14 Things You Should Definitely Know About Your Home
There are about 85 million single-family homes in the United States, which is a lot of homes. If you own one of these, then you already know what you don’t know – from the conditions of the property to the actual cost of owning the place. Buying and maintaining a home is a lifelong learning process.
But no matter how long you’ve owned your home, there are probably some aspects of it that you’re not even aware of. This can be a problem because you rely on this structure to protect you and your family from the elements, become a valuable asset in your financial portfolio, and an attractive place that you can proudly show off to friends and family. In order for this to happen, you need to know some fundamental details about your home. If you don’t know these things, find them out as soon as possible.
Shutdowns
Your home runs on several basic resources—water, electricity, and possibly natural gas. Unless you are completely disconnected from the solar power grid and local power sources such as propane tanks, these resources are fed into your home from outside at constant pressure. If something goes wrong (like a water pipe bursts, a pilot light goes out, and a gas leak occurs), you need to know how to turn everything off, which means you need to know the location of the following items:
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Water Shutoff: The main valve that controls the flow of water into your home. It’s usually located outside, but if it’s inside (mine is), it will be near the perimeter and possibly in your basement. Know where it is and how to turn it off.
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Localized valves. Your sinks, outdoor faucets, and toilets will also have shut-off valves. Knowing where your toilet’s plug is can be a real lifesaver when it starts to overflow.
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The gas was turned off. Likewise, if your home has natural gas, know where the shut-off valve is located. If you ever smell gas and can’t identify its source, it could literally save your home and your life.
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Turning off household appliances. Your gas appliances, such as your oven or dryer, will also have special shut-off devices, usually located at the back where the connections are. Know how to access them in case you need to disable them.
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Electrical panel. Know where your home’s electrical panel is located and become familiar with the circuit diagrams and main circuit in case you need to turn off the power to one part of the house or the entire house.
If you smell gas, you should leave the house and call the authorities, even if you have turned off the main power. And never touch an electrical panel that is sparking or smoking.
Schemes
When talking about your electrical panel, you need to know more than just its location. Determine which circuits control what in your home by unplugging them one by one and checking what they are connected to. Don’t trust existing markings – they are often not updated properly after renovations and renovations. Clearly labeling each switch will save you time and effort if you need to turn off the power to something that is faulty.
Meter locations
You need to know where your water, gas and electricity meters are and how to read them . If you still have meter readers at your utility company, it is helpful to know how to route them to the meters, and being able to read and interpret them will allow you to check your utility bills. Doing this once a year will help you identify any discrepancies that may indicate a billing error, utility theft , or a slow leak.
Evacuation route
If something terrible happened unexpectedly, how would you get out of the house? If the front door is somehow blocked, is there an alternative exit? If you were trapped on the top floor, how would you escape ? Thank goodness these emergencies don’t happen often, but now is the time to plan for them. Think about what you would do in different scenarios so that you have a way out, even if the obvious exits are blocked.
Dryer type
If you had a washer and dryer in your home when you moved, find out which dryer you have. This may seem obvious, but many people don’t realize that there are gas- and electric-powered dryers. If your gas dryer breaks down and you order an electric one to replace it, you’ll end up with a huge headache instead of a solution.
Insulation type
A good question to ask the builder, previous owners or home inspector is the type of insulation in the walls and attic. In older homes that have not undergone significant renovations, this may include asbestos -based insulation, which is not a problem unless you try to remove it. But even if your insulation is more modern, it’s a good idea to know its type and age. Firstly, it may not be the best insulation in the world, so you might want to upgrade it. Secondly, insulation does not last forever , so knowing its age will be helpful when planning future maintenance and budgeting.
Property lines
You (probably) didn’t just buy a building, you bought real estate . This likely includes the outdoor space around your home—your lot. The problem with land plots is that they look very clear and obvious on a map, but they’re not so easy to understand when you’re literally standing on them. This can lead to intrusions from neighbors when their fence encroaches on your property, or speculation about who owns what, or whether your neighbors have an easement or right of access that includes your property. In other words, figuring out the exact boundaries of your property is a very good idea.
Water quality
Clean drinking water delivered to our homes is an incredible luxury by historical standards, but not all local water sources are created equal. Your local water utility will likely have the test results, but it’s a good idea to test your tap water yourself to see what you’re dealing with and whether it’s comfortable for you to drink, or whether you need to look into filters .
It’s also good to know if you have hard water (water with high mineral content), as it can harm your appliances and other parts of your home (and isn’t the best water for showering and cleaning). You can soften hard water quite effectively, but only if you know about it in advance.
Lead pipes
If your home was built just before 1988, it may still have lead water pipes, meaning lead could leach into your drinking water, potentially making you sick. You should check if your pipes contain lead , and if you find a positive result, you should contact your local authority and water company to arrange replacement.
Under
Do you know what’s underneath your house? If you have a full basement, the answer is probably yes. However, crawling areas, especially very shallow ones, can be ignored. They usually contain many vital things such as water lines, gas lines and electrical wiring, and can be a source of pests, air pollution and overall bad atmosphere.
It’s not uncommon for homeowners to remove crawl space access panels in their homes or when basements simply don’t have a convenient access point, but it’s vital that you have access to your crawl space for a number of reasons . After all, at some point you’ll need access to those pipes and wires, and you’ll need to be able to monitor the foundation, moisture levels (and potential mold growth), rodent and pest populations, and potential water problems. When it comes to what’s underneath your home, ignorance is definitely not bliss.
Sewer or septic tank
When you flush the toilet or wash the dishes, where does that gray and black water go? The answer will influence your maintenance decisions because the water line that connects to the city sewer line requires different care than the pipes leading to the septic tank on your property. If you have a sewer line, checking it annually for clogs or root intrusion can save you a lot of trouble, while septic tanks need to be pumped out regularly and chemical drain cleaners should be avoided.
Your filter schedules
Many things in your home (including, perhaps, the house itself) have filters . All of these filters need to be replaced periodically, but each device or piece of infrastructure will have its own schedule and specific filter type. Make sure you know what filters you need and how often it is recommended to replace them. Just because something is working fine doesn’t mean the filter doesn’t need replacing.
Materials
Do you know what floor you are walking on? What countertop do you cook on? Different materials require different care and cleaning. Using the wrong cleaning products, such as bleach, when cleaning natural stone can cause serious damage to the materials and leave you with damaged items and an inevitable repair bill. After all, it can be difficult for non-experts to differentiate between things like laminate and hardwood flooring , so you can’t just assume you know what you’re dealing with. If at all possible, it’s best to find out exactly what’s in there and what the manufacturer recommends regarding maintenance, cleaning, and repair.
Access
You own the house—all of it. You must have access to all parts of it. You may not want to go into the basement or onto the roof, but you should be able to get into these areas. If there is a place you can’t get to, it may also be a place the contractor can’t get to, which could be disastrous in the event of an emergency repair. And you should be able to inspect your home regularly as a preventative practice to anticipate problems before they become emergencies. Taking some time to make sure you at least know how to access every part of your home is an important part of planning the maintenance of what is likely the biggest asset you own.