We’ve made it through another long Wisconsin winter. While you might be ready to jump right into spring, it’s important to make sure your home is, too. The changing of the seasons is the perfect time to give your home a quick checkup. We’ve put together a spring home maintenance checklist for you to follow, featuring six easy steps to keep your home healthy all year long.
HVAC Maintenance Tips
Your furnace has been working hard all winter, and it’s almost time for your air conditioner to take over. Now is the best time to perform HVAC maintenance with these tips.
Start by changing your air filters. Next, clear any winter debris from outdoor units. Finally, take a quick look at both your furnace and your air conditioning unit for any obvious problems, such as leaks. If you really want a gold star, schedule professional HVAC maintenance to keep your systems running effectively and efficiently.
Be proactive about your HVAC maintenance to avoid future headaches. You don’t want to find out your A/C is down when it’s 90°, humid, and the waitlist is two weeks long.
Gutter and Downspout Repair
Another small bit of maintenance that can prevent big problems for your home is checking for any gutter and downspout repair needs. Snow and debris can cause blockages and damage to your gutters throughout the winter that might only become apparent during the first big spring rainfall. Similarly, gutters and downspouts can become damaged or cracked while buried over the winter.
A damaged gutter or downspout can cause improper runoff, resulting in water pooling near your home and risking foundation water damage. If you don’t have the proper maintenance tools or a safe way to access your gutters, call a professional service to clean your gutters for you.
Checking Foundation Grading
Damaged gutters aren’t the only potential cause of foundation water damage. The freeze-thaw cycle of winter can physically change the foundation grading around your home. This is more common in newer homes that take multiple cycles to fully settle. Take a walk around your home after a rain to look for standing water or areas around your foundation where the grading has obviously changed over the winter.
Checking Wall Penetrations and Seals
The freeze-thaw cycle doesn’t just affect the ground outside your home, it can also cause problems with your caulking, sealant, and weather stripping. Check your window trims, outside doors, exhaust pipes, and any other wall penetrations to make sure that they stayed strong through the winter. And while you’re looking, make sure these areas are clean and clear of debris.
Miscellaneous Spring Home Maintenance
While you have the motivation, this is a great opportunity to take care of other minor spring home maintenance tasks around the house. Check your sump pump to prepare for increased rainfall. Test or replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
The Checklist
By following these six simple steps, you can be sure that any issues are taken care of before they become major issues down the road. It won’t take more than an afternoon, and it can possibly save you time and money.
- Maintain your HVAC systems
- Service and/repair your gutters and downspouts
- Check foundation grading for pools of water
- Check wall penetrations for any issues
- Check sump pump
- Test and replace batteries in any detectors, such as smoke and carbon monoxide
Find more home care expertise right here on our website and feel confident that you’re protecting your home. Looking for other seasons? Check them out below!
