Save money and your home with these inspections and repairs

If you hope to keep your home livable for a while like many are doing in this economy, here are some repairs to tackle before they become expensive and unavoidable home improvements, according to Yahoo! Finance:

Annual HVAC inspection

An annual heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) inspection costs $200-$300, depending on where you live, but it can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars compared with what you could spend on repairs or replacement if you don’t have it done. A furnace blower that’s not working may cost about $150 to repair, compared with what it will cost if it’s not fixed: $300-$1,000 to replace the heat exchanger. Or an inspection could show that the reversing switch in the heat pump is broke – a $100-$300 cost versus the system switching to a more expensive auxiliary heat and higher heating bills.

Servicing and minor repairs protect the thousands of dollars you’ve invested in your HVAC system. Have the inspection done in the spring or fall, when companies aren't as busy, and you're not in dire need of heat or air conditioning.

Chimney inspection

If you’re willing to fork out $65 for a chimney inspection, or even $150 for an inspection and cleaning, once a year before you start that first warming blaze in the fireplace, then you could remove creosote buildup that could lead to a chimney fire.

An inspection might show that you need a chimney cap, which would cost $150 to replace, versus the $2,000-$4,000 to replace the chimney liner rain could dampen and cause mold to grown on. You could also find and repair several other issues, all of which will allow rainwater to get in to your chimney and cause mold – potentially requiring your whole chimney to need replacing – if not otherwise fixed for a few hundred dollars.

Termite inspection

A termite inspect costs between $75 and $200, with a termite protection contract for qualifying homes with no current evidence of termites to cover treatment and repairs for any later infestation ranging from $200 to $300.

Have your home checked for termites any time once a year, though they are more active in spring and early summer. Subterranean termites come from the ground or flying termites damage framing, trim, drywall, furniture, carpet, copper and other soft metals. The average homeowner loss for termite damage is $3,000, but losses can be as high as $30,000 or even $80,000, Curtis says. Most homeowners insurance does not cover repair of termite damage.

Power washing and sealing wood deck

Paying $100 to $300 to power wash and seal a 200-square-foot deck (more for a larger deck) every two to three years in sunny weather, depending on the amount of traffic, moss and mold it is exposed to, can make your deck last 20 to 30 years.

Power washing gets rid of stains, algae, mold, mildew and moss, which can make your deck slippery and dangerous, and sealing it after it’s cleaned helps prevent water damage. If you don’t power wash and seal it, your deck will warp, nails will pop out and it won't last as long, costing you $4,000 to $20,000 to replace it, depending on the size.

Dryer vent cleaning

It’s definitely worth spending $120 to $200 a year to have your dryer vents cleaned on a sunny day, as the cost of not doing could be your home, your belongings and even your – and/or your family’s – life.

If your dryer is not on an exterior wall, it's likely that the vent leading outside is clogged up, and ignoring it could result in a disastrous fire.

Carpet cleaning

Cleaning your carpet isn’t just about making your home look clean; it’s also about removing soil before it stains and even ruins your carpet. And, more importantly, it also removes pollen, bacteria, insecticides and dirt, helping your family to breathe easier.

It costs about 50 cents per square foot for hot water extraction cleaning, or $500 for 1,000 square feet of cleaned carpet. You should clean your carpet once a year on average, though more often for high-traffic areas and homes with small children, pets or smokers. Manufacturers’ warranties may require cleaning every 18 to 24 months; save money by focusing on regular cleanings for high-traffic areas and waiting up to two years for the entire carpet.

If the carpet looks dirty, you've waited too long because some soil can't be removed with vacuuming. This soil will bind to your carpet and dull the texture, shortening the life of the carpet.

By regularly cleaning your carpet, you extend its life and save the $3,000-plus it costs to replace 1,000 square feet of medium-grade carpet including padding and installation.