It’s that time of year! Break out your dusty old boxes, gas up those lawnmowers, and finally put away your Holiday decorations (yikes!). Spring home maintenance can help extend the life of your appliances and maintain the beauty of your home. Start the interior chores while it’s still cold, and you’ll be ready to tackle all the outdoor tasks once it’s warm. Then you can actually enjoy your Spring!
Selling your home? (Psst…Contact Me!) Spring time is the time for buyers! Prepare your home properly and you can expect your home to sell fast, especially in the Hampton Roads. Our inventory is at 20 year low, and buyers are reaching out in high numbers. First time homebuyer? Use this handy guide to help you survive your first spring maintaining your own home.
Interior
Alarms
Check your smoke alarms! It’s a great time of year, and an important part of spring home maintenance. Get in the habit of checking them every spring and fall, and you’ll always be prepared.
Your Floors Are Filthy
Seriously, do you know how much dust you accumulated while you curled up inside all winter? Use your carpet cleaner (or rent one) to give your carpets a deep clean, and get rid of all the extra dust. Wash your floors as needed. Make sure to wash according to what type of floor you have. If you have hardwood floors, you should not be dumping water on your floor!
Speaking of Dust…
Fans and filters. You’ll want to reverse your fans for the spring, as they should be spinning counter clockwise for warm weather. Before you do, run a duster along all your fan blades. In addition to removing dust from your fans, you should do a deep clean of your heaviest used rooms. Electronics are notorious for collecting dust. It’s also a good time to clear out your dryer vent.
Insects Abound
These are the good guys.
The best part about spring? The flowers. The worst part about spring? The flowers. They tend to bring with them allergies, pollen, and lots of insects. Sugar ants easily find their way indoors and are attracted to water and food. They are easily deterred with a line of Borax around the house. You can also use a mixture of borax and sugar water as a poison they will bring back to their nest. There are pre-made insect traps that have a similar mixture made by Terro that also work quite well. Prepare yourself for whatever insects may be around your house and arm yourself accordingly.
Beat That Heat
Before your home is 80 degrees inside with no working a/c, you should check your HVAC. Make sure it is blowing cold air. Replace the filters (this should be done every 3 months at the least). The outside condenser should be free from debris and plants growing near it.
Attics/Basements
Maybe you were lucky enough to see the interior of one of these rooms when you put away those decorations. If not, it’s time to break out your flashlight and face the heebie jeebies. You’ll want to make sure no animals have taken up residence here. Look for signs of chewing, remains, and nests. Check for leaks and moisture, and repair any damage you find.
Plumbing
Water can absolutely wreck havoc on your home. Take a look at all your faucets. Make sure there are no visible leaks. If the bottom of your cabinet suspiciously collapses but your drain is not dripping, consider a pipe may have broken in the wall.
Exterior
Check Your Toys
What’s in your garage? You probably have a lawnmower, hedgetrimmer, and weedwhacker at the least. Spring home maintenance involves checking these well before you need them. Have gas on hand, and make sure your tools are up and running. If you have any toys like RVs, 4-wheelers, or Jet Skis, have them ready to enjoy asap so you can get the most out of your vacation time.
Examine That Exterior
Take a look around the foundation of your home. Make sure winter hasn’t brought any cracks. If you have crawlspace, clear out the vents. If you’re feeling extra brave, poke around in the crawlspace as well. You don’t want any animals taking up residence under your home, and your moisture barrier should still be in tact. Often at home inspections we find the moisture barrier is no longer present in older homes.
Wood Means Bugs
Look at that great stack of firewood. Look at all that potential glorious warmth. Now? It’s about to harbor live bugs and bring them right to your foundation. Make sure to store firewood away from your home and sheds. Keep an eye out for snakes and other animals that may choose to make a home in the pile of firewood as well. Check around the exterior of your home and any outbuildings you have. Remove any wood that’s touching your home. You don’t want a wall that’s bowing outwards because your foundation is chewed to pieces.
Be glad we don’t have thatched roofs.
Keep a Good One Over Your Head
Winter was a time for snow and plenty of heavy branches. Get up on your roof and check it out. Make sure there are no broken shingles or exposed fastener heads. Seal any exposed areas to prevent moisture damage to your roof. Spring brings heavy rain, especially in the Hampton Roads. Prevent leaks by being proactive and examining your roof. While you’re up there, clear out the gutters. It’s important for water to be led away from your home, so keep your roof and house water free with clean gutters.
Windows and Doors
Go ahead and give them a clean. Check the caulking around windows and doors to make sure they’re sealed properly. The change in temperature can cause cracks to appear, and your home won’t be able to maintain it’s interior temperature as easily. Replace damaged caulk and weatherstripping.
Gardening and More
Check your exterior faucets to make sure they’re running correctly. Start preparing your lawn for your garden. If you plan to start a garden from seed, you should already have started growing your vegetables indoors. Replace any broken hoses. Fix any broken sections of fence.
