Ahhhhh, spring is finally around the corner! And, that means Spring Cleaning! Cleaning gutters and those rain spattered windows, rejuvenating your landscaping, purging clutter, and most importantly, inspecting your roof. Our spring maintenance checklist will help get your home in tiptop shape so you can relax and enjoy the long, lazy summer ahead.

Exterior Spring Maintenance Checklist

Clean gutters and downspouts – Did you know clogged gutters could damage your home’s eaves and foundation when rainwater overflows? The fascia board that hold the gutters can start to rot and deteriorate as well.   In preparation for spring showers, make sure to remove leaves, sticks and other small objects from your gutters. Make sure downspouts drain away from the foundation and, like your gutters, are free of any debris.

Roof inspection – Winter storms can take quite a toll on your roof. You should visually inspect your roof for curled or missing shingles, metal pipes that are damaged, assess the condition of exhaust pipes, valley, outer edges or angles where the roof meets the walls. And, inspect your attic for leaks or water damage. If a more in-depth inspection is needed, contact a professional roofing company, such as Williams Roofing Company.

Inspect exterior walls – Whether you have wood siding, stucco or brick, look for water stains. If you have wood siding, check for openings, damaged areas or knots that have popped out, making a path for carpenter ants or other pests that may burrow through the siding.

Trim overgrown shrubs/trees – Spring is a good time to trim branches of shrubs and trees away from your house. It’s a good idea to keep branches 5 to 7 feet away from your house to avoid moisture problems down the line. Trimming the overgrowth will also help discourage wildlife from nesting in your eaves or attic.

Re-seal windows – Drafty windows have the potential to hike your cooling or heating bill. To fix you can add plastic weather stripping along the sides of the sashes or remove the old caulk and replace with new. You can also cover drafty windows with cellular shades, layered curtains or draft snakes that help block the drafts. If your windows are not double paned, you may want to consider replacing them with an energy-efficient model.

Interior Spring Maintenance Checklist

Change smoke detector batteries – Now that you have the exterior taken care of make sure you change out the batteries in your home’s smoke detectors, as well as carbon monoxide detectors. This should be done every six months – once in the spring and again in the summer. While you’re at it, test them to confirm they’re working properly.

Reduce water heater temperature – One good way to control energy costs is to reduce the temperature on your water heater. In fact, per the U.S. Department of Energy, turning down the temperature 10˚F can save you 3 to 5 percent on energy costs. Double that if you lower it from 140˚F to 120˚F.

Redirect ceiling fans – If you switched the direction of your home’s ceiling fans for the winter, now is the time to switch them back, ensuring they circulate counterclockwise to force air down rather than up. This will help to reduce your air conditioning costs during the summer.

Clean your windows – Spring clean your windows – inside and out – using a store-bought or homemade window cleaner (one cup rubbing alcohol, one cup water, and a tablespoon of white wine vinegar will work wonders) and either a squeegee or microfiber cloth. Avoid cleaning in direct sunlight to eliminate streaks.

Inspect Attics – Search for signs that may indicate insects and other critters have populated. Also, search for mold that may look like gray or black blotches. Proper insulation and good ventilation will deter mold growth in the attic, so take action now to prevent the problem from developing in warmer months ahead.

We are pleased to share this checklist to help you target the areas that need maintenance so you can get your chores done quickly, leaving you time to go outside and play in the sunshine.