Spring is right around the corner, and the cold winter months have strained everything, from your pipes to your heating system. Bright sun, fresh air, and warm winds are nearby, but before the spring hits, it’s important that you prepare your home for the new season.
Here are a few of the most important steps in protecting and preparing your home.
IMAGE: PIXABAY
1. Inspect Your Shingles
Winter weather puts a major strain on a roof. The weather can cause the shingles to become damaged or even lost. Older homes may even need a new roof, so seasonal inspection of the roof is very important.
Cracked, loose or buckled shingles should be replaced as quickly as possible.
Replacing shingles can either be a do-it-yourself job, or you can opt to have a professional come out and replace the shingles for you. Inspect and replace any worn shingles you find before the rain starts coming in and putting more stress on your roof and the sun beats on the already-cracked shingles.
2. Gutter Cleaning
Gutters also take a lot of abuse during the winter. Water freezing inside of the gutter can cause holes to form and affect the integrity of the gutter. Most homeowners don’t realize that gutters are vital to the integrity of the home.
Gutters channel the water away from the home to protect the following.
- Roofing
- Flooring
- Siding
- Landscaping
If gutters are not functioning properly, they won’t be able to protect a home – period. Clogged gutters are also an issue because mosquitoes come out in force during the warmer months. When water is allowed to sit because of a clog, more of these pests will be present, driving you crazy in the process.
Mildew and mold can also start to form as a result of the standing water.
3. Prepare Your Air Conditioning Units
Heat waves are becoming the norm, and while spring often has more enjoyable weather, this doesn’t mean that your air conditioner won’t be going on from time to time. Now is a good time to get your heating and cooling system ready.
This means having any a/c repair for your home performed and doing some basic maintenance, such as:
- Trimming away any shrubs or foliage around the unit
- Washing down the condenser
- Cleaning the coils
- Examining any drain lines for clogs
- Changing the furnace filter
Of course, it’s never a bad idea to have a professional come out to examine your unit and suggest any maintenance or repairs needed.
4. Seal Windows And Any Gaps
Check and seal your windows, and fill in any gaps that let in cold air. The goal is to lower your energy bills by keeping your home heated and cooled properly. Sealing your windows will also keep water out of your home and reduce the prevalence of insects and bugs, too.
Caulking and weather-sealing will need to be replaced for a proper seal to be made.
If you have large gaps in your doorways, you will also want to correct this issue. Sometimes, weather stripping will suffice, but other times, you’ll want to make use of a door sweep or something similar that will keep outside air outside and keep bugs out, too.
If you are interested in even more home-related articles and information from us here at Bit Rebels then we have a lot to choose from.
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