Photo by Roger Starnes Sr on Unsplash
“Spring has sprung, the grass is riz
I wonder where the flowers is” – Anonymous (for obvious reasons)
Many people say spring is their favorite season. Is it yours? The greenery has returned in all its glory. Flowers are popping up, honeybees and bumblebees are making their rounds, and after a chilly winter, what could beat the return of t-shirt weather?
Spring’s arrival heralds a variety of home maintenance tasks to keep your home in great shape and ready for guests. Let’s look at some things every homeowner should consider in springtime to help maintain the value of their homes.
Clear debris from your roof and gutters
Leaves and debris from late fall may have made your roof and gutters their home for the winter. Since leaves hold water, this can be harmful to your roof. Get up there and blow them to the ground with a leaf blower. Don’t sweep them; that’s not too good for asphalt shingles.
While you’re up there, inspect your gutters for blockages, corrosion, holes, gaps, or damaged sections. Clear out leaves and twigs, and make sure they’re ready for heavy spring rains. You can use a hose to test their effectiveness. Call a gutter specialist if you are unsure how to make repairs.
Refresh exterior paint or stain
Spring is the perfect time to renew the stain on your decks, railing, and fences, or to spruce up the paint on your house. If you wait until summer, you may find it too hot to do the job comfortably. If you’re looking to move or to downsize, springtime is a great time to put your home on the market. Great-looking walls and decks go a long way toward increasing your home’s value.
Keep your cool!
Summer heat is right around the corner. As AC systems start cranking in summertime, the demand for AC repair technicians increases exponentially.
Don’t wait until paint starts melting off your walls to have your HVAC system serviced. Do it while the weather is still relatively cool. Soon service rates will be higher and wait times longer.
Get a tune-up now, including cleaning condenser coils, changing dirty filters, checking coolant levels, swapping out malfunctioning parts, and more. Many companies have a yearly maintenance “club,” in which you can pay a small amount monthly for two service visits each year – in spring and fall. Ask your HVAC service provider about it.
Do you have a room with a window-unit AC? Check out this handy guide on keeping it humming along this summer.
Update exterior lighting
Winter can be rough on exterior lights. Check all the fixtures outside your home, and replace defective bulbs and solar lights that don’t charge any more. Test your motion-sensing lights for proper function, and be sure the lights along garden paths, steps, and driveways are doing their job. If your landscape lights are looking worn or not functioning properly, replace them with low-voltage lighting.
Click here to see our recent blog post about installing low-voltage lighting systems.
Fix your screens
We all love the great outdoors, but we prefer it to stay outside. Screens help us keep insects and debris from entering our homes when we open the windows to let in fresh air. Now is the time to check out your screens and repair holes or damage from pets and long use. Most local hardware stores have screen repair service, where you can drop off damaged screens and pick them up good as new. Doing that now means a much shorter wait.
Do you have a covered porch area that you’ve been thinking about screening in? Check out this video to see how easy that can be.
Spruce up outdoor landscaping
Weeds are already sprouting up; don’t let them take over. Have your perennial gardens started to bloom? Maybe you’ve noticed some holes in your garden that are crying out for some colorful annuals. Now’s the time for a visit to your local garden center to give your garden a spring makeover.
We prefer neighborhood garden centers to the big box stores. While you may pay a bit more, there’s peace of mind in knowing the plants you’re buying are free of bee-killing pesticides. If you’re not sure, ask. Renew your mulch beds to keep weeds at bay, and sprinkle some grass seed if you find bare patches in your lawn.
Photo by Mani Sankar on Unsplash
Water, water everywhere!
Springtime means watering lawns and flowerbeds. If you had your outdoor water system turned off for the winter, it’s time to turn it back on. Winter is hard on hoses, so check them for leaks and replace if cracked. Check rubber gaskets in hoses and replace them if they are brittle or cracked.
If you have sprinklers, check for water leaks from pipes that may have burst during a winter freeze. Inspect your sprinkler heads and be sure they’re all standing up straight and are functioning well. Lastly, check the auto timers that activate your sprinklers. If all looks good, you’re ready for spring and summer.
Our list of springtime homeowner chores may take a bit of time, but it’s worth it for maintaining the value and beauty of your home.
Buying or selling a home?
Avoid unpleasant surprises! Contact Asheville Home Inspector Peter Young before signing any contracts. Call (828) 808-4980, or click here to make an appointment.
