After a long cold winter, we couldn’t be any more excited to welcome the Spring season! As ready as you may be for the warmer weather, your home might not be. Let’s fix that!
We all love a bit of Spring cleaning. This year, take your Spring clean up a notch by performing maintenance checks on your home. This will set your home up for year-round success and can help to prevent any major repairs later on.
Here is a Spring maintenance checklist to help you welcome the new season with confidence:
- The spring thaw has begun, which means extra water can accumulate around your home. Preventing any potential water damage to your home is essential and should be kept top of mind with this round of maintenance.
- Check any exterior painted surfaces for signs of moisture penetration. Blistering and peeling paint, if not corrected, can lead to water penetration.
- Eavestroughs and downspouts should be cleared of all debris. If the water cannot flow properly, it may cause ice and snow to back up under the shingles, causing leakage through the roof.
- Check your sump pump. If you have one, a sump pump is typically located in a pit in the basement and collects water from melting snow or heavy rain and pumps it outside before it can reach the floor level of your home. If the sump pump isn’t working properly, it could cause your basement to flood. Test your sump pump by dumping a bucket of water into the sump. This will raise the float and if the pump turns on and the water drains, your system is functioning. Also, be sure to inspect for any debris and clean the pump inlet screen.
- Keep window wells free of leaves and garbage. Lot drainage is designed to keep water away from the foundation. If you restrict this natural movement, you may be setting yourself up for a water problem in the change of seasons.
- The garden hose connection will have a shutoff valve inside your home. This needs to be turned on/off as required and inspected to prevent freezing and/or bursting.
- Windows and doors should be checked for gaps in weather stripping and breaks in the caulking. Weather stripping can usually be lubricated with petroleum jelly, which will help keep it pliable.
- Perform the required maintenance on your smoke detectors.
- Exhaust ventilation fans should be inspected and oiled as necessary (as per the manufacturer’s recommendations) to guarantee efficient operation. Vent covers, such as the dryer and range hood, should be checked for cracks, missing vanes and blockages. Your range hood filter should be removed and scrubbed in the kitchen with mild soapy water to prevent grease buildup.
- Inspect/replace your furnace filter if it is dirty or has reached its 6-month life span. At the same time, make sure you clean your ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator) filter according to the manufacturer’s directions.
At Terra View Homes, our communities offer the best in Spring living. From beautiful conservation areas, walking trails, and parks, our communities provide the ultimate Spring playground, or relaxation destination – whichever you fancy! While many people will find themselves taking in the most of the outdoors this season, our Net Zero Ready homes are busy generating clean energy for homeowners to use when they get back.
Curious about how you can make the most of your Spring with Terra View Homes? Learn more.
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