Spring Home Maintenance

Up on the blog this week,  I'm talking about Spring Home Maintenance.  While home maintenance is not as sexy as interior design, it is a necessary evil.  So, read on for my tips.

Home maintenance is home health

As a homeowner, there is never a perfect time to start thinking about home maintenance. You just have to find the time—preferably before things are on the blink. And no, we don’t mean to imply that frightening surprises are right around the corner as a first-time homeowner; rather that the responsibility of ownership is vast and never ending, and you need to keep an eye on maintenance to ensure a smooth, secure, efficiently running home for you and your family. 

You may be a new homeowner who’s not used to making the rounds and looking out for potential problem areas. No problem. Whether you’ve just purchased your home like me or have been settled for several years, we’ll walk you through some items to inspect for possible damage or performance loss—both on the inside and outside of your home. 

It’s easy to get started

The good news? Even though it’s still wintertime and conducting repairs in the seasonal chill is less than ideal, there’s plenty you can do right now from the inside of your home (with perhaps some occasional excursions to the great outdoors) to address a range of potential issues. But we also want to lay out a plan for the whole year. 

The following list is in no way exhaustive—but it’s a crucial start to familiarizing yourself with the ins and outs of your home and establishing a set of ongoing best practices when it comes to maintenance. Remember: You don’t have to be a handyman (or woman) to keep your home in shape. A simple toolbox, some patience and a willingness to put in a little time here and there can go a long way to maintaining the health of your home.

Photo Cred:  Pinterest

Home maintenance: Schedule

Let’s begin by first saying there are some things you should be doing throughout the course of the year to properly maintain your home, and there are other things that can be relegated to a seasonal schedule. The best approach is to have a basic plan of what you want to accomplish over the course of 3-4 hours twice a month. This way, the work is done in manageable chunks and prevents you from feeling overwhelmed.

To (somewhat) oversimplify things, let’s break the tasks down by season.

Photo Cred:  Pinterest

Home maintenance: Spring

As the weather warms up and moving around outside becomes more appealing, there are plenty of things you can do to help maintain your house from beyond your home’s interior. There are also a few seasonal-related appliances that need to be inspected before it gets too hot. Let’s take a look at some key areas that will demand your attention as a new homeowner. 

HVAC

If you own anything resembling a modern home, you no doubt have an HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) system. They need to be maintained to work properly. Your mission: 

• Clean air filters: Try to do this every three months to optimize air quality.
• Clean condensing unit: This is your outdoor AC unit/heat pump and it needs cleaning to get rid of dirt, grime, dead leaves, etc. A gentle spray is all you need.
• Clear drain pipe blockage: Your HVAC system has a drainpipe and pan that can get blocked with mold/algae, etc. The best way to clear debris is by pouring ¼ cup of white vinegar into the condensate drain. You may have to ask a service technician where this is; it’s often located in the attic or in the basement.

Windows

• Make sure windows close and fully lock. 
• Examine window frames and sashes. Make sure there’s no rot, which is a sign of moisture infiltration and energy inefficiency. 
• Make sure weather stripping isn’t worn out. Reapply as necessary. Check for gaps between window casing and wall. Fill in with caulk as needed.
• Wash and clean windows. You’d be surprised how much more light can be transmitted when your windows have been cleaned properly.

Roof/gutters 

Homeowners could potentially spend entire springs and summers up on their roofs looking for problem areas and figuring out how to best address them. We’ll just focus on a couple:

Gutters/downspouts

While this should be done periodically throughout the year (especially again in fall), early spring is an essential time to clean them, before the heavy rains of April and May. 

Gutter cleaning: You’ll need a sturdy extension ladder, a bucket for collecting debris and a helper to steady things from below. Depending on the square footage of your house, you may want to consider breaking down this activity over a couple weekends. Simply scoop and remove. 

Some folks like to use leaf blowers or portable power vacs to assist them. There are also tools available to help you clean gutters while staying safely on the ground. Check with your local hardware store for more information

Downspouts: Clearing your downspouts of debris is every bit as important as cleaning your gutters. The best method is to take a leaf blower and insert the nozzle into the end of your downspout at ground level and turn the device on. It will send a powerful burst of air all the way up to the roof and loosen any debris that might restrict the passage of water. 

You can also gently tap your downspout with the backside of a hammer to loosen any blockage or even use a pipe snake or a garden hose. Just insert the hose or pipe snake and work it up until you can’t go any higher, moving it back and forth. For hoses, turning on the water at full blast (briefly) can also dislodge any buildup.

Roof

You'll need to get back on your ladder and inspect things up close and personal. We realize this isn’t for everyone, but regular roof maintenance is important and can prevent costly repairs down the road. 

Inspect shingles: While the best way to inspect your roof is to get up there and walk around (very carefully, of course), many DIY experts contend that all you need is a proper vantage point and good pair of binoculars. Either way, you’re looking for:

• Missing shingles
• Curling shingles
• Cracked shingles
• Peeling flashing (that thin metal material used to direct water away from certain areas such as roof, walls, chimney.
• Missing granules

If there are damaged shingles, this is a red flag and a telltale sign that you need to bring in a roofing expert to address the issue. 

Wash your roof: We know what you’re thinking: “Doesn’t the rain already do that?” Unfortunately, the answer is no. There’s a very real possibility that algae and even fungal elements are slowly growing on your roof and over time could affect the integrity of your shingles. The solution: Spray your roof with a combination of 50% bleach and 50% water. This will kill the algae. Make sure to rinse your roof (and eaves) with plain water from a hose afterwards.

When homebuying ends, homeowning is just beginning. If you thought painstakingly selecting the perfect house, outmaneuvering competitors to strike a deal and obtaining an affordable mortgage was all that was required of you to live a secure and happy life in your new home, you may have overlooked the responsibilities of home maintenance. While not labor intensive, keeping your house in top shape definitely requires some attention—and not just once or twice a year.

But here’s the thing: While the responsibilities of home maintenance are ongoing and will demand your participation from time to time, taking care of your home is actually pretty easy; it’s also the number one way to prevent bigger, more expensive problems from emerging on the home front. At the end of the day, basic home maintenance is just a series of common sense steps that will preserve the integrity of your home and help build value for the long term. 

Whether you’re new to homeownership or have purchased properties in the past, ensuring your home is functioning at peak performance and free from unnecessary deterioration is the goal of every homeowner. After all, homeownership is the investment of a lifetime. A well-maintained house is something you can walk through every day and feel good about.