Simple Maintenance Beats Expensive Repairs

Relatively easy routine maintenance now will save you lots of money in repairs later on. Some examples:

Furnace/air conditioner

Normal life expectancy: 20-25 years for gas furnace, air conditioners and heat pumps about 15 years.

Maintenance: Change filters every 1 to 3 months/annual service contract.

If you do it: $1 to $15 per filter/service contract $150 to $250 annually.

If you don’t: $3,000 for a new, 100,000 Btu/per hour furnace; $3,000 and up for new 3-ton air-conditioning unit.

Normal life expectancy: 15-18 years.

Maintenance: Test temperature-pressure relief valve once a year. Sediment at the bottom can be drained twice a year

(particularly on well water), by opening drain valve and letting water flow until water runs clear.

If you do it: Free.

If you don’t: $600-$800 and up (50-gallon electric).

Life expectancy: Varies with use.

Maintenance: check to make sure no cracks in grout or corner joints.

If you do it: $3 per tube for caulking/professional re-grouting $125 to $200.

If you don’t: Retiling shower $2,500 and up.

Normal life expectancy: wooden, pressure treated deck without protection 15 years.

Maintenance: Protect with ultra-violet resistant sealer.

If you do it: $25 a gallon for Cabot deck sealer.

If you don’t: Replacing it will cost about $3,000.

Missing or damaged, have exposed rake board of the roof.

Normal life expectancy: Asphalt shingle roof 15 to 25 years.

If you repair it: $75-$100.

If you don’t: Replace rake board, roof decking, dry wall, structural repairs. Replacement could cost thousands.

Clean roof gutters in spring and fall, make sure down spouts are aimed more than 2-feet away from the home’s foundation.

Grade the dirt away from home at a one inch per foot slope.

Normal life expectancy: At least 30 years.

If you do it: Free/for professional $80 and up.

If you don’t: Potential foundation/structural damage, wet or moldy basement. Repairs could cost thousands.