5 Home Repairs You Should Never Put Off

Maybe it’s the slow drip of a leaky faucet or drain in the bathroom. Or possibly a new, unusual sound coming from your HVAC system. Or maybe you are beginning to hear your aging hardwood floors begin to creak as you walk on certain spots. You know your home needs some repair, but you need to determine which repairs need to be completed immediately and which can wait.

The importance of home repairs cannot be stressed enough. Over time, minor issues usually don’t stay that way for very long. In fact, they tend to cause even more problems, and thus necessitate even more repairs and ultimately more money. Furthermore, if you need to make an insurance claim to cover the damages, your premiums could skyrocket, and multiple claims could result in cancellation of your policy altogether.

With that said, below are 5 home repairs you will not want to ignore.

Leaky faucets, drains, or pipes

A slow drip may not seem like such a big deal at first, but over time it can become a major headache. Water will begin to seep into floors and walls, causing water and mold damage that spreads throughout the house. A small leak that might cost under $500 for a plumber to fix may lead to tens of thousands of dollars of damage if left unattended long enough.

Moldy, damp rooms

A dingy, musty odor is a sign of mildew and/or mold growing in that room. You may find certain rooms like bathrooms, basements, and garages are especially susceptible to this smell. Quickly purchase a moisture absorber, a mold test, or hire a professional before your whole home smells like a wet dog… or worse.

Water spots on the ceiling

As you can tell, water can become your worst enemy. If you are noticing water spots on the ceiling, it is likely that a pipe or a section of your roof is leaking. If ignored, parts of your ceiling or your roof could come crashing down… not to mention the damage to your valuables or sections of the home caused by the water or debris. See if you can track down the source of the leak or call a licensed plumber to help.

Ed! via Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Termite damage

If you discover disintegrating wood and/or the presence of termites, do not delay. Termites can cause a tremendous amount of damage in a short period of time, so they need to be eliminated swiftly. Most pest prevention companies offer prevention plans called termite bonds to keep termites from harming parts of the home. However, even if some damage has been done, hire an exterminator immediately to keep it to a minimum.

Cracked or broken driveway

You may think that cracked pavement is harmless, but moisture can collect in-between those cracks, damaging it even more. Repairing your driveway can be affordable if it is caught early, often times simply requiring a bit of liquid crack-filler. Bigger cracks on the other hand might prompt you to resurface or replace the pavement entirely.

Home repairs can become very expensive, but they don’t need to be. If you find yourself in need of the above repairs, immediately fix the issue yourself or call your repairman; waiting on these projects can cost you thousands in the long run.