Did you know that in 2023, three out of four households in SC owned their homes? That’s a 73% homeownership rate, which is 7.1 percentage points higher than the national average. Everyone likes owning their own home, and the people of SC are no different. Sometimes, though, people forget that homeownership isn’t always a bed of roses.
When you own your own home, you are solely responsible for ensuring it lasts your lifetime and that can be a while! It doesn’t matter whether this is your first home or not, you can always learn more about how to maintain your property. In this article, we’ll look at three maintenance tips specific to South Carolina that you can benefit from. Let’s dive in.
1. Don’t Neglect Your Gutters
A common trend that many contractors observe is that gutters get treated like the middle child. People take care of their walls and front porches, but roofs and gutters, which take the brunt of the rainy season are forgotten.
The fact is that if you live in the Southeast part of the country, roof maintenance has to be an important part of your routine. Trust us, you don’t want to be unprepared when hurricane season rolls in.
Unfortunately, many people neglect maintenance and repairs until it’s too late. Take Greenville for instance. It’s a city that gets rain throughout the year. Ideally, people here need to check their gutters and roofs regularly. But many fail to do so. Then, when the damage gets too severe, they scramble to find a good gutter company in Greenville, SC that can offer quick service.
It’s a cycle that you don’t want to make a habit of and for good reason. SureFlow Gutters notes that water damage can lead to severe issues that you might not expect. For instance, damaged gutters can cause rainwater to seep into your home’s structure, and can weaken the foundation. Thus, avoid neglecting this aspect and care for your gutters, especially before the wet season!
2. Keep an Eye on Humidity Levels
It’s no secret that South Carolina gets hot and humid during the summer months. Earlier this year, summer brought scorching temperatures and high humidity levels, but even in late September, humidity reached ‘steamy’ levels in places like Myrtle Beach.
Unfortunately, this means that not only do you have to deal with the unpleasant weather, but you also have to deal with mold. That’s right. Mold is a serious issue that may first appear in attics and bathrooms, but if you don’t act fast, it’s going to spread. You’ll start seeing it in your kitchen and other damp areas until it spreads throughout your home.
One of the best ways to handle mold prevention is to control your humidity levels. There are a number of ways to do this. Some homes in SC invest in dehumidifiers and place them in basements and mold-prone areas. Others ensure that they run the AC regularly, which can also help control humidity.
You also want to get into the habit of ensuring your home is well-ventilated. While it can be tempting to shut your doors and windows to keep bugs and mosquitoes out, don’t overdo it. Sure, keep them closed in the evenings, but now and then, move the air around with fans for that lovely cross ventilation.
3. Invest in a Sump Pump
If you aren’t native to South Carolina, you might wonder if this is really necessary. However, you have to remember that SC is a particularly low-lying area and is always prone to flooding. Historical data shows that major flooding events have been recorded since 1903, with each flooding event causing anywhere between 10 and 23 inches of rainfall.
With the constant storms and high water table, your crawl spaces are going to be hit hard each time the water level rises. Worst case scenario, the moisture buildup might even cause structural issues to your home if left unchecked.
On this note, it isn’t illegal in South Carolina to discharge pumped water onto property that isn’t yours (unlike many other states). That said, you’re not going to be popular doing this, so ensure you don’t make a nuisance of yourself.
Naturally, sump pumps are also going to require maintenance every few years, but that’s part of living somewhere flood-prone.
Wrapping Up
To summarize, new residents will quickly notice that taking care of a South Carolina home comes with many responsibilities. It’s no secret that bad weather makes home maintenance frustrating and flooding can be scary. That said, if you invest time and resources into proper preventive measures, you shouldn’t have to worry too much at all.
