Exterior Spring Home Maintenance Tips

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Those dark and gloomy days of winter are finally over and spring is here! But, winters can be harsh and tough on our homes. That is why exterior spring home maintenance is so important. It is the time to check to make sure everything is in good working order.

Here are things to test:

ROOF: Like you did during your fall maintenance check, look for any missing or damaged shingles. The ones that are cracked, buckled, loose, or are missing granules should be replaced. Click here to go to our fall maintenance page.

While you are checking the shingles, do not forget to check the flashing around the plumbing vents, skylights and chimneys for any leaks.


GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS: Check your gutters and downspouts to see if they are loose or leaking. This is a spring home maintenance tip that is important. You want them to drain properly. If they are neglected, water could flow into your crawl space or basement. Also, your downspouts should be free of rubbish and drain away from the foundation of your home.


LOW AREAS IN YOUR YARD: Spring rains can cause your yard to flood, which can lead to your foundation being damaged. So, make sure that you fill in any low areas in your yard with additional soil, especially next to your home's foundation. And, pack the soil down well.

Another advantage of doing this is you will eliminate standing water in your yard, which breeds mosquitoes when summer arrives.


WINDOWS, DOORS, DECKS AND RAILINGS: Check the wood trim around all your windows and doors. Also, check your wood railings and decks. If any of the wood is rotten, it needs to be replaced or repaired before the spring rains causes more damage to the wood.


CONRETE DRIVEWAY AND CONCRETE SLABS: Inspect your concrete driveway and any other concrete slabs you may have for signs of cracks or movement. Fill in any cracks with a concrete crack filler or silicone caulk. As soon as the weather permits, use a power washer to clean the concrete and then seal.

OUTSIDE FAUCETS: Check your outside faucets for freeze damage. You do this by placing a garden hose cap, like the one to the right, on the faucet and then turning on the water. If you see water flow from around the pipe, it is likely the pipe inside the home is damaged and will need to be replaced.

GARDEN HOSE: If you left your garden hose outside during the winter, check to make sure it has not rotted or cracked from being frozen and that it has no leaks.





HVAC UNIT: This is a very important spring home maintenance tip. Have your outside air conditioning unit cleaned and serviced by a qualified heating and cooling contractor. It will operate more efficiently if the coils are clean.

OR

If you want to do it yourself, here is a video of Dave explaining how to clean the coil on an outside HVAC unit.

NOTE ABOUT VIDEO: Here is the definition for fins that Dave mentions in the video. Fins are the sharp pieces of metal that the air passes through to cool off the coil. They look like venetian blinds, but they do not move.


LAWN EQUIPMENT: Check your gas and battery-powered lawn equipment to make sure they will be ready for use when you need them. Clean your equipment and sharpen your lawnmower's cutting blades. This will make your yard work easier. Dave is in the process of making a video on this. It will be coming soon.

If you have any questions or any spring home maintenance tips you think are important, please contact us by clicking here and we will add them.



Winter Maintenance Tips For Your Home
Fall Maintenance Tips For Your Home
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