Things That Will Ruin Your Home - The Delite

Things That Will Ruin Your Home



Home much do you like your home? Is the paint just right? Are the floorboards strong? It’d probably be in your best interest to keep it in good condition. So, stop it! And what is “it”? Probably something mundane you do every day. Something you don’t know would be ruining your house. Here are a few things that will absolutely ruin your home.

Don’t Plug In Appliances Near The Thermostat


All appliances emit some amount of heat, which is why it’s especially important not to plug them in next to the thermostat. If you plug in an appliance like a toaster especially close to the thermostat, it might actually register the change in temperature. This could cause your electricity or heating bill go up.

Insulate Your Attic


If you feel a draft in the winter, it’s likely because you have an uninsulated basement or an uninsulated attic. But don’t think you can get out of insulating your attic just because you live in a warm climate year round. Cold air from your air conditioner can escape your home as well. And just generally leaving your attic neglected can lead to weather damage and a pretty big repair bill.

Don’t Sweep Too Often


There always seems to be some dust or debris about the house, so you may find it necessary to sweep just as much. However, that leaves dirt, sand, and bits of food you sweep caught in grooves on the floor. It’s a better idea to use a mop. But if you must use a broom, use one with closely-bound, soft, synthetic bristles.

Locate Studs In The Wall


If you want to hang up a portrait or a painting, always make sure you know where the studs are in the wall. Trying to hammer in a nail where there isn’t one will cause damage to the wall. That either happens from the nail itself, or when whatever you’re hanging up inevitably falls. There are some ways you can figure out where the studs are, but it’s best to just get a stud finder.

Don’t Let Vines Grow On Your House


Vines growing on the side of your house might look cool, but you really shouldn’t let it happen. Certain types of vines can clamp onto bricks or singles and pry them apart. Not only does this damage your home, but can lead to weather damage, mold, and allow bugs entry to your house. In some cases, the weight of the vines can even collapse a roof.

Get Rid Of Pests


If you find any evidence of any pests in your home, you’re going to want to take care of them immediately. Although, the most dangerous pests are termites and mice. The danger termites pose are obvious, but mice can carry infectious diseases and will chew through electrical wires.

Don’t Let Your Tap Drip


If you don’t want your water bill to go up, don’t let your tap drip. Not to mention, leaks can cause extensive water damage if allowed to their own devices. Repairing plumbing damage of this nature can cost as much as $400. There’s also the mold it can cause and other forms of structural damage.

Take Care Of Your Roof


There are several warning signs for when your roof is in need of repair. If you see the shingles beginning to curl up, that means they’re not letting water and other debris through. Dark stains could be mold. Just make sure to check your roof’s state with a ladder every once in a while. The damage could be costly.

Look For Signs Of Mold


Mold isn’t just bad for your house. It’s bad for your health too. Having itchy skin and a runny nose may be a sign that there’s mold in home. It grows where water accumulates, so make sure to keep areas as dry as possible and regularly check locations where water accumulates. Make sure to get rid of mold that grows before it can become a problem.

Watch Out For Flickering Lights


If you notice that your lights are flickering, with no external reason, there might be a problem. It could either be a faulty circuit or a failing appliance. To be sure, try tightening your light bulbs and checking your circuit breakers. If that doesn’t fix the flickering issue, then you should definitely get in contact with a professional.

Fix Bad Water Pressure


A dripping shower head can be a sign that there’s an issue with your plumbing. You have a few options to test what’s going on, such as taking the shower head off to test the popes. You should know the age of your pipes, since they may be made of materials no longer considered safe. And pipe repair can be expensive, so make sure to mitigate the cost by catching and taking care of problems early.

Clean Out Your Air Filters


Having centralized air is an excellent way to whether a heat wave. But, you’ll need regular maintenance in order to keep it functioning. Clean out the filters and it’s evaporation coil. There can be a lot of unexpected costs that can make things overall much more expensive than originally expected.

Don’t Pave Up To Your Foundation


Did you know that asphalt and concrete don’t absorb water? You may like the idea of paving your driveway up to the door in order for you to avoid having to walk the rest of the way. But with no place for the water to runoff to, it may pool around the front of your house. And that just leads to all of the structural issues mentioned before.

Dry Up Post-Shower Puddles


Letting water form small puddles on the ground after a shower can lead to moisture seeping into the floorboards. That can eventually lead to warped or stained flooring. It being trapped underneath can also lead to growing mildew and mold.

Take Your Shoes Off When You Come Inside


No matter how clean you think your shoes are, it’s always a better idea to take them off when you enter a house. You’ll find yourself tracking in dirt and dust, as well as fecal bacteria. And you don’t want all that bacteria transferring onto your nice, clean floor.

Don’t Pour Grease Down Your Sink


Just don’t put grease down the drain. Once it cools, it can turn solid. And if it turns solid in your pipes, it’s pretty obvious how that can prove disastrous in the home. This can even negatively impact your entire neighborhood’s plumbing system. Instead, just put the grease in a lidded container to be disposed of later.

Be Careful With Dryer Sheets


Dryer sheets can make your laundry smell great, as well as preventing it from absorbing any static electricity. However, they’re actually slowly destroying both your clothes and appliances. A common ingredient in dryer sheets is stearic acid. While in the dryer, the acid melts out of the sheets and coats the clothes, which is what eliminates the static. But the acid builds up in the lint filter, which then also leaves lint on your clothes. This affects the lifespan of your dryer and clothes by a pretty significant amount.

Don’t Put Chemicals Down Your Drain


As much as you may want to unclog a potential drain, using heavy-duty chemical cleaners isn’t the way to go about it. They may be a good, short-term solution, but they don’t just strip away the gunk. They strip away the pipes, themselves as well. Try using dishwashing liquid and hot water instead to dissolve a clog. A little bit of maintenance can help avoid any clogs in the first place.

Don’t Neglect Your Garage


The part of the garage door most important to inspect is the door. They have plenty of safety features, but require regular maintenance to stay safe. To keep it regular, check the door’s reversing function. If it hits an object under the an object under the door and then doesn’t immediately reverse, the door needs to be repaired or updated.

Don’t Slam Your Door


Slamming the door causes damage to the doors frame. Eventually it’ll push the jamb away from the trim. Little openings around a door can also let in moisture and let out heat. And then there’s the invitation you’re giving to insects and arachnids.

Don’t Flush Antibacterial Wipes


Nobody’s saying you shouldn’t use antibacterial wipes. Just don’t flush them down the toilet. They can soak up debris and congealed grease, which can cause clogs. Not to mention, they don’t dissolve when making contact with water, unlike actual toilet paper.

Don’t Let Things Clutter


It’s pretty obvious why you should avoid letting things clutter. It attracts bugs. Food, damp clothes, and paper are especially potent lures to insects, spiders, and rodents. Just take out your trash and keep your home tidy. It won’t even get particularly overwhelming.

Don’t Make Your Bed Right After You Wake Up


When you get up in the morning, if you have the first instinct to make your bed after you get up, you might want to hold back on that. Dust mites like to use the sweaty area to feast and often leave behind fecal pellets and body fragments. Just letting your sheets air out a little will dry them off and be less attractive to the mites.

Don’t Use Vinegar As A Cleaning Agent


People like to use vinegar as a cleaning agent. It’s certainly an interesting life hack. However, while a great cleaner for certain things, vinegar will only cause damage when used to clean other things. Vinegar can dull the natural shine of your countertops. As well as clouding and staining the floors. Some flooring manufacturers even void the warranty if there’s any evidence of the floor having been cleaned using vinegar.