Spring into action

Get your home ready for warmer weather

As the sun shines a little brighter and winter has loosened its grip, spring arrives with a reminder to prepare your home for the steamy summer months. Doing a few simple chores will help ensure you have more time to enjoy the flowers and nice weather, rather than dealing with home maintenance problems. It will also help keep your home safe, clean and energy efficient for your family. To help with this process, we've put together a spring maintenance checklist:

Inspect your roof. Did you know the state of Alabama is the fourth wettest state in the country with an average 56 inches of rainfall a year? All that rain takes a toll on your roof. When the sun is out, consider visually inspecting your roof for missing shingles, damaged or missing metal pipes or nests built by animals over the winter. You may not even need a ladder — try using binoculars or the zoom feature on your smartphone camera. If anything looks out of place, call a roofer right away. Roof damage is cheaper to repair the earlier it’s detected.

If you have a basement, check the sump pump. Nobody wants a flooded basement. Inspect it regularly for debris, especially after heavy rainfalls.

Clean gutters. Removing leaves and debris from your gutters is essential to preventing water damage and pest infiltration. Clogged gutters can cause damage to your home's appearance, foundation, crawl space and basement. Clean your gutters at least twice a year, or every three months if you live in an area dense with trees and foliage.

Change HVAC filters. Changing your HVAC filters every 30 to 90 days is recommended to maintain clean air in your home. If you have pets, you may want to consider changing your filters more often. A clean filter helps remove pollutants and dust, and helps your family breathe better. It also improves the energy efficiency of your HVAC system.

Get your air conditioner system inspected. Whether you have a heat pump or another type of HVAC system, making sure everything is working properly is critical. You will want to ensure your system is safe to use, is not consuming more energy than it should and that it won't let you down when it is 100 degrees outside.

Examine doors and windows. Windows and doors that do not seal properly make your HVAC system work harder and use more energy. When temperatures drop, the exterior caulk can dry out and cause cracks and gaps that could let water or air into your home. If you find cracks, apply additional caulking or weatherstripping.

Check your water heater. While a well-maintained water heater should last between eight and 12 years, common problems can cause them to fail much earlier. Sediment buildup, leaks and mechanical problems could cause your water heater to stop working or worse — flood your home. A professional should inspect your water heater regularly. n

If you are planning to replace your water heater, upgrade your manufactured home to a heat pump or take care of other tasks, such as improving your home’s insulation or switching to more energy efficient windows and doors, be sure to take a look at Covington Electric's member benefits. Here are just a few examples of programs offered by CEC to help you make your home safer and more energy efficient:

• H20 Water Heater Program: CEC members can get free or discounted water heaters when opting in to a load control switch.

• Heat pump rebate: Owners of manufactured homes who switch from electric furnaces to high-efficiency heat pumps may be eligible to receive a $400/ton rebate.

• Co-op Energy Efficiency Loan Program: This program helps qualifying home owners complete home improvements that can lower their energy bills.

• Free energy audits: Not sure where to start to lower your home electricity bills? CEC members can request a free, in-person energy audit from an expert who will help you pinpoint a few low-cost or no-cost changes you can make.

To learn more about these and other member benefit programs, visit covington.coop/member-benefits or call 800-239-4121.