Spring Home Maintenance Simplified

For your home, spring activities should include more than cleaning. With spring on its way, here’s a guide to the areas of your house that need to be checked or serviced before the spring weather hits.

Outside

Grab a ladder and some binoculars, and let’s go outside. Don’t worry; this won’t take long.

Your Gutters

Check for leaves or other debris that might clog your gutters and downspouts. If you find any gutters that have come loose, reattach them.

Your Roof

While you’re up there, check out your roof. Winter weather can be very rough on your roof. Check that the shingles haven’t shifted and that none of the nails have started to pop up. A lifted nail can actually push up and shingle and allow water to get under it. You don’t want this. After you check out your roof, come down to the ground and look at it. Sometimes, we can’t see issues up close, but we can find them when we get some distance.

Your Chimney

If you have a chimney, you’ll want to take a good look at it. You’re looking for any loose or missing stones or bricks. Also, you want to ensure no vegetation is growing out of your structure. Look for any white, calcium-like deposits; these mean that your masonry is absorbing water instead of repelling it.

Your Siding and Exterior Walls

Check for water stains. These indicate a problem with your water drainage. Also, you should clean your siding to prevent mildew growth. Look for holes or gaps to ensure that no little creatures have decided to cohabitate with you. If you do find some, it’s important to handle the situation as quickly as possible. In some cases, you may want to consult with exterminators before sealing the hole. As you inspect your home, you may find old caulk that’s coming off. You will want to remove it completely, clean the area, and apply a new bead of caulk.

Your Foundation

When you look at your foundation, you’re looking for cracks. Unfortunately, if you find cracks, you’ll want to call in the experts. Cracks in your foundation are no joke, and this job is one that’s best done by a professional.

Your Windows

 As you look at your windows, look for old caulk. If the caulk looks like it’s peeling or not doing its job (like there’s a gap), just peel it off and start over. It’s better to get this fixed now than it is to have rain leak into your house. Plus, by creating a better seal around your window, your house will do a better job keeping the warm air in during the winter and the cold air in during the summer. Also, don’t forget to wash your windows both inside and out. Avoid using a power washer to clean your exterior windows because the pressure can damage the window screens.

Inside

Now that the outside portion of the inspection is complete, let’s go inside. Yes, you’ll want to grab your cleaning supplies and get cleaning but, before you do, there are some things you need to look for.

Leaks

From your basement to your attic, walk around and look for leaks. These could be around windows or toward the bottom of a wall. Make a note to re-inspect the outside of your house near these areas to see if you can determine the cause. If you can’t, call for help! Now, check out anything in your house that involves plumbing and look for leaks. Faucets, toilets, dishwashers, washing machines, and water heaters all need to be checked for leaks and sweaty pipes.

Furnace

Most families should change the filter in their furnace every 3-4 months.  This is the perfect time to change that filter and make a note on your calendar to change it again in 3-4 months.

Mold

As you’re looking for leaks, you should also keep your eyes open for mold. Frequently, the two accompany each other so it’s easy to find. However, if there previously was a leak, mold might still be growing in that spot even if there is no additional water.

Animals

While you’re in your basement or up in your attic, check around for any bugs or animals. If you do find some, call an exterminator.

Enjoy!

With your home all ready for spring, you can feel free to head outdoors. If weather permits, spring is a great time to enjoy your landscaping. Spring is also a great time to list your house on the market. If you’re thinking of selling or buying, contact us at Ramseier Realty Group. Find us on our website or give us a call at 816.262.8077.