No matter how well and lovingly you care for your home, it’s a well-known fact that things are going to wear out and need to be fixed, especially when you hit the 10-year mark of living in your house. While home updates can be a daunting task for any homeowner, it’s important to keep up with projects such as redoing your basement floor, taking care of plumbing problems, or even updating your water filtration system. While some projects need to be done every 10 years at least, there are some that should be done yearly or as needed.
There are even home upgrades that you as the homeowner never knew you needed. Some upgrades are naturally needed, while others will increase the comfort of your home, and it’s efficiency as well. In this article, you’ll find some necessary upgrades and then a few that you didn’t know you needed.
1. Plumbing/Energy Saving Appliances
Everyone knows that you need to have your plumbing, pipes, drainage systems, clogs, and any other plumbing work taken care of as it happens. However, it’s also a good idea to make sure that you have these things inspected every now and then as well. Make sure to call in the professional plumbers in Bastrop TX to take care of any clogs or other plumbing work you have issues with, but also have them come in occasionally just to see if your pipes or other plumbing components need updating.
While you’re taking care of your plumbing updates, why not go ahead and switch out your outdated stove, fridge, and washer/dryer combination for energy-saving appliances instead. Energy-efficient appliances not only work better, but they also save you money and they’re better for the environment. While these items are a large investment, in the beginning, meaning they cost quite a bit upfront, you’re going to save quite a bit of money in the long run, making it entirely worth the expense. If at all possible, start with replacing the big-ticket items such as swapping out your old-fashioned water heater with a tankless water heater and your HVAC unit with high-efficiency heating and cooling units instead, especially if they are over 10 years old.
2. Water Filtration System/Kitchen Upgrades
The kitchen is the one room in most houses that is used several times a day. Whether your family is grabbing a quick drink on the way to the backyard or gathering to cook an entire meal, the kitchen gets a lot of foot traffic. That’s why one of your major upgrades should be improving the convenience and functionality of your kitchen. Kitchen upgrades that will make your life a whole lot easier include updating your fridge to a better more efficient model, custom or even semi-custom cabinets, a quality, energy-efficient dishwasher, and adding storage options so nothing is left on the counters that will make your kitchen cluttered and cramped.
While you’re upgrading your kitchen, you should consider adding a water filtration system to the mix as well. You need water for everything from cooking to drinking, so who wouldn’t want the most refreshing water possible? A filtration system makes sure that you’re able to filter out any harmful contaminants from any pitcher of water you serve your family. Make sure that any company you choose to get your filtration system through is top-quality, has great reviews, and stellar customer service as well. There are even whole house water filter options if you choose to go that route, the choice is yours but having a water filtration system in your home is a step in the right direction.
3. Basement Updates/Extra Outlets
One of the biggest upgrades you should make at least every 10 years is to your basement. If you haven’t already turned your basement into a game room, an extra bedroom, or even a reading nook, now could be the best time to get that home upgrade completed. One of the first things you want to do when upgrading your basement is to get in contact with a reputable basement floor coating company to talk about floor coating options. You want an epoxy coating that is durable, and impact-resistant as well.
While you’re renovating the basement, it would be the perfect time to add extra outlets not only to that room but to other rooms in the home as well. Everyone knows that you never truly know how many outlets you’re going to need when moving into or even building a house. Adding extra outlets throughout the home doesn’t have to be an expensive project. It can also add value to your home, and everyone knows that you can never have too many electrical outlets, not with all the items that need to be plugged in, in today’s highly electronic and tech-driven world.
4. Windows/Carpet
When it comes to upgrades you need to make every 10 years, your windows and carpeting fit into that category quite nicely. When you’re considering upgrades, start with the windows. Window installation comes with a few different benefits for the homeowner. The first is that you can never have enough lighting in a home. Installing new windows will give you that, which will help save on your energy bills because you don’t have to turn on the lights during the day. Adding windows also adds value to your home, and who doesn’t want to do that?
Also, consider switching out the carpeting in your home. Over the years, the carpet in your house becomes filled with bacteria, pet dander, and even germs that can make you and your family sick. Also, the padding gets thinner and no matter how well or how often you clean the carpet, it doesn’t help. The average lifespan for medium-grade carpet is 10 years. However, that depends on many factors, such as how often the carpet is cleaned, how quickly spills are cleaned up, and if you have pets or not.
Signs that you should replace the carpet include age, stains that won’t come up, tears, and odors that linger even after you’ve given the carpet a good cleaning.
Bonus Tip: Washer/Dryer/Repaint
Believe it or not, the average lifespan of a washer and dryer is around eight years. If you’ve had your set for ten or more years, and have had no issues with them, then you should thank your lucky stars. However, you might want to consider replacing them soon before you start having problems and one of them suddenly leaves you with no way to wash or dry clothes.
Another update you might want to make is repainting the interior and exterior of your home. While there’s no hard and fast rule about when you should paint your home, it stands to reason that if you haven’t painted in ten years it’s time. You can determine this by the humidity of the area you live in, as well as if the paint job is showing signs of wear and tear that need to be taken care of.
These are just a few of the home updates that you might have never known you needed. From washer and dryer replacement to kitchen upgrades, each of these will increase the value of your home and make you happy as well.