{"id":21476,"date":"2020-03-10T18:25:24","date_gmt":"2020-03-10T18:25:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.homedepot.com\/?p=121141"},"modified":"2020-03-13T16:41:02","modified_gmt":"2020-03-13T16:41:02","slug":"5-important-home-maintenance-steps-for-spring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/5-important-home-maintenance-steps-for-spring\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Important Home Maintenance Steps for Spring"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spring is one of my favorite seasons because it\u2019s a great time to address any roof damage that came with the fall and winter, and clean those often-neglected gutters and downspouts.<\/p>\n

You can make sure the air conditioner will work when temperatures skyrocket and take steps to prevent your clothes dryer from catching on fire.<\/p>\n

And you can transform a blank backyard to colorful flowerbed landscapes that will make home look and feel more like \u2018home sweet home.\u2019<\/p>\n

It\u2019s possible to do these things, and more, to improve your home and enhance your life. But first, you need to have a plan. And for that, read on!<\/p>\n

Clean The Roof And Check For Damage<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Regular roof maintenance<\/strong><\/a> is the most important maintenance tasks you can do around the home, since the roof protects you and everything inside your home. You should keep your roof clean, clear and in good shape, as small problems today can lead to much bigger ones in the future.<\/p>\n

Spring is the best time for roof maintenance because your roof has weathered the fall and winter; it\u2019s seen its share of leaves, limbs and snowfall, and it\u2019s finally getting a reprieve.<\/p>\n

Lingering debris can lead to damage, so here are some chores you should tackle as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

First, clean the leaves, limbs and other debris from the roof. Then focus on any chimneys, dormers and valleys.<\/p>\n

Next, check the flashing for damage and use masonry caulk<\/strong><\/a> to seal gaps where the flashing attaches to bricks or masonry. While you\u2019re at it, check for loose or damaged roof shingles<\/a> and repair those as needed.<\/p>\n

Once the roof is spotless, look for any holes that might leak water and lead to mold, mildew and rot.<\/p>\n

After all this, you can rest assured knowing that the roof over your head is doing the best job it can.<\/p>\n

Clean All Rain Gutters And Downspouts; Make Repairs, If Necessary<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

After you\u2019ve worked on the roof, check the gutters, which have probably accumulated lots of leaves and debris during the cooler seasons. Nothing good comes from clogged, overflowing gutters \u2014\u00a0but they can lead to rotten fascia boards, water damage, pests and maybe even damage to your home\u2019s foundation.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why regular gutter maintenance is important, and spring is a great opportunity for that since there\u2019s no freezing weather or snow. (Plus, it just feels good to be outside.)<\/p>\n

First, put on some gloves. Then, grab a gardening trowel<\/a> and scoop the leaves and debris from the gutters. Next, move the leaves and debris to a plastic bag for safe keeping. (That way, you can add them to your compost pile. Waste not, want not!)<\/p>\n

Finally, wash the insides of the gutters with a garden hose<\/a> and check the downspouts to make the sure the water flows freely. And if you want to avoid cleaning your gutters every few months, here\u2019s a bonus tip: go ahead and buy some gutter guards! You just insert them in your gutters to prevent leaf and debris buildup throughout the year.<\/p>\n

Prepare Flowerbeds<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Spring is a great time to get back in the garden, and if you notice any bald spots on the lawn that you want to replace with flowerbeds, there\u2019s no better time than the present to prep!<\/p>\n

The first step to create a new flowerbed is to kill the weeds and grass in the area. All you need to do that is some newspaper, a simple sprayer<\/a> with water and mulch.<\/p>\n

First, lay out your new flowerbeds. To do that, grab a can of spray paint and mark the borders of your planned flowerbeds. Next, lay down several sections of newspaper in the designated areas. Wet them down using the sprayer. If you want to ensure proper application, Vigoro landscape fabric<\/a> can support healthy growth and block invasive weeds.<\/p>\n

Finally, add some mulch to cover the newspapers (in a pinch, you can use free pinestraw or leaves taken right from your backyard, or store-bought wood chips or pine bark from The Home Depot Garden Center).<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s all it takes. In a few months, you can rake away everything to reveal rich, ready-to-plant topsoil.<\/p>\n

