With the arrival of spring soon upon us, there are some maintenance tips we recommend to inspect your home after winter and also prep for the new season. Our homes can take a beating in our harsh winter climate. It’s important to stay on top of maintenance so easily fixed items can be addressed before they become bigger issues requiring more time and money to fix.
Here are the top 10 Spring Maintenance Tips:
- Clean your gutters – Grab a ladder, and check your gutters for debris. Remove as much as you can with your hands (Don’t forget to wear gloves!). Remove any leftover gunk with a garden hose. Take off any nozzle and have a helper turn on the water when you’re ready. Shove the hose into the downspout to power out of gooseneck bends. Make sure your downspouts channel water at least five feet from foundation walls.
- Replace 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.
- Repair Roof Damage – Keep up with small roof repairs so that you can avoid an expensive overhaul down the line. After a long winter, the first thing you should do is examine your roof and assess any damage, and while you’re up there, clear away any branches, leaves, moss, and other rubbish. If you find an excessive amount of moss, mold, or other growth, you’ll want to treat your roof with chlorine bleach or copper sulfate. Replace any missing shingles.
- Inspect Windows – If you notice haze or fog building up inside your windows, this could be a sign that the seal is damaged, which will decrease the R-value of the window, making it less efficient. It’s also a good idea to ensure that there is exterior flashing around your windows. Make sure the flashing is secured behind the siding, and directly above the window.
- Test Alarms – Let the change of season be your reminder to test all smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors for proper functioning. Change batteries if necessary. Alarms can malfunction as they age, so if yours are older than seven years, consider replacing them.
- Clean the Dryer Vent – This is a simple task that is necessary not only for saving money on your energy bill, but it could save your home and even your life. If the vent gets too clogged with lint, it could easily start a fire. To clean the vent, simply disconnect the dryer from the main power source, pull it away from the wall, separate the vent and the dryer, and clean both ends using the crevice tool attachment on your vacuum.
- Look out for Leaks – Common areas to check are attics, crawl spaces and washing machine hoses. Look for broken seals and corrosion in your plumbing system. Heavily fluctuating temperatures throughout the winter can be hard on unforeseen areas of the house, so it’s important to make sure all pipes and systems are in working order.
- Power Wash Siding – Power washing the siding will not only make your house look much newer and cleaner, it will keep the siding in good health by removing any dirt, algae, or fungus that may have accumulated. When you do this, be sure not to shoot the water up at too much of an angle, so as to ensure that you don’t get underneath the siding.
- Inspect Screen Doors – Screens are designed to let the breeze flow in and keep bugs out – but they can only do their job if they’re free from holes and tears. Before setting up your screens for the warm months ahead, be sure to carefully check each one and repair any holes or tears, no matter how small.
- Reseal exterior woodwork – Wood decks, fences, railings, trellises, pergolas and other outdoor structures will last longer and stay in better condition if they’re stained or resealed every year or two. Take this opportunity to make any needed repairs to woodwork as well.
Contact Synergy Exteriors if you would like a post winter assessment of your home. We can assist with any repairs needed on your roof, eavestrough, siding, windows or doors. We are all looking forward to the warmer weather and we are happy to help you get the most out of the season by taking care of any winter damage.
