Deployment means you won’t be able to deal with home disasters yourself. Your family, or anyone watching the home for you, will be responsible for making sure all repairs are made promptly. If you have kids, this makes matters even more stressful.
You need to do all that you can to ensure that your home is in great condition before you are deployed.
A brief inspection can help lower the risk of a disaster. The following repairs are not only costly, but they can also be very stressful.
Inspect the following, or have a professional inspector come in, to make sure that your family doesn’t have to go through a home emergency without you:
1. Roofing Leaks and Decay
A home’s roof should be inspected twice annually. This inspection can be done on your own, and you’ll want to look for:
- Missing shingles
- Tears
- Additional damage
You can easily fix these shingles, preventing further roof rot and damage. Extension damage can cost $3,000 – $12,000 to fix. Regular maintenance and inspections are key to avoid these costs. If you have a leak, don’t put a pot under it to catch the water and hope that the leak will go away – fix it.
2. Plumbing Clogs and Overflows
Plumbing is a necessary home system that needs to be operational at all times. If your toilet clogs, plunging it may be all that’s needed. But what happens if a sink backs up, and no matter what you do, the water won’t go down?
If you’re in a one-bathroom dwelling, a clogged toilet or sink can be a disaster.
A plumber can come into the home and perform a video inspection if necessary. Making sure that all systems are flushing and draining properly can be done by yourself.
Commercial unclogging solutions are often not recommended because they can damage the pipes. Baking soda and vinegar may do the trick.
Keeping drains and toilets from clogging is simple. Never:
- Use flushable wipes
- Pour grease down the drain
- Flush feminine hygiene products
- Put coffee grinds down the drain
Avoid using tablet toilet bowl cleaners, too. “These drop-in cleaners have chemicals that can corrode pipes causing cracks and leaks. Use traditional toilet cleaning products,” All Phase Plumbing warns.
3. Heating and Cooling Issues
Heating and cooling systems should be running smoothly. You can look for wear, but having a professional come out to lubricate and inspect the unit is key. You’ll want to call on these professionals every six months to conduct maintenance.
The last thing you want is for your family to go to bed cold because the HVAC system stopped working.
Basic maintenance may include checking refrigerant, tightening connections, cleaning out drains and cleaning dirty coils.
A few additional items that you may want to have checked, especially in an older home, are:
- Foundation – look for cracks.
- Septic cleaning – a professional should check the unit often.
- Trees – damage from a fallen tree can devastate your family.
Make sure to check your home, including piping systems, to allow your family to have peace of mind that your home will be fine while you’re deployed.
