We’re definitely looking forward to these warmer months and if you’re a home buyer, you probably are too! For homeowners, spring is a good opportunity to make some key maintenance work. Regular maintenance can help prevent costly repairs and keep your home looking its best.
To make sure your home is in tip-top shape, it’s important to check on certain areas of your home, such as the roof, attic, deck, and air conditioner. Here are some tips for your spring home maintenance and repairs:
Examine gutters. All that sunlight could spotlight the leaves piling up in your gutters. Remember that improper drainage can lead to bigger problems down the line. Also, check for loose gutters, broken pieces, and detached downspouts.
Inspect the chimney. This is one of those tasks that will be better left to a certified chimney sweep. In any case, spring is a good time to examine the exterior of your chimney to look for signs of damage.
Check your attic. Check your attic to ensure you have proper ventilation and no bird nests. Additionally, the attic is the first place to look for damage from roof leaks. Pay attention to potential mold growth so you can attack that before it becomes a big problem.
Check your roof. Any signs of issues with mold or leaks in your attic will likely lead to a roof inspection. However, even if there’s no damage remember you should clean fallen leaves and debris from your roof at least twice a year. Also, check for shingles that are cracked, loose or fallen.
Use compacted soil. As we mentioned in a previous post about water damage, you want to avoid foundation damage at all costs! One of the ways to can do this is making sure low areas in your yard are filled with compacted soil to prevent possible flooding when the spring rains start.
Replace your furnace filter. The summer and winter months when your heating and cooling systems are in peak use can lead to accumulated particulates and dirt in filters. This can cause a strain on your system, so you should be changing these every 2 to 3 months. Basically, if it’s not the same color as a new filter, it’s time to change it.
Schedule appointment to check air conditioner and heat pump. Speaking of your air conditioner, spring is the perfect time to call a professional service technician to check things like the refrigerant, oil motors and belts, and electric terminals. This will be important to make sure it’s up to shape before the heat of the summer starts.
Turn off fireplace pilot lights. This will reduce the likelihood of gas leaks during the spring and summer months now that you’re done using it for the season.
Check power equipment. It’s the perfect time to check your battery-powered law equipment and make any battery change necessary to they’re ready for summer use.
Move firewood away from your house. Move your firewood at least 5 ft away from the outer walls of your home. It is safer and you also ensure termites won’t move from the pile into your home.
Remember these tasks are important for any homeowner to go over and will help you avoid greater expenses in the near future. If you need recommendations of trusted professionals who specialize in these types of repairs, just send us an email at hello@timberandrose.com and we’ll send you our list!