Spring is here and it is time to venture outside and spend a few minutes inspecting your home to fix any issues that have occurred over the winter. This is a great time to catch potential problems before they happen. All you need is a little time, a few simple household tools, and a ladder and you can take care of any of these items yourself.
Here are the most common things you need to check:
- Shingles-Get your ladder and head up on the roof. Look for curling, or blown off shingles. If you find any missing get a hold of a roofing contractor to have them fixed.
- Siding-Walk around all your siding and look for damage or chipped paint. You can easily touch those spots up to avoid water absorbing into the siding material.
- Caulking-Look at every area where the siding meets the corner boards or where your siding abuts your windows. Make sure there is a full bead of caulk there and that it is not separating from the trim. Put a fresh bead of caulk down and after a day you can go back and paint it to match your siding or trim.
- Gutters-Inspect all your gutters and clear them from debris. Even if you cleaned them in fall double check as more leaves could have blown in or material that settled in your roof may have washed down and got clogged up. It is probably going to rain a lot in spring so make sure they are clean and ready to divert the way properly.
- Downspouts-Snow and wind can knock off your downspouts, this can cause water to flow right into your basement. Add new or re-attach your downspouts and make sure they are at least 3’ away from your foundation.
- Window Screens-Check all your window screens for holes or re-install them if you removed them for winter. Holes can easily be fixed or re-screened. No need to purchase brand new screens.
- Furnace and A/C-This is a great time to have your units checked and tuned up. Put a brand new filter in each spring to help prevent all that pollen from getting into your ductwork and your home.
- Dryer Vent-Check your dryer vent to make sure the flap opens easily and remove any lint trapped inside.
- Concrete-After the frost has left the ground look at all your concrete and see if there are any cracks or lifted sections. You can have a heaved section mudd-jacked for a lot less than replacement to prevent tripping hazards.
- Driveways-Driveways will also heave when frost comes out of your driveway. Clean out any major cracks and if asphalt have tar put in the cracks to they don’t take on more moisture and crack further.
- Grade and Mulch-Look around your home to locate any settled areas. Add dirt and cover with mulch or stone. The ground should pitch away from your foundation all around your home otherwise water can work it’s way back into your foundation.
- Inspect Facuets-Look at all your hose spigots and if you turned them off during winter get them back on and make sure they are not leaking.
- Chimney-Inspect your chimney to make sure the cap is still on and if you have a wood burning chimney and used it over the winter have it cleaned.
These are just a few simple tips to help you keep your home in tip top shape and be ready for spring. Keep in mind it usually rains a lot in spring to take care of as many of these items as soon as possible to avoid further damage to your home.