Best Spring Home Maintenance Checklist
As winter bids farewell, it’s time to give your home a thorough checkup, both inside and out, to ensure it’s well-prepared for the warm months ahead. For busy homeowners, we understand the need for easy, clear directions to tackle DIY home maintenance efficiently. Let’s dive into a comprehensive spring home maintenance checklist tailored to your needs.
Spring is all about renewal and new growth, and it’s right around the corner. Soon the birds will be signing. The days will be longer. And the trees will be budding to make everything green and beautiful again. It’s also the time to clean and refresh your home from the harsh winter months. Of course there are maintenance items you should be doing to your home all year. The free Home Maintenance Checklist, has them all covered for you, broken down by season. For now thought, let go over the spring home maintenance checklist items.
Exterior Spring Home Maintenance Checklist:
When the weather provides you with a good day, let’s work on the outside of your home.
Inspect Roof
With the rainy season soon upon us, it’s important that your roof is ready to protect your home. Inspect it for loose, missing, or damaged shingles, and schedule repairs if needed. Many roof companies begin their busy season in the spring when the weather begins to warm up. Tackle this project as early as possible. This way if you do need to schedule a repair, you most likely can get it done fast.
Pressure Wash Windows and Siding
All the snow and winter weather can leave a build up of dirt and grime on your home. Give your home a quick power wash to remove this debris and get your house clean and refreshed for spring. Check out our step by step instructions on how to effectively power wash your siding.
If you’re wondering if electric pressure washers are any good, I recently put one up against a gas powered one and was surprised at how well it did.
Pressure Wash Fence, Deck, Patio
Even though the snow and ice has melted away from these surfaces, the dirt and grime it carried with it will remain. You may also notice some mildew spreading. Get these surfaces clean and ready for your first spring get together with a good power washing. Also, check for any loose or broken nails and screws, and replace if needed.
Clean Window and Door Screens
Mold and dirt build up on your screens throughout winter. Give them a deep clean at the beginning of spring. Especially if you will be opening your windows to allow the fresh air to come in to your home. You don’t want that mold and dirt to contribute to poor indoor air quality. Additionally, pollen will get trapped in your screens throughout spring. It’s important to continue to clean them throughout the season. Here is an easy method using only dish soap and water. If you notice any screens are sagging, torn, or damaged, you can repair them easy.
Related Posts: How To Clean Your Window Screens Fast and How To Repair a Window Screen
Refinish Wood Fence and/or deck
Expect the oil based stain on your wood decking to last between 2-3 years. Latex based stains can last a bit longer. When you see the color fading and the grey wood begin to show through, it’s time for a fresh coat of stain. This is important to keep your decking looking its best. It also protects the wood from the elements so it will last longer. Vertical surfaces, like railings and fencing, may go a little longer before you need to refinish.
Clean Gutters and Downspouts
Inspect your gutters and downspouts. Clean out any leaves and debris that settled in there during winter. Spring rains will be here soon and that water needs to be carried away from your home. Poorly installed, or clogged gutters and downspouts leave the water with no where to go but into the ground around your foundation. This leads to possible foundation issues later.
Related Posts: Step-By-Step How To Clean Your Gutters and Best Time To Clean Your Gutters
Inspect Chimney For Damage
The chimney can house storm debris and pests/nests. It is recommended that you sweep your fireplace either before you begin using it regularly in the fall, or after the winter season is over and you are no longer using it for awhile. Most homeowners have their chimney’s cleaned in the fall before use, so doing it now in spring may get you a better slot on their calendar since they’re likely not as busy. Check the chimney for cracks and damage, and make or schedule repairs if needed.
Clean Flower Beds
Leaves and debris will settle in to the corners of your flower beds during the winter. Now is the time to remove them so you can prepare the beds for new mulch and new planting.
Mulch Trees, Shrubs, and Plants
Adding a layer of fresh mulch to your flower beds and trees helps to keep the weeds under control. As well as adding nutrients to the soil. It also absorbs moisture. Which helps keep your plants and trees hydrated throughout the warmer weather months. Before you put down the fresh layer, inspect the old mulch for signs of mold and remove any if needed. Need help? Here are step by step instructions on applying mulch.
