one year unused. When you’re ready to use the generator, take it outside to a well- ventilated area before starting up. Generators produce carbon monoxide from the exhaust and can cause serious injury or death if used indoors, in a garage (including with open doors) or even on a porch. 4. Maintain your HVAC One of the most critical items to maintain is your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Regular maintenance helps keep the system in working order, extending the life of the system and saving on energy costs. D E S I G N + B U I L D BrandPointContent.com edited by YourVilla Sta Regular home maintenance tips 52 | YourVilla Magazine      € ‚ ƒ „ … †  4 4 4 4 4 4 4