10 Ways You’re Damaging Your Home Without Realizing It

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Your home should be your haven, but without even realizing it, you might be causing it harm. Everyday habits and small oversights can add up, leading to long-term damage. You might think you’re on top of your home maintenance, but some of the most common issues are the ones that fly under the radar.

From bad cleaning habits to neglecting routine upkeep, let’s uncover some of the subtle ways you might be unintentionally damaging your home.

Ignoring Water Leaks

You may have a small drip that occurs in your sink or a stain in your ceiling and think it is a joke, but water damage is no joke. If not fixed, it can lead to mold, structural damage and costly restorations even for small leaks. When it comes to a leak, it’s wise not to wait until it develops into a major problem. And of course, water is wily; it gets where you would never expect it to be.

Slamming Doors

Most of us is familiar with that situation, you are late for work or an appointment, you start dashing out the door, and there it is! You closed the door a little too hard than you had wanted to. While it may feel good at some point to slam doors, doors need to be shut gently because they can always end up damaging the doorframe and the hinges. More often the power exerted on the door can distort the door and in extreme cases the wall may develop cracks.

Storing Weighty Objects on Veneered Walls

Everyone loves to put up their favorite pictures together with shelves, but be keen on where you fix those items. Not all walls are of the same type as there is a difference between drywall and others; this means that if you place something too heavy on a drywall, chances are it will either crack or the anchors holding it will come right out. It’s always a good idea to make sure you’re using proper wall anchors or locating a stud before hanging that large mirror or shelf.

Blocking Vents

It is easy to move furniture to the walls or close the vents to fit the new couch, but blocking vents increases pressure on your heating and cooling system. Due to this inefficiency, you may be paying more for energy bills and your HVAC system depletes faster. Let your vents breathe a little and your house, not to mention your pockets, will be glad you did.

Overloading Cabinets

Piling many items in the kitchen cabinets, or in the bathroom shelves may seem like a space saver, but it’s not very beneficial for your home. Excess loading of shelves exerts undue pressure on the cabinets resulting to sagging, bending or breaking of the cabinets. Instead, get rid of clutter and properly distribute weight so shelves do not sag or cabinetry becomes warped.

Planting Trees Too Near the House

Many dream to have trees surrounding their yard, right? Shelter and elegance are always offered by trees but the problem is that if planted close to your home they will damage your foundation, plumbing and sidewalks. According to A-1 concrete leveling, roots can lead to cracks and blockages which will require costly repairs in the future. Do not plant trees close to your home since they can spoil your foundation and affect you in case you decide to sell the house.

Skipping Gutter Maintenance

These Common Habits Are Secretly Wrecking Your Home – Are You Guilty? — Photo Credit: 123switch/Pixabay

Gutters are one of those things that people usually don’t pay much attention to until something goes wrong. If you don’t pay attention to your gutters, they will overflow, and this will cause water damage to your roof, siding and even the foundation of your house. When gutters are full, water has no place to drain and this causes build up of mold, wood rot and erosion around your house. Sweep those gutters frequently, especially after a storm, to make sure rain water goes where you want it to.

Applying Excessive Water on Wooden Floors

Wood floors in the house are beautiful when installed, but they require proper care. High water content is also one of the worst mistakes you can make when cleaning them. Water can get to the wood and cause it to bow, check or even develop mold on the surface. To stemmed the flow of germs and bacteria thereon, use a damp mop or any cleaning solution meant for wooden floor.

Using Harsh Cleaning Products

The problem with this approach is that such solutions may in fact damage your home’s surfaces. According to New Mexico State University, acids such as bleach, ammonia, and any rough cleaners are dangerous and likely to dull finishes of countertops and floors as well as appliances. Only use chemicals that will not damage the outer layers of your surface and still achieve the results you need.

Painting Over Dirty Walls

You get the impression that painting can be done independently to give a new look to your home but if you do not take your time to prepare the walls well the paint is bound to peel off. When dirt, dust or grease intervene between the paint and the wall surface, it results in the paint pulling away from the wall. When painting always make sure to clean the walls properly so that your paint job lasts long and does not require repainting within a year.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.