After a long winter, it’s time to dive into some spring cleaning, both inside and out. Your home undergoes a lot of stresses throughout the seasonal changes from colder darker months to the warmer but sometimes soggy spring. Especially in older homes, the drastic temperature shifts and changes in humidity can cause expansion and contraction of window frames, entryways and shingles that can start to let the weather into your house. Aside from your usual spring cleaning routine, you may want to consider diving into a few maintenance projects that can increase the longevity and efficiency of your home and large appliances.
Sealing and Repainting
Your home’s exterior is the primary thing protecting you from the outdoor elements. It can take a beating over the course of a year, and an annual inspection of your siding can help prevent rot and pest infestations. Regularly repairing your siding and trim and keeping the paint and sealants fresh will help keep the rain from entering and causing internal water damage. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to keeping rot and decomposition at bay. Mold and mildew can spread quickly within walls and window fixtures, and treating damaged wood while the problem is still small will save you thousands of dollars in the long run.
Roofs and Gutters
Missing shingles and cracks in the roof can be difficult to notice without a proper inspection. If you have missing shingles, water and vermin will be able to enter your attic from the roof, potentially causing damage to your insulation and duct work. Trees can also work against you by scraping against your roof and even rubbing off shingles. Spring is a great time to make sure the trees around the perimeter of your house are trimmed and cannot potentially damage your roof. The weight of autumn leaves and winter ice also has the potential to weaken your gutters and downspouts. Thoroughly cleaning your gutters will uphold their integrity and keep them operating at their maximum function.
Heating and Air
Your HVAC system works hard to keep you comfortable all year. Your furnace, boilers and air conditioning units should be evaluated each spring, before the sweltering summer months hit. Unlike many other spring cleaning projects, proper HVAC maintenance is highly dependent on hiring experts. While you may be able to notice obvious damages and needs for repair, you will have to call the professionals to ensure that your system is running properly and up to code. Since these units use more energy than any other appliance in the house, it is imperative that they are running in tip-top shape.
Spring time tune-ups for your home can give you the peace of mind that your house is prepared for whatever storms or heat waves lie ahead. Keeping up with minor repairs on an annual basis will save you time and money in the long run. It’s important to recognize problems early enough that you can nip them in the bud before they become major, costly renovations. Especially if you reside in an area with dynamic weather and a great range of temperatures throughout the year, annual preventive maintenance is a necessary part of the home owning experience.