We're sure you've heard the term "Spring Cleaning," and usually that's all homeowners think of when it comes to preparing your home for the Spring Season. Sure, Spring Cleaning is an excellent way to bring in a new season.. but there's also a list of maintenance that has to do with structures, appliances and systems to keep your home running for the long term. Follow our Spring Maintenance Checklist to ensure your home is in prime condition for the rest of the year!
- Gutters and Downspouts.
Pull the leaves and debris from your gutters and downspouts. Reattach gutters that may have pulled away from the house. Run a hose on the roof, and check for proper drainage! If leaks exist, dry the area and use caulking or epoxy to seal the leak. - Siding.
Clean siding with a pressure washer to keep mold from growing. Check all wood surfaces for weathering and paint peeling. If wood is showing through, you can sand the area and apply a primer coat before painting. If paint is peeling, scrape loose paint and sand smooth before re-painting. - Exterior Caulking.
Inspect your caulking and replace it if it's deteriorating. Scrape out all of the eroding caulk and re-caulk the area in need. - Sills.
Window sills, door sills and thresholds all need tending to. Fill cracks, caulk edges, repaint or replace if necessary! - Window and Door Screens.
Clean screening and check for holes! Spring in Florida means BUGS. Make sure your pool or patio is protected! If holes are bigger than a quarter, that is plenty of room for bugs to climb in. Patch holes or replace the screen. *Tip* Save bad screen to patch holes next year! Tighten or repair any lose or damaged frames and repaint. Replace broken, worn, or missing hardware. Wind can ruin screens and frames if they're allowed flap and move, so make sure they're fastened tightly and secure. Tighten and lubricate door hinges and closers. - Drain waste and vent system.
Flush out your system. - Hot Water Heater.
Lubricate circulating pump and motor. - Evaporative A/C.
Clean your unit, check the belt tension and adjust if needed. Replace cracked or worn belt. - Heat Pump.
Lubricate blower motor. - Foundation.
Check foundation walls, floors, concrete and masonry for cracking, heaving, or deterioration. With the heat in Florida, it'll only get worse come Spring and Summer. If a significant number of bricks are losing their mortar, call a foundation professional. If you can slide a nickel into a crack in your concrete floor, slab or foundation call a foundation repair professional near you immediately. - Roof.
Inspect roof surface flashing, eaves and soffits. Perform a thorough cleaning. Check flashings around all surface projections and sidewalls. - Deck and Porches.
Check all decks, patios, porches, stairs and railings for loose members and deterioration. Open decks and wood fences need to be treated every 4-6 years, especially in Florida, where they will be exposed to the sun and rain often. If the stan doesn't look like it should or water has turned some of the wood dark grey, hire a deck professional or treat your deck and fence. - Landscape.
Landscaping is typical for spring home maintenance. Cut back and trim all vegetation and overgrown bushes from structures. Limbs and leaves can cut into your home's paint and force you to have that side of the house repainted. A little trimming can save a lot of money and time. - Sprinklers.
Check lawn sprinkler system for leaky valves, exposed lines, and improperly working sprinkler heads. If there is an area of your yard that collects to much water or doesn't get enough, run the sprinklers to figure out the problem. If it's not something you can fix yourself, call a professional before your lawn needs the water (unless it already does).
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