Before April showers and May flowers arrive, get your property and home’s exterior ready with these spring home maintenance tips!
After the long, harsh winter, spring is finally here! The comfortable temperatures and longer days make it a great time to tackle issues with your property and your home’s exterior. In between April showers and May flowers, prepare your home with our spring home maintenance checklist!
Soak up all the sunlight!
Clean windows mean more natural light in your home! If you're removing storm windows, clean your windows, too, and inspect them for any damage. Wipe away the dust with a microfiber cloth and then spritz with a warm water and distilled vinegar mixture. Be careful not to get any of the mixture on the wood or vinyl window frames as it can discolor them. Rinse with water once done.
Before installing your screens, douse them in water and a mild detergent. If you find any small tears, you can fix them with a repair kit from your local home improvement store.
Start lawn prep
If temperatures are routinely climbing higher than 55°F, it’s a good time to turn the water back on to your outdoor faucets and ensure the water is flowing smoothly. Also, reconnect any garden hoses, which you put away during the winter months to prevent ice from forming in your pipes, right?
Speaking of water, inspect your sprinklers for leaky valves and sprinkler heads. If any areas of your yard collect too much water, check the water line. If you can't find the source of the problem, call a professional to investigate and correct the issue.
Take care of any tree trouble
This is truly an "every season" maintenance task since replacing a roof can be expensive and tree limbs are a main culprit. They can also be used by critters as bridges into your home, so clip any and all vegetation at least 2-3 feet away from your house. (This will also help to prevent a potential burglar from using an overly large shrub for cover.) For higher tree limbs, hire a professional landscaping company to trim.
Clear your gutters
Hire a professional to clean your gutters and downspouts twice a year, after the seeds fall in spring and after the leaves fall in autumn. The winter may have stuffed your gutters full of leaves, branches, and even dirt, so you'll want to clear them before summer’s drenching storms roll in.?
How’s your roof doing?
From the ground, give your roof a visual inspection. Winter storms can wreak havoc on it, so check for any damage, holes, or peeling. Call your roofing specialist to replace any damaged shingles ASAP and continue to check your roof frequently. Make sure to inspect it visually before and after any large storms, so you can prevent a small problem from being a costly insurance claim.
Take care of your deck?
If you have a wooden deck, spring is the perfect time to reseal it, so it'll look its best all summer long. First, test the wood by sprinkling water on your deck. If water beads on the wood, it’s probably not time to reseal your deck just yet. If the wood immediately soaks up the water, your deck is due for maintenance.
For composite deck owners, it’s time to pressure wash! If you’re not experienced or comfortable using a pressure washer, consider hiring a professional.
For both types of decks, check for any damage or cracking, and call a professional to complete any repairs.
Keep your eyes peeled for termites?
Termites swarm between March and June, so keep an eye out for evidence of termites: blistered wood or wood that appears to have water damage, damaged wood with a honeycomb-like interior, discarded termite wings, mud tubes (where termites nest), and termite droppings. If you spot any of these warning signs, call a professional immediately. You may already have extensive damage, or you might be able to ward off an expensive problem.
Check your chimney
Santa might have just come down the chimney, but you need to make sure it’s safe year-round. Masonry absorbs water rather than resisting it, so you'll need to replace or reseal your chimney every so often. You also need to check the flashing and replace any damaged bricks. All these jobs are best left to professional, so if you visually inspect your chimney from the ground and see any issues, call your chimney specialist ASAP.
Give your home a shower
Winter can do a number on your home’s exterior. Start spring off right by hiring a professional to power or pressure washing your home. This not only helps to keep your home looking sharp, but it can also remove mold, dust, and allergens from your home’s exterior. It’s also an essential preparation step for any exterior home improvement projects, such as repainting or resurfacing.
Prepare to beat the summer heat
Extreme heat may be here before you know. Last year, New Jersey’s first heatwave came in early June, so you need to prepare your home now. Start by scheduling a routine maintenance HVAC service with a qualified technician. This should be done sooner rather than later to make sure your HVAC won’t break down when you need it most.
Also, don’t forget to have your HVAC filter replaced as per the manufacturer’s instructions. This can be as frequent as every month or as rare as every six months. (It’s generally every three months.)
Homeowner Insurance for The Way You Live
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