Now that we’re out of the dreary winter months and into spring, this is a perfect time to not only clean your home but also conduct a rigorous home maintenance routine.
Here’s our suggested spring maintenance checklist with 14 tips to help you find and repair any damage as well as get your home ready for summer.
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- Inspect for Winter Damage
Conduct a thorough visual inspection of the outside of your home. Look for any roof damage. Then look closely for damaged siding or trim, gutter and downspout damage, cracks in sidewalks or driveway, and check outdoor faucets and hose bibs. Don’t ignore minor fixes. They can quickly become major problems.
- Clean Up Your Yard
Remove tree limbs, leaves, dead flowers or plants, and debris. Mowing and edging for the first time of the season can really spruce up things. Adding new mulch can also make a big difference.
- Seed Bare Spots in Your Lawn
Seed any bare spots in your lawn to allow the new grass to establish itself before the summer heat and rain. Choose the right seed for your lawn including the amount of shade. Use lawn blankets on slopes to hold the seed in place during germination.
- Prune Trees and Shrubs
Trim trees and shrubs. Remove dead branches and limbs. Remove any tree branches that overhang your roof. They can damage your home in a windstorm.
- Clean Gutters and Downspouts
Gutters and downspouts prevent rainwater from pouring onto your walls and causing ceiling and wall damage, which can affect your pipes and cause more leaks. Clear out the leaves and remove any obstructions in the downspouts. Repair any damage.
- Clear Outdoor Drains
Debris and leaves can clog your rainwater drainage system. Clear your storm drains and downspout extensions. Wash out the pipes with a garden hose and get them ready to handle the summer rain.
- Test Your Irrigation System
Turn on each zone in your irrigation system to make sure it’s working. Identify any pipes and sprinkler heads that need to be repaired. It’s also a good time to adjust sprinkler coverage and water flow.
- Check All Outdoor Plumbing
Outdoor faucets can freeze during the winter. Now is the time to test and repair them. Heat pumps and AC units can also be damaged during the winter. Any pool equipment should also be on your inspection list.
- Repair Screen Doors and Windows
Bugs can find their way into your home through slight tears or even small holes in the screens. Inspect the screens and replace those that are badly damaged. For small holes, you can find repair kits at a hardware store.
- Inspect for Pest Damage
Look for any pest damage. Damage to your roof and eaves can come from birds, squirrels, and flying insects. Ants, termites, and even burrowing animals can cause damage at ground level. Help prevent pest entry by sealing up any cracks and holes you find.
- Power Wash the Deck and Siding
Dirt, mud, and grime collect on your deck and siding over the winter months. Use a pressure washer set to the right flow for the specific wood or siding. It will give you a nice, clean start to the summer.
- Seal the Fence and Deck
It’s a good time to stain and seal the wood after you’ve cleaned the deck and fence as well as repaired any damage. Do this at least every other year to maintain the wood and protect it from heat, humidity, and rainstorms.
- Check the Foundation’s Landscaping
Moving water away from your foundation is critical to reducing basement or crawl space leaks. Start with any window wells, clearing them of debris and making sure they’re sealed against rain. Trim shrubs away from the foundation. Look for root growth near the foundation. Tree and shrub roots can also cause damage to sewer and water lines entering the foundation.
- Build a List of Summer Projects
Over the winter you’ve no doubt collected a few ideas for home improvement. This is a good time to build that list and include the spring maintenance tasks you’ve found. Then prioritize them for scheduling throughout the summer.
This is also a good time to check inside your home for any repair projects needed. That can include leaky faucets, clogged or slow drains, garbage disposal problems, water heater issues, or any other plumbing challenges you may find.
We operate out of Virginia Beach to provide services throughout the Hampton Roads area. Contact us at A1 Sewer and Drain for an inspection and repair estimate.
