Spring Home Maintenance Musts

To do a thorough job of spring home maintenance and cleaning, follow these easy and smart routines.

Spring Spruce Up

Spring is finally in sight, but before you get too comfortable basking in the nice weather there are some home maintenance tasks you need to handle. Winter weather can be brutal on your house, and it’s important you take time to inspect different parts of your home to assess any damage and make necessary repairs. Even with the mild winter, you should do a yearly checkup to make sure all things are in working order.

Clean Up the Roof With binoculars and a keen eye, you can generally spot roof problems. Cracked or missing shingles should be replaced, and if you see any shingle-shift, it may mean you need to install new fasteners. Look also for buildup of pine needles and other debris in those gutter and valleys between roof peaks.

Check the Exterior Walls Whether you have wood siding, stucco, or brick look for damaged areas, especially under eaves and near gutter downspouts. Water stains normally indicate that your gutters are not adequately containing roof runoff. With wood, check for any damaged areas or openings that clear the way for carpenter ants, woodpeckers and other critters.

Examine the Chimney If you have a masonry chimney, check the joints between bricks or stones. Have any fallen out, or is vegetation growing? Both can be evidence of water infiltration. Efflorescence, a white calcium-like deposit, is another sign of trouble. Fix the Foundation When inspecting poured-concrete foundations, keep your eyes peeled for cracks. If cracks in the foundation exist, routine caulking won’t do the job. You'll want to hire a foundation specialist, who can employ a two-part epoxy injection system that will bond those cracks chemically.

Caulk Around the Windows Leakage around windows will admit warm summer air and let cooled indoor air escape, so be sure to check that any caulking and weather stripping you have in place has remained intact. If you experienced condensation inside the glass on double- or triple-glazed windows during the winter months, that could mean the weather seal has been compromised, in which case either the glass or the window will need to be replaced. Find Leaks Spring is a good time to check for leaky faucets, clogged drains and sweaty pipes. Check under kitchen and bathroom sinks to make sure connections on pipes and hoses are secure and sealed. Look for water stains around the dishwasher and check washer machine hoses for cracks, bulges or dampness.

Prep the AC Just as you readied your furnace for fall, now is the time to make sure that air conditioning units are in good working order for the warmer months ahead. Change the filter, check hose connections for leaks, and make sure the drain pans are draining freely. Attend to the Attic

Search for signs that insects and critters have colonized. Also, search aggressively for mold, which often takes the form of gray or black blotches. Proper insulation and good ventilation will deter mold growth in the attic, so take action now to prevent the problem from developing in the warmer months ahead.

Investigate the Basement Dampness in a basement suggests higher-than-normal relative humidity, inadequate ventilation and the need for a dehumidifier. Check the base of poured-concrete walls for cracks and evidence of water penetration. And use a flashlight to examine exposed framing. If you see what looks like tunneling on the wood, call a pest control company. Clean the Windows Spring-clean your windows—inside and out—with a store-bought or homemade window cleaner (one cup rubbing alcohol, one cup water and a tablespoon of white wine vinegar will work just fine). Apply cleaner with either a squeegee or a soft cloth. If screens were on all winter, remove and clean them with mild detergent. Lay them on a dry surface (e.g., a driveway) to air-dry before putting them back on.

Scrub and Stain the Deck Look for warped, loose or splintered boards, and do a good sweep to remove any leaves and debris that might have accumulated between boards. If the finish on your wood deck is faded or worn, now is the time to clean, stain, and reseal it. If you have composite decking, follow manufacturer's recommendations on seasonal care.

Start the Lawn Care Rake the lawn to remove any branches, debris and leaves that you might have missed in the fall. Make sure outdoor water systems—pipes, faucets, and in-ground sprinkler systems—are in working order. And, take stock of your garden tools and lawn maintenance equipment, including lawn mowers, trimmers and hoses.

Rinse Down the Patio Furniture If you stored your lawn furniture for the winter, bring it outdoors and give it a hose rinse or wash it with a mild detergent. For metal furniture, check for signs of rust or paint erosion; a simple remedy with spray enamel will prevent further damage from sun, rain and humidity in the months ahead. Get the Grill Ready If your gas grill has remained idle over the winter months, check burner jets for clogs and obstructions, and be sure that gas hoses and connections are sound and secure. For charcoal grill owners, make certain your grill is clean of ash and free of grease residue. It's a good habit to adopt throughout the grilling season, not just in the spring

Remember the Crevices Spring is a good time to clean areas of the house that often go neglected. Dust or vacuum chair rails, window casings, tops of wall-mounted cabinets and ceiling fans. Launder or dry clean fabric draperies and use a damp cloth to clean wood and vinyl blinds. Vacuum upholstered furniture and mattresses, and consider renting a carpet cleaner to shampoo carpeting.