During the chilly winter months, most people hibernate and spend their time indoors. But with springtime comes sunshine that brings a new boost of energy for everyone.
Because of the ideal weather, spring is a great time to clean and tick off some home maintenance chores on your checklist. You can use this time as an opportunity to get home maintenance that can frequently get neglected during the spring-cleaning frenzy.
Below are some crucial spring home maintenance tips you can get done in the coming months.
1. Check your smoke alarms.
Simple yet crucial: if you haven’t checked your smoke alarms to ensure functionality in the last 12 months, your insurance claim (in the event of a fire) can get voided. And while you’re at it, remember to check the expiration date on your fire extinguisher, too.
2. Inspect your basement and foundation for mould and dampness.
It’s not unusual for people to neglect to check and maintain the basement and foundation of their home, which can lead to issues later on.
Cracks in the foundation walls may cause leaks, moisture, and mould growth. Floods can also occur if the roof drainage system isn’t kept in optimum condition. Examine the foundation walls and get any issues repaired in the spring, when the weather is at its best.
3. Weatherproof your doors and windows.
Most Australians spend money on electricity bills and air conditioners to keep their homes cool and comfortable during the extremely hot and humid summers.
However, most people aren’t aware that poorly weatherproofed windows and doors can allow cool air to escape and hot air to enter even when they’re closed. Not only does this degrade cooling, but it also raises energy costs and puts more strain on your air conditioning system.
This spring, check your windows especially. Pay particular attention to the caulking and stripping to make sure they provide a tight seal. With properly weatherproofed windows and doors, you’ll see a difference in your energy consumption that may surprise you.
4. Clean your gutters and inspect the roof.
Look around the house to see if any pieces of roofing material have come off. Check for damage to the shingles, and replace any loose, damaged, or buckled ones. Also, check if any metal roofing sheets have buckled and flexed.
In order to prepare for the spring rains, make sure all your gutters and downspouts are in good condition. To avoid water logging and roof damage, clear them of any leaves, twigs, and other debris.
5. Get your air conditioner cleaned and serviced.
Your air conditioner will have accumulated dust over the winter, which can block your filters and vents and limit circulation by up to 50 per cent.
Worse still, the dust and debris become airborne when you turn the appliance on, thereby triggering allergies and other problems. So, once spring arrives, clean the filters and have your air conditioners checked by a technician to ensure they are in optimum working condition.
Of course, there are other home maintenance tasks you’ll have lined up this spring.
Use this list to jump-start your home maintenance activities and get your place in tip-top shape.
If this article has inspired you to think about your own unique situation and, more importantly, what you and your family are going through right now, please contact your advice professional.
(Feedsy Exclusive)