Important Chores to Put at the Top of Your Maintenance Checklist

Spring has sprung, which means that it’s time for you to stop hibernating inside of your house and start maintaining the outside of it. You need to check if your property came out of the long winter season unscathed, or if you need to make some repairs and replacements. Put on a pair of clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty, grab your toolbox and do these important chores right away.

One of the most important elements of your home to check on in the spring time is your plumbing system. When the weather changes, problems can occur, so make sure to read these tips and take care to protect your basement this spring along with the rest of your home!

1. Check Your Faucets!

You’re aware that uninsulated pipes and faucets are vulnerable during the winter months. The water inside the pipe can freeze and expand, creating enough pressure to break the material and send gallons of water gushing into the house.

The problem is harder to spot with exterior faucets because they don’t get any use during the winter. You’ll only realize you have a broken pipe when you start your spring gardening and try to use the hose.

One of the top spring home maintenance tips that you should follow is testing the outside faucet by placing your thumb over the opening and then turning the water on. If you can block the flow from rushing out, you know the feature is damaged.

You should always call a plumber when you have a burst pipe in the winter — and you should still call them if you notice that winter problem a few months too late. They will offer you a repair or replacement, depending on the extent of the damage.

2. Clean Your Gutters!

You want the house to be ready for all the rainy days that are coming this season. Clogged gutters and downspouts will stop water from smoothly flowing away from the property. If you’re unlucky, the run-off could pool around the roof and into the attic.

Messy gutters also make perfect nesting grounds for pests. If you don’t want rodents or birds to get too comfortable, you have to keep the spot free of wet leaves, twigs and rocks.

The best way to clean gutters is to have someone spot you on a ladder as you scoop out the contents of the gutters with a gardening trowel. Slowly make your way down the line until every inch is cleared. Then, rinse the gutter and test the downspout with a hose.

3. Inspect Your Roof!

All that ice, wind and snow can really give your roof a hard time. From a distance, it could look completely fine.

On closer inspection, you could see that you have a handful of broken, bent or buckling shingles. When you’re cleaning your gutters, check for pieces of chipped shingles that have fallen off. It’s not likely that you will need a complete replacement, but you will want to call up some professionals to do simple roof repairs to keep water and debris at bay.

You’ll be thankful when you tackle these important chores early on. Think of it like tearing off a bandage. When you quickly cross these off of your maintenance list, you don’t have to think of them until next spring.