Maintenance Things to Check this Spring

Maintaining a healthy home goes beyond washing windows, dusting and vacuuming. Too many homeowners believe spring maintenance is all about the cleaning. Sure; but maintenance aimed at various structures, appliances, and systems within the home is just as important.

Follow this easy spring maintenance checklist to ensure your home or building is in optimal condition for the rest of the season.

• Gutters and downspouts – Pull leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts. Reattach gutters that have pulled away from the house. Run a hose on the roof and check for proper drainage.
• Siding – Clean siding with a pressure washer to keep mold from growing. Check all wood surfaces for weathering and paint failure.
• Exterior caulking – Inspect caulking and replace if deteriorating.
• Windowsills, door sills and thresholds – Fill cracks, caulk edges, repaint or replace if necessary.
• Window and door screens – Clean screening and check for holes. If holes are bigger than a quarter, that is plenty of room for bugs to climb in. Patch holes or replace the screen.
• Foundation – Check foundation walls, floors, concrete, and masonry for cracking, heaving, or deterioration.
• Deck and porches – Check all deck, patio, porch, stairs, and railings for loose parts and deterioration. In general, open decks and wood fences need to be treated every 4-6 years.
• Roof – Inspect roof surface flashing, eaves, and soffits. Check for missing shingles. Perform a thorough cleaning.
• Landscape – This is a natural for spring home maintenance. Cut back and trim all vegetation and overgrown bushes from structures.
• Hot water tank – Drain the tank about a quarter to remove sediment and debris and test the temperature-pressure relief valve.
• Evaporative air conditioner – Clean unit, check belt tension and adjust if needed. Replace cracked or worn belt.
• Filters – Replace all filters including water, range hood and air vent filters. You should replace these filters every 3-6 months depending on the type of filter you have.
• Dryer vent – Clean it out for improved dryer efficiency. A clogged dryer vent can be a fire hazard.
• Smoke alarms and CO detectors – Test them. Dust, grime and other airborne buildup can make it difficult for your smoke detectors to sense smoke and heat properly. Make sure your alarms are clean by wiping them down with a damp cloth or vacuuming the surface with a soft brush attachment once a year. Change out batteries as needed. 

Need help with the maintenance tasks above? Give us a call today @ 403-452-6606 ext. 3. We’re happy to assist!