Stock photo licensed from iStockphoto.com

Spring Maintenance

Posted May 16th, 2011 under renovations and repairs.

It's that time of year again: the time to look over your home and property and make sure everything is in good shape now that winter is over.

Once weather permits, check for sunken spots around the foundation. If you find any, fill them up to the surrounding level to ensure proper drainage away from the house. A large number of basement floods are caused by poor drainage or lack of maintaining the grade away from the home.

Check the eaves troughs for ice damage. Often, during the winter, the snow and ice will push the eaves troughs away from the fascia. This is not always noticeable from the ground so you need to get up on that ladder. A gap between the shingle overhang and the eaves will allow water to drip through, which will eventually cause damage.

Check the caulking around doors and windows for cracks.

Check the exhaust vent of your dryer. Turn on the dryer and go outside to see if the flaps work properly, and ensure that no lint build-up is visible. Often, lint gets caught on the inside of the flap and reduces the level of airflow, which causes the dryer to run longer and waste energy.

Finally, check your furnace filter and clean and replace as needed. Turn off your humidifier for summer and switch your system from heating to cooling if necessary.

Want to know more about keeping your home in good repair? Just ask me, I'll be happy to help.