Spring Home Maintenance Checklist

Spring Home Maintenance Checklist

After long, dark winter days, spring’s bright sun and warm winds are a breath of fresh air.  However, it’s also time to check for damage and prepare for the hot weather ahead. Too many homeowners believe spring maintenance is just about cleaning. Sure, tidying up comprises a big chunk of any Spring home maintenance schedule, but upkeep aimed at various structures, appliances, and systems within the home is arguably just as important.  Follow this spring maintenance checklist to ensure your home is in optimal condition for the rest of the year.

Exterior

Clean Gutters and Down Spouts

Your gutters and downspouts are an integral part of your home. They control the flow of rainwater on your house, and they protect your roof, walls, and foundation from water damage. If you allow leaves, sticks, and debris to build up in the gutters and downspouts, it will not only block the water flow but will also make a nice home for mold, pests, bees, and rodents. Clean them at least twice a year (or more frequently, depending on how many trees surround your property and hang over your roof). If they’re sagging, reattach the gutters, or replace them with new hardware. Use caulking to seal holes and prevent leaking. Make sure downspouts face away from the foundation of your home for proper draining. Remember, if you plan on cleaning them yourself, be careful when using a ladder. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, approximately 500,000 people seek medical attention each year for ladder-related injuries. You can also hire a professional gutter cleaner, a service that can cost $125 to $175, depending on the size of your home, according to Angie’s List.

Give the House a Bath

Spring is a good time to give your house a scrub, washing all the winter away. Your home can get dirty, and grit stuck to the façade can damage paint and masonry over time. To start, close all windows and doors and cover the ground and hedges with plastic sheeting. You don’t need to rent a power washer, as it may not be necessary and could damage the façade of the home. In most cases, an ordinary garden hose will do. Attach a siding cleaning kit to the hose and get to work. Spot-clean heavily soiled areas. Use detergent sparingly, as it can harm your plants. Also, don’t forget to clean your windows both inside and out.

Check the Drainage

Does rainwater flow away from the house? Puddles should not stand around your home for more than 24 hours. If water does stagnate or move towards your foundation, you have a few options. First, check your gutters. It could be a bad spout or a loose connection. They may also just need cleaning. Second, you can grade the area around the home yourself with some dirt; this has worked just fine for me in the past. Third, for pavement, you can have professionals come out and raise it, so it drains away from your home.

Check the Cement and Concrete

Take a walk around your property to look for cracks in the driveway, walkways or pool deck. Your driveway especially takes on a lot of wear and tear throughout the year so inspect it for signs of cracks or movement. Fill cracks with a concrete crack filler or silicone caulk. If you notice severe cracking or what they call the “alligator effect” then you should reseal it. Otherwise, water will get into the cracks further accelerating the damage and potentially causing foundation issues. Remember, all exterior slabs except pool decks should drain away from the home’s foundation.

Reseal Exterior Woodwork

Your wooden deck, fence, railings, trellises, pergolas and other outdoor structures take a lot of punishment from the elements over the course of the year. Give them a thorough inspection checking for water stains, discoloration, warping, splintering, and loose nails. Pull out any leaves and debris. Then thoroughly clean them by wetting them down with a garden hose and applying a cleaning solution. After ten minutes or so, scrub them down and spray again with a water hose. Next, treat the wood with borate to prevent wood rot. Lastly, wait a few days to stain and reseal. This should be done every year to two years to maximize the life of your home’s woodwork.

Interior

Service Air Conditioner

If you have central air conditioning it is important to have the system serviced every spring prior to heavy use in the summer. A technician will clean or replace the air filter, clean the indoor coil, clean the condensate pump, and give the entire system a thorough inspection. Regular service will extend the lifespan of the equipment, increase dependability, reduce the chances of major issues, and increase system efficiency which saves you money on your power bill. Well worth the cost of the service call.

Give the Water Heater Some Attention

Thousands of gallons of water go through your water heater every year causing sediment and sludge to collect at the bottom of the tank. No one wants to shower with all that grime circulating in the water, so that’s why it’s important to give your water heater some TLC and drain it about once a year. While you’re at it, test your water heater’s pressure relief valve. This will prevent future mineral and corrosion buildup, which safeguards against leaks. It will also help your heater run more efficiently and last longer. To test the valve to ensure that it’s working properly, simply raise and lower the test lever several times, so it lifts the brass stem that it’s fastened to. Hot water should rush out of the end of the drainpipe. If no water flows through the pipe or you get just a trickle, it may be time to replace the valve.

Repair Door and Window Screens

            Screens are designed to let the breeze flow in and keep bugs out – but they can only do their job if they’re free from holes and tears. Give your screens a once over each spring. Clean them and check for holes. If holes are bigger than a dime, that is plenty of room for bugs to climb in. Patch holes or replace the screen and save the bad screen to patch holes next year. There are dozens of inexpensive and simple to use products on the market to patch broken screens. This is the one I use and it does the job, but if the screen is beyond repair, you can replace it yourself with ease!

Check for Leaks

Check for leaky faucets, clogged drains, and sweaty pipes. Look under the kitchen and bathroom sink to make sure connections on pipes and hoses are properly sealed and look for any wetness around the dishwasher that could signal an existing or potential problem. The same is true for your laundry room. Check the washing machine hoses for cracks, bulges or dampness. While you’re at it, examine the walls, floors, attic, and basement for water stains, mold and leaks. Removing unwanted moisture now can prevent mold issues or serious water damage down the line.

Consider an Upgrade

Spring is the perfect time to revisit your appliances, lighting and other essentials that may need replacing. If it’s time for a cosmetic upgrade, consider energy-efficient options to help reduce waste and lower your bills. Refer to the Department of Energy for a guide to the best home energy improvements. For upgrades that require a little extra work, like bathroom or kitchen remodels, give Levine Homes a call. Did you know that a minor kitchen remodel can add up to $20,000 to your home value? Our expert construction team will guide you every step of the way to figure out what upgrades will work best for both your budget and your home.