SPRING HOME REPAIR TIPS
This
spring, homeowners in central Indiana and across the nation will be
mowing grass, trimming trees and planting flowers to ready their home
for warmer weather. But homeowners also must not forget the importance
of regularly scheduled seasonal home maintenance to keep systems and
structures in top condition and prevent costly repairs.
Despite
the hassle and time scheduled repairs can take, quarterly home
maintenance and preventative measures can keep all areas of the home in
good condition for years to come. To help homeowners accomplish this
goal, Total Care Property Inspections recommends the following summer
maintenance tips.
Tip #1:
Clean and seal decks. Winter can leave exterior surfaces stained from
fall leaves and dirty from snow melt runoff. Ideally, three consecutive
warm, sunny days will be needed. On the first day, dry out the deck.
Apply deck cleaner and scrub the deck on the second day, and let it dry
24 hours. On the third day, apply deck sealer. This will keep your deck
water-repellant, damage-free and aesthetically attractive for all the
barbecues in the months ahead.
Tip #2: Wash
the exterior of your house using ordinary garden hose pressure and a
mild detergent. Pressure washers are not always the best idea—they are
powerful enough to force water under the siding, where it can encourage
mildew and rot. If power washing is truly in order, hire a professional.
Tip #3:
Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean chimneys. Taking care
of this task in the spring or summer—rather than in the peak autumn
season—allows plenty of time for repairs before the next heating season.
It’s also easier to schedule a sweep than during the fall cleaning
season, and sometimes, rates can be lower as a result of off-season
discounts.
Tip #4:
Caulk exterior joints around all windows and doors. Caulking keeps the
house weather-tight and will help reduce high summer energy bills. It
can also help keep insects and vermin out of the house.
Tip #5:
Clean lint from the entire clothes dryer vent system, from the dryer to
the exterior vent cap. Because lint is incredibly flammable, this
common build up can create a fire hazard. And if a gas clothes dryer is
not properly vented, it can even force deadly carbon monoxide back into
the home.
Tip #6:
Check the operation and condition of attic fans and roof-mounted
turbine vents. Also make sure that bathroom and kitchen vent fans are
working properly and are not blocked or obstructed. This can impede the
intake of fresh air and removal of stale air from the home. These fans
run on little energy and can greatly reduce cooling costs—not to mention
increasing comfort inside the home during a hot and humid summer.
Tip #7:
Change air conditioner filters—especially if the home was vented with
outdoor air during the spring. Consider using a pleated media filter for
better dust trapping, or for additional savings, a web element filter
that can be washed periodically instead of being thrown out. Also, be
sure to clear overgrowth and weeds away from outdoor air conditioning
units—if the necessary airflow is blocked, the air conditioner will not
be able to operate properly and could even suffer an expensive failure.
Tip #8:
Clean any lingering fall leaves from gutters. For clogged downspouts,
try using barbecue tongs to reach in and remove leaves. This is also a
good opportunity to repair loose gutter nails or other gutter damage
before the heavy spring and summer rains.
Tip #9:
The heat and humidity of an Indiana summer can cause wooden windows and
doors to swell and stick. Before this becomes a problem, remove the
door or window, and carefully remove any excess material with a hand
plane. For sliding windows, the surrounding trim is often the culprit.
Usually, it must be removed and reinstalled to allow for greater
movement. To keep windows and doors from sticking in the first place,
make sure that they are sealed with a good coat of paint, including the
tops and bottoms. Be careful not to paint the channels where windows
need to slide, though—instead, use a light coat of linseed oil as a
sealer.
