The end of Winter is near and Spring will be upon us (hopefully). As the weather warms up, here are some basic checks you can perform around the house to ensure that your property and home are prepared for the change of season.

Recommendations for the inside of your home…

Central Air and window units:

Before beginning the warm season, have your systems and units inspected by a professional. This service is usually very affordable. Have them tuned up if needed. You’ll be surprised how much more energy you can save by avoiding a failed unit later, especially over the Summer.

Check the water heater:

Over the Winter, leaks can form due to corrosion, frozen lines and other mishaps. This is very important if you’ve had frozen pipes at any time. Frozen water in the pipes can put excess pressure on your appliances and cause minor leaks and fractures down the road.

Check your furnace:

Many furnaces have a filter, which should be checked and replaced if needed. Some can be cleaned rather than replaced, which you can usually do at home.

Electrical:

Check all your outlets, chords and switches. Look for broken bulbs, frayed wires and loose plugs. Check the fuse box also, for overloading. Many appliances, lights and gadgets get plugged in over winter and it’s good to avoid any potential fire hazards.

Extinguishers:

Once yearly is a good schedule to follow when checking your fire extinguishers. Make sure the parts are all up to date and that it’s been inspected properly. The pressure gauge should be in the green range. If needed, move it to a safe accessible location.

Smoke detectors:

Check the batteries in every detector in your home and replace them as needed. It’s standard to check them every month to ensure they are in good working order. Each floor of your home should have a detector. Add more if needed. Consider adding one to each room or in the hallways.

Lights and bulbs:

Replace burned out bulbs, check the wattages and consider replacing high intensity bulbs for LED. This can save energy and reduce heating.

Washers and Dryers:

The lint your dryer produces and can get built up within many ducts and pipes over the winter. Check the exhaust and underneath the appliance. There is a special brush available to clean out the vent. Professionals can also check the dryer’s enclosure for more build up. A dryer that runs smoothly can save money and also prevent damage.

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Recommendations for the outside of your home…

Poured surfaces like concrete and blacktop:

This includes sidewalks, driveways, porch areas and any similar outdoor space. Check for cracks, broken slabs, weeds growing up in between, missing bricks etc. Tending to these small items early can save allot of money in the future. What happens is, water gets down underneath through the cracks then effects the ground-level.

Inspect and clean the gutters:

Debris can remain stuck inside the gutter after winter, which can prohibit proper drainage during the Summer months. If you don’t have the correct equipment, have a professional check the gutters. Working on the roof can be dangerous. A basic gutter cleaning is affordable and well worth it to avoid further damage later.

Inspect the roof:

The build up of snow and ice over the Winter can cause loose shingles, cracks and other damages. It’s best to catch these things early so that there isn’t a larger problem later. For example, a punctured seam can allow water to enter the home and cause large-scale damage if unattended.

Foliage and property greens:

One of the largest impacts of snow is the weight it puts on tree limbs. If unattended, they can break and cause damage during the Summer. Walk around the house and check the trees, grounds and other wooded areas for signs of damage. Make note of any dead foliage and plan to have it removed. Small trees should be trimmed and large trees should be far away from power lines.

Spring/Summer equipment:

Mowers, tractors, gardening machines and other grounds-keeping tools should be checked and tuned before use. Old gasoline can be very corrosive when sitting for long periods of time. Try adding some premium gas to the tank the day before you plan to get them out. check spark plugs, oil, hoses and other functions so your machines are starting and running efficiently.

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