Home maintenance is a year round job. There is always something to do at the beginning of every season. Now that the weather is warming up, it’s time to complete some traditional spring cleaning maintenance and ensure that all your homes’ systems are ready to help you have a happy and safe summer season. Here is a checklist to get you started on maintenance that will improve your home’s safety and protection:
• Complete a rundown outside the house. Look at all the gutters to make sure they are draining properly, look at your siding and windows to see if there is any structural damage. You can use a screwdriver to check for rotting wood in the sills and around door frames.
• Check your yard for unusual areas of moisture. If the water line runs through the area, you may have a leak that needs to be addressed by a plumber. If not, consider filling in any areas prone to water pooling to prevent mosquito breeding during the warm months.
• Call your heating and air company for a routine cleaning. Your outside unit and ductwork will benefit from a tune up. Inside, your home may be circulating allergens. A spring cleaning will make your whole system run more efficiently and keep dust and other respiratory irritants at bay.
• Inspect your summer tools. Now that the grass is starting to grow, make sure that your lawnmower, weed eater, chainsaw, and other gas-powered equipment is functioning properly. Clean them up, sharpen the blades, and replace the fluids as necessary to ensure that the yard equipment runs safely.
• Check out your safety equipment inside. Test your smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers to make sure they are in proper working order. These tools are easy to overlook, but could save you and your family’s life one day.
• Clean out your dryer’s vent and the lint trap thoroughly. Grab the vacuum cleaner and some brush tools to make sure that you get all of the fire-causing lint buildup out of the picture. Remember to turn off the dryer when you leave to house to further prevent the chances of a fire.
• Go over your evacuation plan. Warm weather brings the threat of tornadoes and flooding in many areas of the country. You should have a plan of action in the event of any natural disaster that everyone in your family knows and understands. Run a drill for different disasters once or twice a year to refresh everyone’s memories.
• Check outdoor play areas, decks, and swing sets. Over the winter months, your outdoor structures may have experienced more wear and tear than you realize. Tighten loose screws, hammer in loose nails, and replace any unsound boards. Clean areas where children play with a bleach solution to get rid of mold and mildew.
Now that you know how to start your spring cleaning maintenance, you can sit back and relax. Enjoy the peace of mind that getting a maintenance task out of the way provides.
