March 20th marks the beginning of Spring and the age-old spring cleaning season. Many homeowners take this time of year to start fresh and say goodbye to winter by purging and cleaning. Most people would think of squeaky clean windows, fresh air and eliminating winter's dust bunnies as spring cleaning. But winter can also take a toll on other parts of the home as well. Structures such as the roof and the foundation need attention too. Use this list as a guide to help your home recover from winter and start to spring fresh.
How to Prepare your Home for Spring
- Roofing-Take a look at your roofing for damage from heavy rains and ice dams over the winter. Look for missing and damaged shingles to replace before the Spring showers set in.
- Sump pumps-Check your sump pump to ensure it's working and draining properly. You can test the pump by lifting the float to simulate a full tank and force it to drain. Now may be a good time to install a battery-powered backup to avoid flooding if the power goes out.
- Gutters-Clear any debris left in gutters from the winter. While you're at it, check the gutters and downspouts for loose or sagging areas. Accumulated snow and ice on the edge of the roofline can push the gutters out causing a gap that allows rainwater to pool at the foundation.
- Grading-Evaluate your yard's grading, you want a slight slope away from the foundation to keep water out of the basement.
- Dryers-Check and clean your dryer vent. Cleaning just the lint trap is not enough. The leading cause of dryer fires is the failure to clean!
- Air Filters-Clean your air filters. A cold winter season can take its toll on your HVAC system.
- Appliances-Inspect appliances for worn or frayed hoses on clothes washers, dishwashers, and refrigerator lines. Replace these hoses immediately if you find damage. Even a small pin hole can cause significant water damage if not caught early.
- Foundation-Inspect walkways and stairways surrounding the foundation for loose concrete or cracks that need to be replaced. Water can seep into small cracks and expand as it freezes over the winter.
- Faucets-Check outside faucets for signs of freeze damage before reattaching hoses.
- Caulking-Check window and door caulking that may have degraded over the winter.
Hopefully, this list helps to make spring maintenance easier. Regular inspection and repairs are the first defense in preventing water, fire, and mold damage. If you do experience damage caused by the harsh winter or spring flooding, we can help. Contact us today, (800) 865-5157.
