5 Spring Home Maintenance Tasks You Can't Afford to Ignore

Winter can be hard on people, but it can be even harder on your home. The extreme temperature changes can make your home a target for the weather's destructive forces. At City Home Center, we recommend homeowners assess their home at the transition of each season and catch problems early. Staying proactive rather than reactive tends to be a better and less expensive solution when it comes to owning a home.

Doors, Floors and Entryways

Your doors, floors and entryways can take a beating in the wintertime. Boot traffic, opening and shutting doors in cold weather – we recommend checking your entryways between seasons to make sure the floors and doors haven’t been compromised for any reason.

In the event you find it may be time for a door upgrade, Spring is a great time to update your front door with a new look. A new door means a properly sealed and updated entry to your home – which can help with curb appeal and the air conditioning bill in the summertime. We just received a new shipment of beautiful doors at City Home Center, so be sure to come check out our selection of in-stock doors if you’re in the market for a new one.

Appliances

Appliances and pipes inside your home need spring maintenance, too. Check the hoses on the washing machine to make sure they're in great shape, and if there are any bulges or signs of wear, replace them right away to avoid having them burst later. Then, vinegar through the washing machine to help get rid of any scale or soap scum that may have built up over the winter. It's also the ideal time to clean out the dryer vent with a brush and vacuum cleaner to remove any built-up lint and prevent it from catching fire.

Roof and Gutters

The winter season tends to put a home's roof to the test. That's why it's important to check the condition of everything as soon as it's safe to do so. Plumbing vent boots, for example, tend to crack and break where they join onto the pipe. High winds and ice tend to damage shingles frequently. Even high-quality shingles can give up after fighting off Jack Frost for months. So, take time to fill any holes and replace any shingles that have lost their pebbled coating.

If a roof is going to leak anywhere, it's usually in places where it joins up to a wall, a chimney, or a section of roof that's at a different angle. Therefore, check these areas carefully paying particular attention to the metal flashing. Water will often sneak behind it, so make sure the flashing is tight and in good condition. There should be no rust or holes, and the shingles should lay evenly against it.

While you're on the roof, it's a good time to check out the home's gutters. They should be clean and free of debris.

Check for Leaks

If you have a handy person in your home, have them check out the hot water heater, including the plastic grommets on top.  If you notice anything else unusual, you may  want to call a professional to have it checked out. Also check for leaks in the rest of your home by examining the ceilings and exposed pipes including the ones under the kitchen and bathroom sinks.

There's a lot of work to do at the start of spring, but it's important. Finding problems now could prevent you from waking up to a watery nightmare. Besides, it's the perfect excuse to take advantage of the warmer weather and sunshine.