One of the beauties of Utah is that it gets a good taste of all of the seasons – and they all bring with them something remarkable to admire, not to mention all the outdoor activities that come along with them.
It’s really an amazing place to call home.
Along with all that extreme weather, however, you have to consider that each season brings it’s own unique maintenance needs to keep your home running as efficiently as possible. We know you’re busy, and we know that these things have a tendency to creep up on us – so to make things as simple as possible, we’ve putting together a quick list of the top ten overlooked spring time home maintenance tasks.
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again – we’ve got your peace of mind.
- Check Your Shingles. Your room has a big job. It works hard to keep you and your family covered and safe from all of the harsh elements. It’s a thankless job, really. Make sure you do your due diligence and check for loose or missing shingles at the end of the winter. It’s in your best interest to be sure that you maintain your roof – because the better you maintain it, the less likely it is to fail you.
- Clean Your Gutters. Speaking of your roof, while you’re up there, take a little bit of time and clean out those gutters. Fall leaves get trapped by winter storms, and as the snow thaws and the spring rains pick up, it’s imperative to be sure that your gutters are free and clear to do their job, directly rain away from your home.
- Clean and Replace Your HVAC Filters. Both your home and your allergy-prone family members will thank you for this one. A dirty filter slows air flow, and forces your HVAC system to work overtime, decreasing is efficiency, raising energy costs, and shortening the life span of your system overall. Ideally, these should be replaced several times a year.
- Replace Compacted Soil. Here comes those spring showers we hear so much about – and before they arrive, make sure that your yard is ready to keep that water directed away from your foundation and your basement. Look for any low areas and fill them with compacted soil to prevent any pooling.
- Inspect the Chimney. After a winter of cozying up to a warm fire, take this time to make sure that it’s all safe, clean, and ready for next year. Bring in an expert chimney sweep to clean the flu, and make sure you physically inspect the outside for cracks or damages.
- Check Concrete and Outside Surfaces. Inspect your driveway and foundation for cracks and settling. Power wash decks and fences, and be sure to check for any damage that needs to be fixed before it gets any worse.
- Check Outside Faucets. Make sure that your outside faucets didn’t suffer any cracks or damage from winter freezes. Turn the water on slowly and place your thumb over the opening. If you can stop the flow, water is likely backing up into the house.
- Check Your Paint for Peeling or Cracking. Not only does a consistent paint job keep your house curb-appeal ready, but paint acts as another barrier to keep your home protected from the elements (and keeps you on top of things so you don’t end up repainting as often!)
- Have the AC Unit Serviced. This is one you want to get handled sooner than later – because, well, no one wants to be caught with a malfunctioning air conditioning unit when the inevitable heat wave arrives. Schedule a qualified HVAC technician to give your machine a once over and make sure all is working as its supposed to.
- Replace the Batteries in your Smoke Detectors. All the maintenance in the world will make no difference if your smoke detectors don’t do their job – protecting your family and your home. Make it a habit to replace your batteries when you do your seasonal maintenance.
There you have it. Our top ten overlooked home maintenance tasks. What do you say – would you add anything to the list?