As the cold days of winter transition into the more gentle days of spring many people refresh their home by completing “spring cleaning”. However, these mild spring days are also a prime opportunity to complete spring maintenance on your home to ensure the structure, systems and appliances remain in good working order. While consumers with a new custom built home or even newly manufactured home will have less wear and tear to check on for the first few years it is always wise to keep up with home maintenance. Ensuring your home remains in good condition by utilizing a spring maintenance list will assist in retaining the value of your investment in the home and reduce unexpected repair costs over the years. The following are six spring maintenance items to consider as you prepare your list to keep your home in the best possible condition.
Siding: Mold is the enemy of a healthy home and can be combated by using a pressure washer to clean any siding. Other simple preventative maintenance for siding includes inspecting all of the wood surfaces. Weathering can cause paint failure.
Screens: Window and door screens allow homeowners to enjoy the spring breeze inside the house while keeping bugs and other unwanted pests out. Holes in screens reduce their effectiveness. Screens with large holes should be patched or replaced. Gutters: Spring is the time to clean the gutters and downspouts on the house. Once cleaned the drainage of gutters and downspouts on the house can be checked by running water from a hose on the roof. Any leaks found can usually be easily repaired using caulking or epoxy.
Smoke Detectors: Smoke detectors save lives each year and should be inspected as part of any spring maintenance schedule. Many consumers of custom-built homes choose combined smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to provide even more protection. Regardless of the type of protector in the home they should be inspected each spring and tested monthly.
Light Bulbs: A spring-cleaning maintenance item to consider is checking your light bulbs. Consider switching out any high-intensity light bulbs that may produce unwanted heat in the warmer months for fluorescent bulbs. It is also a great time to ensure that you are utilizing light bulbs that are the correct wattage for your fixtures. Air Conditioning: No one wants to have a problem with the homes air conditioning in the summer. To prevent unexpected problems with the air conditioner check to see if there are any cracked or worn areas. If here are any areas of concern it is much nicer to call in a professional before the heat of the summer is in full force.
It is easy to limit “spring cleaning” efforts to cleaning the interior of the home. However, taking a little extra time to maintain your home inside and out will contribute to worry free enjoyment of it year around. So as the beautiful spring days tempt you to play outside don’t forget to take care of your home.