14 Home Maintenance Tips for Spring

14 Home Maintenance Tips for Spring 

When most of us think about spring, the first thing that comes to mind is… Yep, you said it - Cleaning! However, spring maintenance is just as important, if not more important than the cleaning. Here are 10 Tips to follow to prep yourself and your home for the approach of beautiful, sunny spring! 

The Checklist:

1) Gutters and downspouts: Ensure that you pull leaves and debris out of gutters and downspouts. Reattach any gutters that may have pulled away from the home. Run a hose on the roof and check for proper drainage. If any leaks exist, dry the area and use caulking or epoxy to seal the leak.

2) Siding: Clean siding with a pressure washer to prevent mold from growing and to get that nice, shiny exterior you fell in love with. Check all wood surfaces for weathering and paint chips. If wood is showing through, sand the area and apply a primer coat before painting. If paint is peeling, scrape loose paint and sand smooth before painting.

3) Exterior caulking: Inspect caulking and replace if deteriorating. Scrape out all of the eroding caulk and recaulk the area as needed.

4) Window sills, door sills, and thresholds: Fill cracks, caulk edges, repaint or replace if necessary.

5) Window and door screens: Clean screening and check for holes. If holes are bigger than a nickel, that is plenty of room for creepy crawlers to climb in. Patch the holes, or if necessary, replace the screen. (Note: Save the old screen to patch holes next year.) Tighten or repair any loose or damaged frames and repaint if necessary. Replace broken, worn, or missing hardware. Wind can ruin screens and frames if they are allowed flap and move so make sure they are securely fastened. Tighten and lubricate door hinges.

6) Drain waste and vent system: Flush out your system.

7) Hot water heater: Lubricate circulating pump and motor.

8) Evaporative air conditioner: Clean unit, check belt tension and adjust if needed. Replace cracked or worn belt.

9) Heat pump: Lubricate blower motor.

10) Foundation: Check foundation walls, floors, concrete, and masonry for cracking or deterioration. If a significant number of bricks are losing their mortar, call a foundation professional (or ask “Mr Action” to refer you to one). If you can slide a nickel into a crack in your concrete floor, slab or foundation, call a professional immediately.

11) Roof: Inspect roof surface flashing, eaves, and soffits and clear thoroughly. Check flashings around all surface projections and sidewalls.

12) Decks and Porches: Check all decks, patios, porches, stairs, and railings for loose members and deterioration. Open decks and wood fences should be treated every 4-6 years, depending on how much exposure they get to sun and rain. If the stain doesn’t look like it should or water has turned some of the wood a dark grey, hire a professional to treat your deck and fence.

13) Landscape: This is a more obvious one for spring home maintenance, but equally as important. Cut back and trim all vegetation and overgrown bushes from structures. Limbs and leaves can cut into your home’s paint and force you to have that side of the house repainted. A little trimming can save a lot of money and time. (Tip: Fall aerating can help significantly in the regrowth of grass. If you didn’t do it this year, not to worry, next year awaits). Laying fertilizer down as soon as able will help speed up the process of achieving that gorgeous, soft, green lawn.

14) Sprinklers: Check lawn sprinkler system for leaky valves, exposed lines, and improperly working sprinkler heads. If there is an area of your yard that collects too much water or doesn’t get enough, run the sprinklers to figure out the problem. If it’s not something you can fix yourself, call a professional before your lawn needs the water.

Use this checklist to ensure a smooth sailing spring/summer, and happiness/healthiness for both you and your home! Any questions or concerns? Contact Gary “Mr Action” Fayerman at 403-620-2800 or mraction@telus.net!