7 Home Maintenance Tips for Spring

Spring is right around the corner, and most homeowners are looking forward to a break from shoveling snow, salting sidewalks and high heating costs. That being said, Spring isn’t exactly a walk in the park for homeowners (though that’s certainly something you can do now!). There are a number of steps that you’ll want to take to keep your home in tip-top shape, regardless of whether you’re considering putting your house on the market or not. Here they are:

Repair your shingles

From the ground, look at your roof to see if any shingles were lost or damaged during the winter. You might even want to start a budget for replacement if your home has an older roof covering. The flashing around your home’s plumbing vents, skylights, and chimneys should be checked and repaired by a qualified roofer every year.

Chimney time

Take a look at the exterior of your chimney, in case it might be damaged, and have the flue both cleaned and inspected by a certified chimney sweep.

Stack your firewood

Firewood stored near your home should be moved and then stored at least 2 feet away and at least 18 inches off the ground. This will allow it to breathe and dry, which is vitally important if you’d like to be able to use it come Wintertime.

Prevent pools

Low areas next to the foundation of your home or in the yard should be filled with compacted soil, so as to prevent yard flooding from Spring rains (which can then lead to foundation flooding and damage).

Check your hose

If you’re able to stop the flow of water from your house by placing your finger over the opening, it’s likely that the pipe inside your home is damaged and will need to be replaced. You’ll want to check the garden rose for dry rot as well.

Protect the wood trim

Spring rains can do a great deal of damage to exposed wood, especially the trim around windows, doors, and railings. Use a screwdriver to probe the wood trim to prevent further damage.

Check your gutters

Improper drainage can lead to water in your basement/crawl space, so make sure you don’t have any loose or leaky gutters and that downspouts drain away from the foundation and are free of debris.

You can get more tips with this ultimate summer cleaning and maintenance checklist.