Spring is here! The birds are
chirping, the flowers are blooming, and homeowners everywhere are rolling up
their sleeves to do some routine post-winter work. Whether you’re a seasoned homeowner
with years of spring maintenance under your belt, or a brand-new homeowner, the
list of tasks can seem daunting. Here’s your ultimate checklist to make sure
your home is ready for the warmer months.
Tasks to Tackle Indoors
- Change
your HVAC filters.
- Inspect
your window screens for damage and give them a thorough cleaning. Plus,
checking for tears or holes now means you can get them fixed before bugs
start swarming.
- While
you’re at it, give your windows a thorough scrubbing, too. Getting rid of
the grime will make your view a lot more appealing and let even more
sunshine into your home.
- Got
a working fireplace? Now’s the time to clean it! Be sure to put down a
tarp to protect your floors, furniture, and walls before diving in. (Note:
Hire a professional to clean your fireplace chimney – don’t attempt this
yourself.)
- Carefully
inspect your basement, attic, and crawl spaces for moisture and mold.
- Schedule
a professional air-conditioning service to make sure your system is in
tip-top shape before the hot summer days are here.
- Check
your sump pump to make sure it’s in good working order before the rainy
season.
Let’s Head Outdoors for these
Exterior Tasks
- Check
your gutters and downspouts for leaves, sticks, and other debris, and
clear them out. If there’s been any damage from sleet, snow, ice, or hail,
now’s the time to repair it.
- Check
the caulking around doors and windows. Replace if you notice any damage or
wear.
- Clear
leaves, sticks, and other debris from your window wells.
- Carefully
inspect any outdoor structures you have, including wooden decks, railings,
windowsills, and steps for rot. If you find any, plan to replace them as
soon as possible to prevent further damage. Regularly staining and
resealing these structures can help them last longer.
- Get
rid of any standing water left from melting snow or ice to prevent
accidentally breeding mosquitos as the weather warms up.
- Take
a look at your roof. Look for missing shingles, damage to metal pipes, or
anything else that just doesn’t look right.
- Check
driveway and paths for cracks or other damage that might have been caused
by water over the winter. Patch or repair the asphalt, concrete, or other
hardscaping materials as needed.
- Check
your sprinkler and irrigation systems. Run the system and look for damaged
heads or areas where water is spraying toward the house.
Get Ready for Some Yard Work
- Trim
back trees and shrubs (or hire a professional) to prevent damage to your
house.
- Sweep,
shovel, or rake your driveway, walking paths, and decks. If gravel, mulch,
or sand was moved, sweep it back into place.
- After
cleaning all those hardscaped surfaces, it’s time to pressure wash them!
You can also pressure-wash wooden decks, railing, and outdoor furniture.
- Aerating
your lawn helps refresh it after snow and ice compacted it during the
winter. The best time to do this is after the rainy season in spring,
before it gets too hot.
- Clean
up your flower beds. Remove debris, dead branches, leaves, then prepare
the beds for planting new buds or making room for perennials to
return.
- If
you have permanent structures like benches, planters, or fountains, make
sure you thoroughly clean them and give them a fresh coat of paint if
applicable.
- Inspect
your fence – it might need some work. Replace wobbly posts, check for
rotted areas that will need to be replaced, then finish with a fresh coat
of paint.
Getting your house ready for the
spring and summer takes some work. But doing all these tasks now make sure your
home is protected from the elements, is in good working order for the warm
months, and will last a long time.
