Winter can be harsh, unbearable and difficult to weather through. With a well-winterized place, you’ll be safe inside the comforts of your home, almost like a bear undisturbed during hibernation. But once the snow begins to melt and the seasons are starting to change, that’s the time to start again your home maintenance. Spring gives a whole new set of problems and headaches for you to prepare for.
Be ready for the change of seasons. Here are home improvement tips you can do to prepare your home for springtime.
Check Door Integrity
Doors shield the home from the elements. While they’re sturdy enough to last for a long time, it doesn’t hurt to check the integrity of your exterior doors every once in a while, especially if you have wooden ones. Check the seals to ensure that nothing gets inside your home. Every once in a while you need to reseal your exterior wooden doors as such doors absorb moisture. Aside from your regular doors, you should also check if your garage door needs maintenance, replacement or repair, from the mechanism and the joints to the door itself.
Maintain Your Gutters
From ice dams to rogue leaves, the fall and winter season will wreak havoc on your gutters and your downspout. If you don’t have a leaf guard, then you have to manually climb and remove the fallen leaves and all other debris that plague your gutters. Check if the downspout properly drains water by hosing it down from the roof. Ensure the downspout doesn’t have any leaks and the water that runs through is directed away from the house. Repair any dent, crack or leak you can find.
Inspect Your Pipes
Your water system should always be free-flowing, especially after winter. If you didn’t wrap your water pipes in insulation, check the faucets and pipes for winter damage and repair as necessary. Check under the sinks and look for any water leakage to ensure that mold and mildew won’t form inside your home. Ensure that the toilet still works properly and if the flapper still hasn’t worn out. Check your hose and remove any dry rot or mold present.
Ensure Proper Air Circulation
Springtime’s the proper time to check the integrity of your heater and ventilation system. After working long and hard to keep you warm, it’s time to give your HVAC some TLC. Find a technician you can trust to ensure that your HVAC works in its optimum condition. They can look into and fix some problems you might’ve encountered during winter. Make sure that all the coils and filters are cleaned on a regular basis.
Check the concrete
Winter and concrete don’t go well together. The melt and moisture from snow due to the freeze-thaw cycle can be absorbed by the concrete pavement or wall of your home, which may cause flaking and cracking. Ensure that the driveway has proper drainage or slopes so that no water puddles will be made. For cracks and flaking, power-wash your driveway and use concrete sealants or silicone caulk to fill in the cracks.
Despite the beauty of winter and spring, the transition of the seasons will leave a mark on your home. Through regular maintenance and repairs, you can ensure that your home remains airtight and safe from the elements.
