Take Action with Our Spring Home Maintenance Checklist

• Test smoke and carbon monoxide batteries monthly and change them twice a year, when you set your clocks for daylight savings time.
• Change furnace filters and if they’re really dirty, you’ll need to change them more often than once a quarter.
• Clean humidifiers (especially important in the winter) and change filters per manufacturer instructions.
• Clean dryer lint trap with each use; Once a quarter, clean vents and behind the dryer to remove lint buildup.

• Inspect – Check your yard for fallen objects which could cause family members to trip. Check lawn mower blades & sharpen or replace as needed.
• Maintain – Rake, prune, mulch, prepare garden for planting. Remove branches that are too close to the house. Service lawn mower before you need it.
• Update – Improve landscape design features by adding walls, bushes, trees, etc.

• Inspect – Check outside walkways, stairs (steps & railings), porches and decks. Make sure everything is secure.
• Maintain – Tighten loose boards and replace any that are warped or rotted enough to cause a safety hazard.
• Update – If more than minor repairs needed, consider replacing  with composite materials that need less maintenance.

• Inspect – Vacuum baseboard heaters and schedule yearly check-ups for furnace and other systems.
• Maintain – Service portable space heaters before putting away for the season. Empty fuel, clean and store in a safe place.
• Update – Upgrade to a more efficient heating system; add furnace humidifier if you don't have one already.

• Inspect – Check exterior lights, garage doors, gates, etc to make sure all access paths to your home are in good, working order.
• Maintain – Repair any problems found.
• Update – If any problems occurred over the winter. identify where you might add more lighting.

• Inspect – Check for leaks, loose shingles (check attic first for signs of roof leaks) outside and from the attic.
• Maintain – Replace damaged or missing shingles. Clean and/or repair roof vents and replace damaged (wet) insulation.
• Update – Replace roof. If you have ice dams, review Solutions to Prevent Ice Dams.

Note: If you had ice dams determine why. Properly ventilated and insulated attics should not have ice dams.

• Inspect – Check chimney, vent pipes, chimney cap and flashing.
• Maintain – Replace worn materials that have (or will soon) fail, i.e. caulking gets dried out and cracks.
• Update – Add chimney cap to reduce water getting inside and causing damage.

• Inspect – Check gutters & downspouts to make sure they're draining properly and away from the house.
• Maintain – Clean gutters and adjust/repair loose parts when you're cleaning them.
• Update – Add covers to your gutters to reduce how often you need to clean them – low maintenance, never no maintenance.

• Inspect – Inspect wood (trim, windows, door kick plates) for peeling paint and gaps where water can seep in. Look for saw dust that indicates carpenter ants or termites might be living in your home.
• Maintain – Paint wood trim more often than entire house. Caulk gaps between siding & trim. Repair or replace water damaged wood. Paint the side of your house with the most exposure to the elements (sun, wind, water).
• Update – Re-paint the entire house when it needs it, not a year or 2 later as you'll have more wood damage to repair. Upgrade trim to non-wood product like Azek.

• Inspect – Check doors and windows to make sure glass is intact and they're operating correctly & weather tight.
• Maintain -Re-caulk and replace weather stripping as needed. Replace broken glass and screens that are missing or torn. Swap out storm windows/doors for screens.
• Update – Update windows and doors with more energy efficient ones to save on utility bills.

• Inspect – Check decks, stair rails, steps and other outdoor wood for rotted wood, nail pops, warping or splintering.
• Maintain – Repair damaged wood as needed. Clean, stain and/or seal (Seal a Deck to Protect the Wood) decks annually to extend its life.
• Update – When extensive repairs needed, consider using a composite material like Azek.

• Inspect – Inspect hose bibs, pipes, shut-off valves, etc. Turn on outside water valves and irrigation systems carefully in case they froze and burst over the winter.
• Maintain – Fix and leaks found and replace gaskets that are old and likely to crack soon.
• Update – Make sure all outside plumbing can be shut off inside in case of a leak. Listening to a burst pipe buried in your wall doesn't feel good and I've had handyman customers with this problem.

• Inspect – Inspect storm doors and windows for any needed repairs before putting them away.
• Maintain – Swap out storm windows and doors for screens, fixing any torn screens. Clean and store storm windows and doors.
• Update – Replace missing window screens for ventilation. Consider adding storm doors for added sunlight and energy saving in winter.

• Inspect – Install window A/C units and/or remove covers from wall units. Once installed, check to see that they're operating properly.
• Maintain – Schedule annual maintenance for central air conditioning systems. Clean humidifiers/de-humidifiers and A/C filters.
• Update – Add ceiling fans, wall A/C units and/or central air conditioning to insure your home is comfortable.

• Inspect – Make sure ceiling fans are running smoothly & quietly so you want to use them.
• Maintain – Change direction of your fan (watch How to Change Direction of Ceiling Fan) – you want the fan to counter clockwise to pull warm air up and away from you.
• Update – Add ceiling fans to rooms where you spend lots of time, to cut down on air conditioning costs.

• Inspect – Set temperature to 120 F or lower to conserve energy. Check temperature pressure relief valve. Ask heating (HVAC) pro to check critical components when tuning up your heating system.
• Maintain – Drain once a year to remove minerals and sediment from the bottom of the tank or as recommended by manufacturer.
• Update – Upgrade to a more energy efficient water heater and get the right size (# gallons) for your family.

• Inspect – Check your vinyl sided home, decks and porches to see how clean they look. Inspect for mold (green or black) growing that needs to be removed.
• Maintain – You can pressure wash your vinyl sided home but not wood as it will streak where the paint isn't adhering well and you'll be stuck having to paint or stain the wood.
• Update – Replace exterior wood trim to reduce ongoing maintenance work or wrap with aluminum.

• Inspect – Determine what needs to be cleaned up for spring/summer.
• Maintain – Clean windows and outdoor yard furniture. Pickup debris around downspouts and vents, clean garbage cans.
• Update – Purchase storage for organizing outdoor clutter – sports equipment, gardening and more.