Warmer weather is great motivation to get your home in its best shape. Having a concise spring cleaning checklist makes this much easier to achieve.
When spring cleaning, you’ll want to cover many areas. Your roof, gutters, and home exterior might need a checkup after rough winter weather. When you’re ready to set your AC temperature in spring, there are a few things to take care of first. Forgetting to prep, people often risk damaging their system or find their AC smells bad when first turned on.
Here’s a rundown on all these things and more: 5 things all homeowners should do to prep for spring.
Spring Cleaning Checklist At a Glance
- Check on roof and gutters
- Maintain home exterior
- Prep AC system for warm weather
- Test all alarms
- Practice lawn care
1. Check on Roof and Gutters
Your roof bears the brunt of winter storms. If there are leaks or moisture in your attic or anywhere in your home, your roof might have some damage. Regardless of whether you are experiencing leaks, you should check your roof for any signs of wear to prevent any issues. Getting up on a ladder to see your roof can be dangerous, so be careful and gear up, or contact a professional for a full inspection.
If it’s been uncomfortably cold in your area, you may have neglected your gutters for a while. As time passes, gutters collect debris like leaves and sticks. This blockage prevents the gutter from doing its job, which is helping rainwater and snow melt move away from your home.
Clogged gutters cause leaks, and that water damage can seriously compromise the strength of your home. You can either put on some gloves to scoop debris out of your gutters, or hire professionals to do it for you.
2. Maintain Your Home’s Exterior
After snow and storms, your home exterior might require a good bath. Spend a day outside and give your windows a good cleaning, as they might be stained from the frost and rain. Check screens for any damage- you don’t want bugs flying in throughout the spring and summer!
Just like your roof, take a look at your siding, deck, and foundation for cracks or wear and tear. That way, you can contact a professional to help with repairs before the damage causes bigger problems. You can also give your home exterior a good pressure washing to remove any dirt.
3. Setting AC Temperature in Spring & Why Your AC Smells Bad When First Turned On
When you’re ready for cooling inside your home, you’ll want to prep your AC before turning it on. Why? While your AC sits unused in the winter months, dirt builds up on the inside.
If you turn your AC on without prepping it, any mold or mildew that was inside is blown out into the air, compromising air quality and causing a bad smell. This clog of debris can also risk damaging your AC system.
So how can you prevent this? You need to replace your AC filter with a fresh one to ensure clean air and a system that runs smoothly all summer long.
Another precaution to take is to test your AC unit before it truly gets warm outside. Turn the AC on to ensure it’s blowing cool air and operating properly. The reason you want to test before it gets warm is because most people wait until the first hot day, making HVAC companies very busy when spring and summer arrive.
It’s smart to schedule an AC maintenance before it gets hot. At Live Free, we do a 15 point inspection, helping you spot problems before they can interfere with your cooling.
4. Test Your Alarms
It’s great to set aside time each month to test any alarms in your home, like smoke alarms, security systems, and carbon monoxide detectors. Your alarms may have aged or their batteries may have died during the winter months, so it’s very important to make sure they will always work in case of any danger. Make sure to warn your housemates about the noise and follow your alarm manufacturer’s instructions for testing.
5. Beautify Your Lawn
After a long winter, your lawn may be in need of some TLC. As spring begins, it’s the perfect time to make sure your lawn mower is working properly. If the weather is nice enough, you can even start planting flowers, removing old debris and fixing up dead patches in your grass. A beautiful lawn is a great way to lift your spirits and get that “spring” in your step.
Once you’ve completed your spring cleaning checklist, keep it going! Maintaining your home is the best way to keep it safe and valuable. Let each changing season remind you to take care of your home in different ways. With a clean and sturdy home exterior, reliable alarms, a lovely lawn, and a cool AC temperature in spring, you’ll be all set for sunnier days!