Spring cleaning is a must-do just after the spring equinox, but let’s not forget about spring maintenance!
Inspecting both the interior and exterior of your home during the spring is like going to the doctor’s office for an annual checkup. You want to make sure that everything is operating well and is maintained properly so that you won’t have any surprises down the road which might make an unexpected dent in your wallet.
With all the cleaning and organizing you have to do around the house during spring, we thought we’d save you the trouble of having to make your own spring-maintenance checklist. Below are some tips to help you get through your spring maintenance!
Tip 1) Air Conditioner
We’re jumping into the spring-maintenance checklist with summer’s most desired home appliance, air conditioners. With the recent summer heatwaves we’ve been having, it’s no wonder so many people have gotten air conditioners installed. Cleaning them off with a hose to get rid of any residual dirt or cobwebs is a good starting point to your spring maintenance routine.
Tip 2) Eavestrough a.k.a Gutter or Rainspout
When the spring arrives, so does the rain. If you have any trees nearby, especially spruce or pine trees with needles on them, you’ll need to clear them out so that water doesn’t leak out of the eavestrough potentially causing pools of floods on the ground below. Also, if there are any leaks you will need to seal them.
Photo Credit: Adrien Olichon @pexels.com
Tip 3) Inspect the Roof
While shingles don’t have to be replaced every year (in fact it is usually every 10 years or so), you do need to include roof inspections in your spring-maintenance checklist. Most people can do this themselves, but if you do make sure you have a sturdy ladder to use and someone spotting you when you go on the roof. This task is easily done with tip #2 above.
If you choose to have someone else inspect the roof, ask them to take photos while they are up there so you can see for yourself what the condition of the shingles are.
Tip 4) Check Smoke Alarms
Sometimes spring-maintenance is as easy as changing out the battery. Most smoke detectors are battery operated and will beep at you when the battery is almost dead, but to get ahead of the game change the batteries twice a year – once in the fall and once during spring-maintenance, for good practice.
Tip 5) Cracks in the Concrete
Inspect the concrete in and around your house for cracks. This includes the foundation of your home, the sidewalk and the driveway. In the late winter and early spring, we start the freeze-thaw cycle. The snow that thaws turns into water which can seep into the concrete. When it freezes again, a lot of pressure is put on the concrete which can sometime expand so much that it causes cracks. It’s important to inspect everything properly and if there are cracks spotted, call a professional to seal them properly; especially for the foundation of your home which could lead to interior flooding if not taken care of right away.
Photo Credit: Polina Tankilevitch @pexels.com
Tip 6) Paint and/or Repair the Fence
Winter weather can take its toll on the exterior of our home, and nowhere is this more true than when you have a peek at the fence. Like the deck it’s subjected to rain and snow leading to potential paint and wood damage, but its vertical placement gives it the disadvantage of having the additional misfortune of bearing strong winds. This can cause loose panels and nails that have rusted because of being exposed to the elements.
Tip 7) Check the Siding
Check under your siding to make sure there is no water damage, or on top of your siding depending on what type you have, this will prevent potential mold from growing. If you have vinyl siding and see a panel sticking out more than other panels, there is a high likelihood it’s because there is some moisture under it and you should get it replaced.
Tip 8) Inspect Outdoor Faucets
When spring comes along, we reach for the outdoor hose to water our lawns and gardens. But before we can water our yards, it’s important to make sure that the hose and more importantly the faucet is intact. If the faucet has any leaks, you might need a new valve. Troubleshoot to see where the leaks are coming from and determine next steps from there.
Make sure to hold off on connecting the garden hose to the faucet until the chance of frost is completely ruled out. Prematurely connecting the hose can cause the waterline to freeze or the pipe/faucet to crack causing leaking into the basement if the temperature drops.
Photo Credit: Chris Thornton @pexels.com
Tip 9) Window and Door Screens
Spring brings warmer weather, but it also brings bugs. Making sure that all the window and door screens are undamaged is vital to keeping all the bugs outside instead of in your home. Making sure the screen isn’t ripped is also important because it also acts as a barrier between your pets and the outdoors. We don’t want our fur babies running out whenever they want to, so make sure this item is on your spring-maintenance checklist.
Tip 10) Garage Door Spring Maintenance
This one is easy to spot anytime of the year, but during spring-maintenance season, you will want to give it some extra attention. Signs to look for are things like, is the edge of the door on the tracks? Are there squeaky noises when you open or close the garage door? Is there rust anywhere on the frame? If you think your garage door requires professional maintenance, reach out to a specialized garage repair technician.
If you haven’t already, check out our spring-cleaning and organizing tips. For more home tips and resources, subscribe above and don’t forget to share us on social!