Here's a beginner's guide to seasonal maintenance for your home. Of course, there are many other things you can (and should) check on, but this list will get you started.
One side note: if you'd like a professional to give your home a thorough once over, consider hiring a home inspector. Home inspections aren't just appropriate when you're buying a new house. Also consider having one done every five years or before a renovation.
For Spring:
1. Vacuum the lint from the hose of your clothes dryer.
2. Clean windows and repair any ripped screens. If a screen has a large hole in it, it's time to replace it.
3. Check gutters for clogs. Clean out any debris and make sure gutters and downspouts are secure (You can hire someone to do this if you'd rather not get up on the ladder yourself.).
4. Check the ground around the foundation of your house and re-grade it if necessary. (The ground around the foundation should slope away from the house.).
5. If you have a sump pump, test it to make sure it's working properly. There are several ways to do this, including taking off the lid and pouring in water to see if the pump kicks on.
6. If you have an attic fan, make sure it's working properly before the heat of summer arrives.
7. Test any GFCI outlets: plug in a lamp, hit the test button and then the reset button to see if it turns the light off and then on again (GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. These types of outlets are designed to protect you from severe or fatal electric shocks. They're often found in the kitchen and bathroom, or any place near a water source.).
8. Check for cracks in asphalt or concrete driveways and walkways. Repair or reseal them before winter, when water can freeze and expand in the cracks, creating more damage.
9. Check trees around the house to make sure they're not threatening wires or power lines. If they are, call a tree service to safely trim back branches.
10. Check the roof. If you find holes, crumbling, blistering or rotting roofing, repair or replace it?? (Again, this may be a job for an expert.).
11. Change furnace filters.
12. Test carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and replace batteries or devices if necessary
One side note: if you'd like a professional to give your home a thorough once over, consider hiring a home inspector. Home inspections aren't just appropriate when you're buying a new house. Also consider having one done every five years or before a renovation.
For Spring:
1. Vacuum the lint from the hose of your clothes dryer.
2. Clean windows and repair any ripped screens. If a screen has a large hole in it, it's time to replace it.
3. Check gutters for clogs. Clean out any debris and make sure gutters and downspouts are secure (You can hire someone to do this if you'd rather not get up on the ladder yourself.).
4. Check the ground around the foundation of your house and re-grade it if necessary. (The ground around the foundation should slope away from the house.).
5. If you have a sump pump, test it to make sure it's working properly. There are several ways to do this, including taking off the lid and pouring in water to see if the pump kicks on.
6. If you have an attic fan, make sure it's working properly before the heat of summer arrives.
7. Test any GFCI outlets: plug in a lamp, hit the test button and then the reset button to see if it turns the light off and then on again (GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. These types of outlets are designed to protect you from severe or fatal electric shocks. They're often found in the kitchen and bathroom, or any place near a water source.).
8. Check for cracks in asphalt or concrete driveways and walkways. Repair or reseal them before winter, when water can freeze and expand in the cracks, creating more damage.
9. Check trees around the house to make sure they're not threatening wires or power lines. If they are, call a tree service to safely trim back branches.
10. Check the roof. If you find holes, crumbling, blistering or rotting roofing, repair or replace it?? (Again, this may be a job for an expert.).
11. Change furnace filters.
12. Test carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and replace batteries or devices if necessary
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