As a homeowner, your home is likely the largest investment that you're going to make throughout your lifetime. To protect your investment, there are various maintenance tasks that you'll need to keep up with. One of the most important is to have your roof inspected annually.

When you look at your entire home, one of the most important parts of it is your room. It's the part that helps to protect you from the nasty weather outside and keeps all of your personal items nice and dry. While you might not be able to get up on your roof to assess it, it's always a good idea to call in a professional to do so for you.

Identify Small Problems

One of the most important reasons that you want to get your roof inspected annually is to help identify problems that may be happening. By getting it done once a year, you're going to be able to be alerted of those problems while they're small. Smaller problems are much easier and more cost-effective to fix than larger ones. Your roofing contractor can alert you to issues like missing shingles that you may not be able to see from the ground.

Fix Gutter Issues

Another great reason to get annual roof inspections is that it will allow you to be alerted of any issues with your gutters. While your roof works as the main water diversion system for your home, your gutters are an essential part of getting that water down to the ground and away from your home. If your gutters are not draining properly, it could lead to a backup underneath your shingles and/or foundation issues for your home. This can get extremely costly to repair if not taken care of in a timely fashion.

Estimated Lifespan 

Bringing in a roofing contractor once a year to inspect your roof can help to reveal how much lifespan is left in it. Since a roof is a costly investment for most homeowners, it's extremely helpful to be able to budget ahead of time to afford a new roof when you're going to need it. All too often, homeowners skip the annual inspection and end up dealing with a very large, unexpected bill to replace their roofs. Knowing how much lifespan is left in your roof can also give you time to assess the current market offerings and choose a roof replacement that fits your needs and budget.

Peace of Mind

Another reason to get your roof inspected annually is that it can provide you with peace of mind. When you put something off, it can start to grow into a large stressful thought that is always in the back of your mind. When you have a professional give you the reality of your situation, you can enjoy the peace that comes along with knowing where you're at and what your options are. This can go a long way in helping to negotiate when you go to sell your house as well. Presenting a previous year's roof inspection is great leverage.

While getting your roof inspected annually is a must for any knowledgeable homeowner. There are other parts of your home that should receive annual checks. This will help to ensure that your home stays in good working order and maintains its overall value.

HVAC System

Your home's heating and cooling system is a large part of what makes you and your family comfortable inside your home. It's a good idea to get it checked by a professional at least once a year. This will help to ensure that it's working optimally and will allow you to understand the remaining lifespan of the unit.

Water Heater

Another part of your home that you should address at least once a year is your water heater. It's necessary to flush it out at least once a year to remove unwanted sediment from inside the tank. Additionally, you'll want to inspect the anode rod to see if there is any sort of excessive rust. If there is rust, you can replace the anode rod now before it completely stops producing warm water. 

Having a home can be a great feeling as you and your family can enjoy your own personal space. However, to ensure that your space stays in great condition, you'll need to keep up with annual maintenance. Getting your roof inspected each year and flushing your water heater are just some of the many maintenance tasks that you should be doing as a homeowner.

Written by Taylor McKnight, Author for Frontline Exteriors