Spring Home Maintenance
Spring Is Here!
After another long Minnesota winter, spring has officially arrived. As temperatures rise, it’s a good idea to check around your home for any damage sustained over the winter, make repairs as needed, and prepare for the warm months ahead.
Clean Your Gutters and Downspouts
Along with warmer weather and blooming flowers, spring brings the start of severe weather season. Make sure your gutters and downspouts are ready for it! Their job is to catch rain water and divert it away from your home, preventing damage to your foundation. That’s why it’s important to have them cleaned and repaired if needed.
Inspect Your Roof
This winter has been one of the snowiest on record in Minnesota, and it may have taken a toll on your roof. Take time to inspect it this spring, checking for missing singles, damaged pipes, or anything else that doesn’t look quite right. No ladder required! Simply look at your roof through binoculars or a telephoto camera lens.
Check Window and Door Screens
It always feels great to open things up and let the fresh air in come spring time. But before you do, it’s a good idea to check your screen doors and windows for holes or tears. Even the tiniest damage can allow for bugs to sneak in. If you find tears or holes, screen repair kits can be purchased online or at the hardware store.
Check for Concrete and Asphalt Damage
We’ve all been dodging potholes out on the roads lately. Asphalt and concrete surfaces take a beating from the freezing and thawing the Minnesota winters cause. Inspect your driveways and pathways, and have repairs made wherever you find damage. If damage is not attended to, it could take years off the life of your driveway or pathway.
Clean Your Air Conditioning Unit
Get your AC unit clean and ready to take on the summer heat! Cut off electricity to the unit before vacuuming the outdoor condenser’s exterior fins. Clear away weeds and overgrowth. Then, head inside and replace the evaporator unit’s furnace filter, vacuum the blower compartment, and clean out the condensation drain.
Do a Deck Check
Before you spend the summer relaxing on your deck, you should make sure it’s safe to do so. Look for rotting wood, wobbly or weak posts, and missing or unsecured ledger flashing. It’s especially important to thoroughly inspect decks that are 15-years-old or older, as they may have been built to an outdated code. Was your deck built professionally, or was it a DIY project? Keep this in mind during your inspection.
Exterior Caulking
Keep water out of susceptible areas on your home’s exterior. Take a walk around the outside of your house, and identify areas where water may be getting inside. Apply new caulk, or re-apply where existing caulk is failing. Research online or ask a hardware store associate which type of caulk will be best for your specific problem area(s).
The Perfect Time to Paint
Exterior painting is best done in mild weather conditions. Minnesota weather is always unpredictable, but when spring treats us to mild temps, it’s the perfect time to get outside and paint! If the temperature gets above 50 degrees and humidity is low, take advantage of it for your outdoor painting projects!
Reseal Exterior Woodwork
Wooden structures require some TLC to keep them looking good as new. Decks, fences, pergolas, and other outdoor structures will last longer and stay in better shape when you give them a fresh stain or reseal them every 1-2 years. This may require a thorough cleaning beforehand. While you’re at it, look for any damaged woodwork, and make repairs as needed.
Bonus Spring Home Tips!
Replace Smoke Detector Batteries
The Elk River Fire Department recommends changing smoke detector batteries when you change your clocks for Daylight Savings Time. Test your carbon monoxide detectors while you’re at it, and be sure to double check the expiration dates on all detectors as well.
Check Sprinkler and Irrigation Systems
Save money and water this summer by making sure your sprinkler is in good shape. Hire a professional, or do it yourself! Follow steps such as manually running the system through all zones, checking for broken heads, and adjusting heads that may spray your house, sidewalk, or street.
Service Your Lawn Mower
Get the mower out and prep it to keep your lawn looking beautiful this summer! Whether it needs professional servicing or a simple tune-up, now is the time! Make sure you empty last year’s leftover gasoline, change the oil, replace the air filter, and install a new spark plug.
Shoo Off Mosquitoes
Warmer weather unfortunately brings the mosquitoes back. While we can’t avoid them all together, there is one simple step you can take to keep them at bay; look for standing water areas on your property, and encourage your neighbors to do the same. Alleviate it right after every rain storm or lawn watering.
Wishing You a Happy and Safe Spring!
Taking these steps this spring will ensure your home is safe and ready for the warm up. Kiser Construction wishes you a happy and safe spring! As always, give us a call for any fire, water, or storm damage and remodeling needs.
