12 Money-Saving Home Maintenance Tasks You’re Avoiding — And How Much It Will Cost You
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Gabrielle Olya
11 min read
Performing routine home maintenance is one of the least pleasant parts about being a homeowner, which is why so many people avoid it. It can also be expensive, and it’s tempting to justify skipping it by thinking about the money you’ll save in the short term.
However, a late 2023 survey conducted by homeowners insurance provider Hippo found that 32% of respondents regretted delaying routine home maintenance tasks.
Neglecting these unpleasant tasks can end up costing you more in the long run. Here’s a look at 12 home maintenance tasks many people avoid — and how much it would cost if you spent money on maintenance upfront compared to the cost of an eventual fix in the long run if the issue gets ignored.
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Inspect and Repair Your Roof
Although you may dread having your roof checked, this is one task that’s definitely worth doing to avoid costly repairs down the line.
“Taking the time to inspect your roof allows you to proactively detect potential issues in time to take action,” said Steve Wilson, director of technical underwriting at Hippo. “Repairing minor damage can be a quick, cheap do-it-yourself fix, or you can always save yourself the time and leave it up to the experts to inspect and repair.”
Cost of Maintenance
According to HomeGuide, minor roof repairs can cost between $150 and $1,000. This would help you deal with leaks and replace a few shingles to ensure your roof is well-maintained.
Cost of Neglecting Maintenance
If you don’t repair your roof and have to replace it completely, the average cost is $9,425, per Angi. If you don’t care for your roof properly, you can spend between $5,855 and $13,116 on a new roof.
This highly dreaded task could also end up being a big money-saver.
“Leaves and debris can quickly build up in household gutter lines, leading to water damage to your drywall and molding around the home,” Wilson said. “With the help of a ladder to access those tough-to-reach areas and using a pair of gloves, clear out any visible debris. Gutter guards can also be a great investment, because once they are installed, it alleviates the need to clean your gutters as often.”
Cost of Maintenance
The average cost of gutter cleaning is $167, but it can range from $119 to $234, depending on the size and location.
Cost of Neglecting Maintenance
According to MarketWatch, installing new gutters can cost anywhere from $4,200 to $9,800. However, with an average cost of $6,348, performing frequent maintenance on your gutters could save you a lot of money.
“As beautiful as trees can be, faulty tree limbs can have damaging effects on a home, especially if there are high winds or a storm,” Wilson said. “With the proper tools, work through the twigs and branches to remove anything that doesn’t look completely stable. Be safe. If you have tall trees in your yard, consider hiring a professional tree-trimmer to take care of those high-up areas.”
Cost of Maintenance
The national average cost of tree trimming services is $550, according to HomeGuide, with a range from $200 to $900, depending on how many trees you have.
Cost of Neglecting Maintenance
If you don’t maintain your trees by trimming them, you can expect to spend between $500 and $2,700 on tree replacement. This includes old tree removal, but the price will vary depending on how many trees you want to replace and the types of trees — and it does not account for fixing any damage a falling tree may do to your home and yard.
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Steam Clean Carpets
Your carpets could be harboring dangerous mold, which is why it’s so important to deep clean them regularly.
“The signs of mold can creep into your home completely unnoticed,” Wilson said. “Use a carpet cleaner to do a thorough deep cleaning of your floors to help remove excess moisture and clear out possible debris.”
Mold removal can be a huge undertaking, so it’s better to nip any possible issues in the bud.
Cost of Maintenance
The cost of renting a steam cleaner to maintain your carpet would be around $100 per day. The average cost to hire a professional carpet cleaning service would be $181 or so, depending on the square footage.
Cost of Neglecting Maintenance
If you don’t maintain your carpets, you’ll have to replace them entirely, which can cost between $1,600 and $6,700 for a three-bedroom home.
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Change Out HVAC Filter
To avoid needing to get your HVAC system fully serviced — at least more than is necessary — homeowners should change out the filter regularly. The Hippo survey found that 29% of homeowners would recommend budgeting and scheduling regular home maintenance. This is one of those scenarios where it’s important to be diligent, as replacement costs outweigh basic maintenance greatly.
“A dirty HVAC filter will turn a light brown color, and if not changed regularly, it can lead to health concerns,” Wilson said. “An easy fix is to swap out filters every few months to maintain a functional heating and cooling system that keeps the air clean.”
Cost of Maintenance
Replacing an HVAC filter will cost you only around $20.
Cost of Neglecting Maintenance
If you don’t maintain your HVAC system, you’ll eventually have to replace it, which can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $11,000, with a national average price of $8,000.
A house fire can cause major — and expensive — damage, which is why this task is so important to keep up with.
“Making sure you have protection against household fires starts with a functioning smoke detector and fire extinguisher,” Wilson said.
Cost of Maintenance
According to Wilson, “A 10-year smoke alarm ranges from $15 to $20, and you can purchase a fire extinguisher for around $30 to $40.”
