Every homeowner has to deal with repairs from time to time. Some of these repairs are easy to do on your own. Others require the help of professionals.
No matter where you live in the country, things will go wrong in your home. Not every issue you will face will be a daunting one. But, as every homeowner will tell you if you don’t address even small problems right away, you could find yourself in a bad position down the line.
House repairs can be quite costly, depending on the problem and the fix. There are preventative maintenance measures you should take to make your home “run” properly.
Even if you are on top of these maintenance measures, though, you are bound to need house repairs at some point. In Michigan, here are some of the most common house repairs you will deal with.
1. Roof
The roof is one of the most important features of your home. It protects the inside of your home from Mother Nature.
Because it quite literally takes a pounding from wind, rain, snow and even hail, roofs are susceptible to leaks, rotting, and other issues.
Cold winters in Michigan don’t make things any easier. Michigan is one of the coldest states in the U.S., which can cause other complications in regards to roofs.
Roofs must deal with snow and ice, as well as fluctuating temperatures that cause expansion and contraction of materials.
The good thing about roofs is that they will often give you signs of trouble before a huge problem occurs. If you see dark wet spots on the inside of your ceilings, you may have a roof problem. You can also spot missing shingles, cracks, or small leaks.
Inspecting your roof at least once a year will help you stay on top of small repairs before they require a full replacement.
2. Siding
For the same reasons as above, your home’s siding will take a pounding in Michigan. Siding serves as basically the skin of the house. It’s not just a way to make your home look pretty. It protects the sides of your house from the outside.
Damaged siding can lead to water seeping behind and causing damage. If water even seeps slowly behind your siding, it can cause wood to rot. It can also result in mold or mildew growing.
Separations or cracks in siding can allow insects and pests to sneak in behind as well.
Just like with your roof, you should inspect your siding at least once a year. Walk around your home and look for any cracks or any piece of siding pulling away from the house.
3. HVAC
Your HVAC system keeps you comfortable inside your home all year round. In the harsh Michigan winters, your heating will keep you warm. In the hot summers, the air conditioning will keep you cool.
And all season long, the ventilation the HVAC provides will keep the air that circulates throughout your home clean and safe.
Repairing an HVAC system can be quite costly. Replacing it altogether is one of the more expensive home repairs you may have to undertake. This makes it all the more important to have ongoing maintenance performed on your system.
This is one of those jobs a professional should handle unless you’ve experienced it yourself. Most HVAC companies will have an annual maintenance package. They’ll come to your home at least twice a year to inspect your HVAC system, tune it, spot any potential issues and change your filters.
4. Pipes
When you turn on the water in your house, you may not think too much about your pipes. They just sit under sinks, behind walls or in floors and ceilings. Not many people will even see their pipes on a day-to-day basis.
But, pipes can be a major headache if they stop performing properly. Even a pinhole leak in a pipe can cause catastrophic damage to your home if you don’t catch it in time.
Small leaks are often difficult to notice. What you should look for is any dark spots in your ceilings or walls. Check under your sinks routinely to see if there are any wet spots in the bottom of cabinets.
Over time, water will often wear down the material in pipes. Pipes are also susceptible to damage when the weather gets cold and then warms up again. So, be on top of your home’s pipes.
5. Hot water heater
Water is a common theme in-home repairs. That’s for good reason, too. While water gives us life, it also can be quite damaging.
When you turn on the water in your home to take a shower, you expect the hot water to simply come on. If you find that the water isn’t quite as hot as it used to be, or if it takes longer to get hot, you could have an issue with your hot water heater.
Water heaters are appliances that need to be replaced from time to time. The major issue with this is that when they stop working, they can often cause major damage in the process.
If water heaters aren’t properly maintained, and if problems aren’t caught soon enough, water heaters can burst or leak. Depending on the type and size of water heater you have, this could cause a major flooding problem.
If your water heater is making funny noises or smells off, have a professional come out to inspect it. If you see rusty marks around the bottom of it or see any water leaking out, call someone ASAP.
Signature Insurance is Here if You Need Help
Repairs are an unavoidable part of being a homeowner. It’s impossible to own a home and not have to address a problem, concern, or issue at some point.
While not all home issues will require extensive repair and a lot of money, some might. That’s why it’s important to have a trusted home insurance company covering your home, just in case.
At Signature Insurance, we have years of experience helping homeowners deal with the elements in Michigan. We provide all of our customers with superior insurance products and great customer service to help them walk through any issues they might have.
Call us today for a free quote, and let us protect your home today.