Make the Switch: 6 Things In Your Home You Should've Replaced Ages Ago

by DixieSomers

Houses are one of those things that's expected to be built to last. That doesn't mean everything in them has the same quality, though. To make matters worse, some of these things don't make it obvious that they've seen better days. When they decline, it can be accompanied by costlier maintenance or even serious damage to the house itself.

make the switch 6 things in your home you should ve replaced ages ago, home maintenance repairs

The Roof

Asphalt shingles can last between 15 and 30 years. Things like local weather or the shape of the roof can speed up the rate of decline. When the roof fails, water can get inside the home and cause its wooden structure to rot and weaken, often where it can't be seen.

via bhg.com

Water Heater

While it's pretty obvious when a heater springs a leak, there's another problem that's less noticeable. All water has dissolved minerals in it to some degree. In a water heater tank, minerals like calcium can accumulate and form a solid mass. This can either coat the electric heating element or create a buffer between the gas flame and the water. Either way, more energy and more money is needed to warm the water.

Smoke Detectors

As small, plastic devices, smoke detectors usually last less than a decade. The device can be tested by pressing a button on it that checks its alarm. This doesn't really let you know if it can actually detect smoke. The big problem, though, is that the detection mechanism can suddenly stop working at any time. The threat this poses is pretty obvious.

via familyhandyman.com

Dishwasher

While all sorts of things can go wrong with dishwashers, it's the inlet and outlet that connect to the home's plumbing that pose the real threat. When these connections fail and leak, it not only does major costly damage to woodwork, it's practically invisible at first since it's hidden behind and underneath the countertop.

via everythingfunny.org

The Carpet

If your carpet is old and matted, even a good cleaning might not restore it to it's former glory. According to the professionals of Pest Detective who specialize in pest control in Victoria BC, when your carpet has been in the home for a while it can start to attract nasty insects that will make their home within the carpet. Bugs like carpet beetles can start in the carpet and then spread throughout your home, getting into furniture, air ducts, and even clothing.

Refrigerator

By keeping food cold, this appliance plays an important role in basic health. When a refrigerator gets old, it requires more electricity to preserve foods. As its worn-out components become loose, it can't maintain the pressure of its refrigerant. Adding more won't compensate for this. Among other things, this problem can result in occasional food spoilage.

Between the wasted money and the damage, there are some things in the house that are just not worth keeping around too long. While replacement can be a hassle, trying to squeeze a few more years out of these fixtures may be even worse for you and the welfare of your home.