Taking care of your home is really a good investment and not that hard to do, however, not doing it can be expensive. We must maintain our homes just like we change the oil and service our cars. Here are several home tips that might save you money with a little home tender care.

1. Have your A/C and furnace cleaned and checked once a year. Be sure to tell the service man to check for duct leaks.

2. Walk your lot and look for ponding water close to your foundation. Ponding water can weaken your soil structure and cause settling.

3. Don’t plant trees close to your foundation. Keep trees at least 15 feet from your foundation. If planted too close to the foundation, the tree roots can cause foundation problems.

4. If existing trees are planted too close to your foundation contact a good landscaper to install root barriers. These can be very effective.

5. Sprinkler systems with moisture gauges work well during the seasonal droughts to protect your foundation. Don’t over water or underwater during the droughts.

6. Flush new or replacement hot water heaters once a year. This will prolong the life of your hot water heater.

7. When you find cracks in siding, facial boards or notice any major movement check this out and repair as soon as possible. Caulk and repaint settling cracks to prevent any moisture intrusion.

8. Make sure you fix roof leaks quickly, mold and mildew are hazardous to your health and water intrusion is your home’s worst enemy.

9. If you burned more than two cords of wood you need to have your fireplace professionally cleaned.