Now that spring is here, homeowners everywhere are taking stock of their properties and identifying areas to fix up before summer. Spring cleaning can be a big undertaking, so we’ve put together a simple spring home maintenance checklist to get you started.
1. Change Your AC Filter
As the mercury continues to creep up, you’ll soon want to turn on your air conditioner for the first time this year. Before doing so, make sure it’s working well and providing clean, cool air to your home by changing the filter. Dust can build up in the filter and cause your air conditioner to work harder than it should (which contributes to early wear), as well as expel particles into your home (which could trigger allergies or sensitivities among you and your family).
2. Inspect Your Foundation
Through the snow, ice, melting and refreezing of winter, moisture may have seeped into your foundation and begun to compromise it. Do a thorough visual inspection of your foundation’s walls, looking for any signs of weakness, like cracks or heaving. If you have a brick or stonework foundation, look for deterioration in individual pieces as well as the mortar that connects them.
3. Check Your Roof
Just like your foundation, your roof can undergo a lot of stress in the winter. The weight of the snow and ice can take a toll, and freezing water can creep beneath shingles or cause damage to gutter systems. Use a pair of binoculars to see elevated spaces from a safe and comfortable viewpoint, HouseLogic suggested.
Binoculars can give you an up-close view of your roof from a safe distance.4. Patch Up Your Lawn
Patching up your lawn isn’t just important for looks. A spotty yard with less grass isn’t as stable, and melting snow and ice, plus spring showers, will lead to mud puddles. Additionally, running water can head toward the foundation and lead to cracks, water infiltration and other damage to your home.
5. Update Your Windows
If you took the screens out of your windows to protect them from winter weather, now’s the time to wash, inspect and reinstall them. If your screens have been in place all season long, it’s still a good idea to give each one a visual inspection, looking for any holes or tears in the mesh, which can let flying insects into your home. Save any bad screens to use as patches when you complete this task next year, Home Advisor suggested.
Next, check your window sills and frames to make sure they’re in good shape. Caulk any cracks and repaint where the finish is peeling. Keeping your windows maintained can help make your home more energy efficient.
6. Schedule HVAC Maintenance
Changing the filter is a small maintenance task people are generally able to do on their own, but it’s also worthwhile to invest in professional inspection and maintenance. When you arrange your annual HVAC inspection with SMO Energy, a certified technician will review your system and make any necessary adjustments or repairs to help your air conditioning stay in good shape to handle the hot days of summer.