Spring Home Maintenance 7-Item Checklist
Spring home maintenance is essential for the health of your home, but it can be an intimidating thing to attempt all at once. Luckily, you can break down these tasks into different weekends throughout the season. Whether indoor or outdoor home care, here are seven home improvement projects to take on this Spring:
1. Replace your HVAC Air Filter
It’s crucial to replace your home’s air filter approximately every 3 months. Under certain circumstances, you may even want to replace filters more frequently. For example, if there is poor air quality in your area, if you have pets in the house, or have family members with certain allergies, every three months may not be enough.
Studies also show that if you don’t skip this step, you might be able to lower your energy consumption by up to 15%. If your filters are clogged, air can’t easily pass through and your unit in turn has to work harder to cool down your home. You can also take it a step further and hire a professional to measure your HVAC system’s efficiency and address any issues before the summer temperatures roll in. .
2. Touch Up Exterior Paint
Inspect the interior of your home and keep an eye out for any areas that might need a new coat of paint. This task is one that can be tackled at any point throughout the year – but is especially important following winter storms. If you want to totally revamp the color of your home, explore surrounding homes for inspiration or work with a color consultant to get that perfect fit.
3. Declutter
Bring the term Spring cleaning into your vocabulary, and face that mess you’ve been ignoring for months now. Take a couple of hours to reassess everything stored in closets or in your garage. If there are items you haven’t used in quite some time, consider donating them to charity or hosting a yard sale. This is a Spring home improvement tip that could also be carried over into other seasons to make sure clutter is contained more than once a year.
4. Clean the Gutters
Remove any debris that has accumulated over the winter to ensure proper water flow and to prevent any water damage to your home. Reattach the gutters if they are sagging, or even consider doing a full replacement if they are beyond repair. One important detail to keep in mind is that downspouts should be facing away from your home at the right slope or angle in order to improve drainage.
5. Inspect Windows and Doors
Screens form a necessary barrier, keeping the bugs out and giving us peace of mind – but only if they’re in perfect shape. A single tear or hole can create an open invitation for unwelcome insects. With Spring around the corner, it’s also an opportune time to give your windows a good clean. Lastly, check to see if any seals have been compromised during the winter months, and make replacements or repairs as needed.
6. Inspect Your Roof
In order to keep your roof at peak performance, take a look at its condition heading into Spring. In most cases, you’ll be able to spot trouble without hiring a professional. Do you see any cracked or missing shingles? Any fasteners that need replacing? The list goes on, but definitely take a moment as seasons transition to show your roof some attention.
7. Landscaping
To get your yard ready for Spring, you’ll want to put some effort into landscaping. Trim trees and bushes, plant flowers and shrubs, and prepare your lawn for the warmer months.