Cost of Neglecting Maintenance
While they may not protect your home from fire damage entirely, if you don’t have a proper smoke alarm and fire extinguisher, a fire could spread more quickly and cause expensive damage. The national average cost for repairing fire damages in a home is $12,900, but the emergency restoration and replacement costs could reach as high as $72,300.
Performing regular maintenance on your lawnmower can help extend its life, so you can go longer without having to replace it.
“Give that mower a quick cleaning by removing the belt guards to ensure there isn’t any debris left over from the last time you used it,” Wilson said. “Check and replace the spark plugs, change the oil and fill it up with new gas. Inspect the blades and replace any that are dull or worn. Lastly, check out the tires. Grease every fitting and make sure there aren’t any punctures. Repair or replace if needed.”
Cost of Maintenance
The average cost of a lawn mover tune-up is around $130, but it can cost as little as $10 if everything is in working order.
Cost of Neglecting Maintenance
The cost of regularly maintaining your lawnmower can be minimal compared to purchasing a new one every few years. The national average cost of a lawn mower is $322, according to LawnStarter. However, you may have to spend up to $3,000 if you have a larger property and require a riding lawn mower.
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Check Your Windows and Doors for Drafts and Leaks
“According to the Environmental Protection Agency, securing entry points can increase the efficiency of your home’s heating and cooling systems by 20%,” Wilson said. “Better insulation and tighter seals will keep your home cool in the summer and warm when winter rolls around.
“Start by caulking any leaks or cracks around your windows. Add weather stripping if necessary. Then, check attics, walls, inside cupboards that conceal pipes, crawl spaces and the spaces around your doors.”
These tasks can save you a lot of money both on your utility bill and on future costs for replacing windows.
Cost of Maintenance
According to EcoWatch, repairing a window leak could cost you around $130.
Cost of Neglecting Maintenance
If you don’t spend the $130 upfront on repairing possible window leaks, the cost for a window replacement could set you back between $467 and $1,333, per MarketWatch.
Unchecked issues stemming from your attic can become costly repair jobs down the line.
“Check your insulation for discoloration, matting or dampness, as this could be an indication of a roof leak or condensation problem,” Wilson said. “Also, if you notice dusty or dirty insulation, it might indicate an air leak where heated air from within the home is seeping up through the attic.
“Repair leaks into the attic — check openings around pipes, wires, phone lines and cables — with caulk or expanding foam. Any white discoloration in your rafters near ventilation could also be the result of a roof leak or condensation issue.”
Cost of Maintenance
A professional attic inspection would cost anywhere between $200 and $500, per Angi.
Cost of Neglecting Maintenance
If you don’t inspect your attic regularly, you could end up spending much more money on potential damages. The costs would vary depending on the issues, but rodent removal costs average between $150 to $600, while mold removal could set you back as much as $15,000.
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Protect Your Plumbing
Plumbing is easy to overlook and neglect, as long as it’s working well. However, you may have to pay the price if you neglect it for too long. One task you should keep up with is ensuring that pipes are properly insulated.
“Pipes located outside the home or in areas without proper insulation, like basements or attics, need extra insulation from the elements,” Wilson said. “Fitting your pipes with foam rubber or fiberglass sleeves can help decrease the chances of your pipes freezing or bursting. The extra insulation also allows the water to keep its temperature as it is flowing through the pipes, which may lower your energy costs.”
Cost of Maintenance
HomeAdvisor says the average cost for plumbing insulation for a 100-foot project ranges between $100 and $1,100.
Cost of Neglecting Maintenance
If you don’t take care of your plumbing in advance, replacing it can cost between $2,280 and $5,120, depending on the size and scope of the project.
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Inspect Your Radiator/Heating Unit
Heating is another part of your home that’s easy to ignore as long as it’s working. But you should be sure to check it regularly, or it may get to the point where it needs to be replaced rather than just repaired.
“Taking the time to check your heating source and thermostat proactively will help prevent cold nights waiting for a repair during the busy winter months,” Wilson said. “You will want to change your filter every few months to ensure it runs properly, and we also recommend having a professional come out once a year to check on the major components like the fan motor and ignition system.”
Cost of Maintenance
You can expect to spend around $350 on repairing a radiator if you find that there are any issues with it.
Cost of Neglecting Maintenance
If you don’t repair your radiator, you could expect to spend around $1,500 to replace it, with costs potentially reaching as high as $3,500, according to Forbes.
“Flushing your water heater regularly will help get more years out of it,” Wilson said. “Doing a simple flush will clear any unwanted sediment in your water tank and remove that crusty calcium build-up on your tankless unit. We recommend doing this at least once a year, and even twice a year in areas where the water has high mineral content.”
Cost of Maintenance
The average cost of flushing a water heater is $160, with the range being between $110 and $200.
Cost of Neglecting Maintenance
If you don’t flush your water heater, you could be forced to replace it sooner, which comes with an average price of $1,322. The prices range from $882 to $1,801, depending on whether you choose one with a tank or a tankless one. A tankless water heater could set you back as much as $3,500.
Martin Dasko contributed to the reporting for this article.