Related Post: How To Mulch Your Flower Beds
Reseed Your Lawn
No spring household maintenance checklist would be complete without mentioned grass seed. Warmer day temperatures, cooler evenings, and lots of moisture are ideal conditions for new seed to germinate. Spring is a great time to lay down some new seed so you can get a jump start on a healthy, green lawn. Especially since you’ll have a lot of rain over the next couple of months so you don’t have water it daily.
Shop For Grass Seed
Fertilize Your Lawn (6 Weeks After Seeding)
Just like you and me, your grass needs sunlight, water, and nutrients to grow. Fertilizer gives your lawn the nutrients it needs to be healthy and grow lush. Your lawn will thrive on these three elements in your fertilizer, Phosphorous, Nitrate, and Potassium. Fertilizing is an easy, and cost effective, way to ensure that your lawn is well fed.
Wait six weeks after putting down new seed before you apply fertilizer. Your new grass needs time to get established first.
Get Your AC Ready
Your Air Conditioning units will soon fire up and work hard to keep your home cool during the warmer months. If you covered them during winter, remove that now and get the unit clean and ready to go. Turn the breaker back on. You can perform and easy DIY to clean the unit yourself, or call in a pro.
As for window units, bring those out from winter storage, clean, and install.
Be sure to change your furnace filter at least when the seasons change, if not monthly.
Related Post: How To Clean Your AC Unit Easy
Interior Spring Home Maintenance Tips:
Now let’s move on to everything you can do to prepare the inside of your house for spring.
Replace Batteries In Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors need a battery to operate. Ensure you always have good working batteries in them. Change them twice per year. Even if the units are hard wired in to your home, there are battery back-ups.
Inspect Attic
Pests may have moved in to your attic to seek shelter during winter. Inspect for any nests. Remove and patch up any entry points they may be using. Also check for leaks and schedule roof repairs if needed.
Clean Kitchen Exhaust Hood and Filter
You may be wondering why this is on the spring home maintenance checklist. Cleaning your kitchen exhaust hood and filter at least every 6 months is optimal. More so if you do a lot of cooking. Grease and dirt builds up in there and put you at risk for fire. As well as reducing the life and efficiency of your hood. Whether you do this in the fall and spring, or winter and summer, be sure to do it at least twice per year.
Clean the filters by dropping them in a pot of boiling water with baking soda added. Boil for 15-20 minutes. Be sure to slowly add in the baking soda to the boiling water to prevent it from boiling over. There will be grease that came off during the boiling process. Dispose of this properly so that it does not go down your drain.
Polish Wood Furniture
Another task to do any time of the year, although it’s best include in the spring home maintenance tips list since you mostly likely will do it was part of your spring cleaning anyway. Even with regular dusting, dirt and grime builds up on your furniture. Give it a good polish with Old English. Or a similar product to deep clean, as well as bring out the beauty and shine of your furniture.
Dust Light Fixtures
And yet another task to do annually but probably on your spring cleaning checklist too. Spring is a great time for this one since spring is all about renewal, and most of us going in to full on spring cleaning mode. Take a Swiffer Duster for most parts of the light fixture. Remove any glass globes and run through the dishwasher, or a sink of soapy water for easy cleaning. For ceiling fan blades, slide a pillow case over them to remove and catch all dust. Or use a Ceiling Fan Duster with telescopic pole.
Flush AC Condensate Drain Hose
Finally, it’s important to flush out your AC condensate drain hose at least once a quarter. Mold, algae, and debris can accumulate and lead to clogs that can affect your system’s efficiency. The drain line is usually a PVC pipe or flexible tubing that runs out of your indoor air handler unit to a drain.
Need Help With Your Spring Home Maintenance Checklist?
This comprehensive spring home maintenance checklist ensures your home is ready for the warmer months. Enjoy a DIY approach that saves you time and money, allowing you to relish the season ahead.
If you need more help, grab your FREE for step-by-step instructions for all of the spring tasks mentioned here, as well as all year-round chores, pick up a copy of The Complete Home Maintenance Handbook: The Secrets To a Long-Lasting Home. Your home deserves the best care!
And don’t forget about spring cleaning too. We have a comprehensive free printable spring cleaning checklist to guide you through refreshing and rejuvenating your home.