The \u2018newspaper method\u2019 is perfect for prepping your garden for vibrant flowers that can add curb appeal or enhance your backyard paradise.<\/p>\n

Have The Heating And Cooling System Inspected<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Temperatures start to warm up in the spring, so now\u2019s the perfect time to call a professional to service your heating and cooling system.<\/p>\n

Many homeowners ignore the air conditioning and furnace until they suddenly stop working. And it\u2019s never fun to live in an uncomfortable house and wait on a list to receive help during peak demand.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to get in the habit of having regular heating, ventilation and air conditioning maintenance.<\/p>\n

The best thing is to do what you can to keep your system running efficiently, and hire a professional to do the rest.<\/p>\n

First, clear away all leaves and debris that could block airflow from the A\/C condenser unit.<\/p>\n

Then, call an HVAC technician to look at your heat pump \u2014 they will check the belts and replace them if needed; oil any moving parts; and inspect the wiring.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve got an air conditioner unit, the technician will clean the air filters<\/a> or replace them, as needed; vacuum out the unit and lubricate the motor; and check the refrigerant pressure.<\/p>\n

Finally, reverse any ceiling fans\u2019 direction<\/a> to counterclockwise. This will blow air down, which is what you want in the spring and summertime, to cool you down so you rely less on the A\/C.<\/p>\n

Clean Lint From The Clothes Dryer\u2019s Exhaust Pipe<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Lint buildup in your clothes dryer or its vent pipe is one of those home maintenance chores that often are forgotten but couldn\u2019t be more important.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s because accumulation of lint reduces your dryer\u2019s efficiency, at least, and could be a fire hazard, at worst.<\/p>\n

When your dryer has a lot of lint blocking the vent pipe, it can reduce airflow, which causes the dryer to work harder and put out more heat than it should \u2014\u00a0and that\u2019s how many fires start.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t let your dryer\u2019s lint get out of hand. First, clean the dryer\u2019s lint screen every time you use it. Just make sure that\u2019s a regular part of the clothes drying process.<\/p>\n

In addition, periodically clean out the vent pipe \u2014 there are even brushes made for the job. Buy one of those at The Home Depot and keep it in your laundry room for easy access. You\u2019ll need it!<\/p>\n

Just these simple steps can give you major peace of mind and prevent costly damage.<\/p>\n

That way, you can worry less and focus on the things that matter most: spending quality time with family and friends in your well-maintained home!<\/p>\n

For more tips, check out the Four Seasons of Homeownership Spring Checklist<\/strong><\/a> and download the interactive graphic!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Danny Lipford is among the country\u2019s most sought-after home improvement experts.\u00a0\u00a0The seasoned remodeling contractor and media personality served as the home improvement expert for CBS\u2019s \u201cThe Early Show\u201d and The Weather Channel for over a decade and has made more than 180 national television appearances on \u201cFox & Friends,\u201d \u201cInside Edition,\u201d \u201cMorning Express with Robin Meade,\u201d Fox Business Channel, Rachael Ray and more. He travels the country making appearances as a brand ambassador and spokesperson, and each year contributes expertise to hundreds of popular magazines and online media outlets.<\/p>\n

The post 5 Important Home Maintenance Steps for Spring<\/a> appeared first on The Home Depot Blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n\"Facebook\"<\/a>\"twitter\"<\/a>\"reddit\"<\/a>\"pinterest\"<\/a>\"mail\"<\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Spring is one of my favorite seasons because it’s a great time to address any roof damage that came with the fall and winter, and clean those often-neglected gutters and downspouts. You can make sure the air conditioner will work when temperatures skyrocket and take steps to prevent your clothes dryer from catching on fire….<\/p>\n

The post 5 Important Home Maintenance Steps for Spring<\/a> appeared first on The Home Depot Blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":114,"featured_media":21477,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,1,1855],"tags":[19,2282],"class_list":["post-21476","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diy","category-home-improvement-blogs","category-thd-owned-content","tag-spring-cleaning","tag-uncategorized","has_thumb"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21476","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/114"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21476"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21476\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21477"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21476"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21476"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/homeimprovementblogs.com\/hg-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21476"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}