Owning a home is a big responsibility. Part of this responsibility is ensuring that different parts of your home receive the proper maintenance. Not performing basic routine maintenance can cause serious problems like different systems in your house breaking down. Even worse, it can cause serious damage that can badly degrade your home’s value. Below are four systems you need to keep in good working order to protect your home’s value.

1. Your Air Conditioning System

During the summer, your air conditioner may feel like the most important piece of equipment you own. However, if you want to protect your investment, you also need to perform the proper maintenance tasks. According to the Department of Energy, one of these tasks is cleaning the air conditioner coils. If they become dirty or clogged, the airflow can become blocked and your air conditioning system will be far less efficient as a result.

2. Your Plumbing System

Something that must certainly be properly maintained is your home’s plumbing system. A plumbing system actually has many different components that require maintenance and can break down. This includes pipes, sewer lines, sub pumps, water heaters, water softeners and more. All of these things must be properly maintained and fixed as needed. Don’t be afraid to call in a plumber from your area if something is wrong or you need to be shown how to perform basic maintenance.

3. Your Heating System

Similarly, your home’s heating system must also be properly maintained. Check to see if the flames within your furnace are blue or yellow. If they are yellow, this indicates your burners are dirty and need to be cleaned. Vacuum them safely after turning off the furnace’s power supply. The air filters in the furnace should also be replaced on a routine basis if you want your heating system to work efficiently. They should be swapped out multiple times a year, especially if you’re using the heat often. You may hire a furnace repair and maintenance service for this.

4. Your Electrical System

It is true that a home’s electrical system should not require as much maintenance as other systems in your house. However, there are still things you should do. Electrical installations should be inspected once every five to ten years based on the wattage. Hire an electrician to do this because electrical systems can be dangerous to fiddle with if you aren’t an expert.

Maintaining your home’s value means performing routine maintenance tasks to keep the different systems in your home in proper working order. Make a schedule with different maintenance tasks you should perform during the year so you don’t forget.

About the author: Anica Oaks is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. She was raised in a big family, so she's used to putting things to a vote. Also, cartwheels are her specialty. Anica writes on behalf of Knights Plumbing & Drain, whose professionals can help you fix any plumbing issues you have and preserve your home value.