Home cents: 10 things to do now to save you money later

AMERICAN PATRIOT and kite-flying electrician Benjamin Franklin must have known something when he said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

The same is true today when it comes to putting a little time and money into your home to keep ahead of big breakdowns and big bucks to pay for big-ticket repairs that could have been prevented with an ounce of maintenance.

Since a house is the biggest purchase that most people will make in their lifetimes, Home has compiled a list of 10 things you can do to keep your castle in tip-top shape:

Pest/termite Inspection

Most companies recommend a yearly inspection. They also suggest buying a termite warranty, or some kind of protection plan, against the wood and paper eaters that can cause thousands of dollars in damage if left to their own devices.

The Hampton Roads area ranks high for termite infestation because the temperature rarely dips below freezing, which causes termites to go dormant, said Syd Tyson, vice president of Bah-Hum-Bug Pest & Termite Inc. in Virginia Beach.

Bah-Hum-Bug does a free initial inspection, and then bases the cost of treating the house on a certain formula. Different options cost different amounts, Tyson said, and are based on a check list, such as age of the house, how well maintained the house is and the linear footage of the property.

Tyson said it's better to spend money on a treatment or warranty than to be caught off guard with a multi-thousand-dollar bill to fix a problem that went undetected.

HVAC inspection

"Having your system cleaned an inspected twice a year is important," said Peter Barber of B&M Services in Yorktown.

It helps to keep your system running at peak performance, and it also allows the heating and air-conditioning specialists to advise you if any problems are on the horizon, Barber said.

Barber suggests having the system inspected during non-peak performance times, such as early fall and early spring.

"Most companies offer a 35- to 40-point check list that has to be performed," he said, noting it should cost about $100 and take about two hours. Most companies also offer service plans ranging from $200 a year to multi-year contracts that are more expensive.

These contracts "might seem a little pricey in the beginning, but the contracts pay for themselves in the money you save on your energy bill," Barber said. "A clean system doesn't work as hard as a dirty one."

He also recommends changing air filters every month, even for filters that say they last three months.

"They are dirty after a month when you have pets and children, and the door is always opening - pulling in dust, dander and pollen."

Gutters

Before leaves start pouring down this fall, clean out your gutter system, recommends Matt Blashaw, a licensed contractor and host of DIY Network's "Blog Cabin," which airs Thursdays at 9 p.m.

Blashaw said homeowners should install gutter screen guards to keep the leaves and debris out permanently.

"This will save you thousands in the long run, versus having to replace your entire system," Blashaw said. "This will also save you from getting drenched in the rain if it gets clogged during a storm."

Garbage disposals

For the most part, garbage disposals are maintenance-free and self-cleaning, Blashaw said, but to keep it in good working order, and to save money from having to repair or replace it, homeowners can toss in some ice cubes once a month to sharpen the blades.

"Grind up a lemon peel to keep your disposal smelling good," he suggested, and "pour a few tablespoons of olive oil down your disposal to lubricate it."

Chimney inspection

An annual inspection and cleaning can help prevent the unthinkable: a chimney fire that causes thousands and thousands in damage.

According to the most recent statistics from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, an average of 25,100 chimney fires are responsible for 30 deaths and $126.1 million in property damage on average each year.

If you burn in your fireplace, you should have it inspected once a year, said Steve Hannon, owner of Quality Service Co. in Virginia Beach.

"Simply, it's a fire hazard if you don't take care of your chimney," Hannon warned.

Even people who use gas logs in their fireplaces, should have the system checked every couple years to make sure it's running correctly and gas is not escaping, Hannon said. "Everybody who has gas logs should still maintain a combination of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors," he said.

The Chimney Safety Institute of America recommends the same thing.

"Place detectors throughout the house and check batteries in the spring and fall,"according to the institute's website (www.CSIA.org).

Dryer-vent cleaning

Hannon recommends an annual cleaning of the dryer vent. But how many people actually clean out their dryer vents annually? Hannon estimates only about 2 percent Hampton Roads residents have it done.

"People wait and call us after it takes them three hours to dry a load of laundry, and generally that's because the vents are all clogged up," he said.

Annually, dryer fires account for about 15,600 structure fires, 15 deaths, and 400 injuries, according to statistics from the National Fire Incident Reporting System.

Water heater

Water heaters can collect sediment over time, DIY's Blashaw said, "especially if you have hard water." This will make the water heater run less efficiently or completely break down.This means they need to be cleaned out.

Blashaw directs people to www.diynetwork.com for a breakdown of how to flush the water heater; it depends on whether it's gas or electric. Search for "water heater maintenance" for the proper procedures.

Blashaw also warns that folks with tankless systems are not immune to having a dirty system.

"You should have them cleaned out every couple of years, or they will break down early on you," he said.

Drain pipes

Blashaw also recommends having all the drain pipes in a house professionally power cleaned.

"You can find some really good deals from time to time online and in the newspaper," he said. "Cleaning your sewer pipes before there is a major problem can spare you a ton of money in plumbers' fees and water-damage costs in the long run."

After the job's complete, homeowners can go to a home-improvement store and pick up a drain-care maintenance product for yearly upkeep.

"It's best to choose one that uses natural enzymes instead of chemicals. Chemical drain openers should only be used as a last resort," Blashaw said.

Garage door Inspection

It's the heaviest appliance in your house, and according to the U.S. Consumer Safety Product Commission, 20,000 people are injured each year in garage door- or garage door opener-related accidents. Most of those injuries involve fingers or hands getting caught in a garage door, but others result in death.

For that reason, people should get their garage doors inspected, and follow manufacturer recommended services, said Kurt Hobbs, owner of Hobbs Door Service in Hampton Roads.

"I see the aftermath of what happens when people don't take care of their doors and get them inspected as they should."

Wood Deck power washing/sealing

Power washing a wood deck can keep things like algae, mold, mildew and moss from building up on a deck. After the deck is clean, sealing it will keep water from warping the wood, causing nails to pop up, and wood to rot.

Justin Lee of JL Power Washing in Williamsburg told Karen Haywood Queen of Yahoo!'s Financially Fit series online that sealing a deck will help water bead and roll off the wood instead of being absorbed.

Decks, depending on usage, should be power washed and stained every one to three years, usually at an estimated cost of $100 to $300.

"A properly cleaned and sealed wood deck can last 20 to 30 years," Lee told Yahoo!

Toni Guagenti, tguagenti@cox.net