Pro Tips: Spring Home Maintenance

After being hunkered down in our homes for so long during the winter months, there are few things as satisfying as those first steps outside once Spring arrives. The slushy messes and seasonal allergy flareups are inconvenient but temporary obstacles; a message from Mother Nature that she’s evicting Old Man Winter.

As tempting as being outside is during this time, it’s more important that you focus on how your home handles the change of season. Taking time to do it now will allow you the freedom to enjoy the outdoors when Spring is in full swing.

Here are 6 Spring home maintenance tips to get you ready for better weather:

General Spring Cleaning

What would a maintenance list be without this tip? The annual deep clean of your home is a must - elimnating bacteria and odours is essential for the physical health of you and your family. Additionally, the result of cleaning and making space is good for your mental health. The pleasure of seeing the sparkling fruits of your labour is a moodbooster and motivator!

Create a realistic cleaning list, something that outlines what needs to be done room by room. This will keep you on track, prevent you from getting mentally overwhelmed, and also help other family members understand which tasks they can perform.

Check the AC and Furnace

Whether or not you prepped your home for winter during the fall months, Spring is a good time to have a peek at these systems. For air conditioners, check for any debris, blockages, cracks or worn spots. These things will reduce efficiency and may lead to unpleasant repair bills.

Change. Your. Furnace. Filter! We cannot stress the importance of this enough! Your furnace has worked hard these past months. Not being able to open windows throughout Winter means that all of the built up bacteria, dead skin cells, dust, hair and other forms of nastiness have been trapped by your furnace filter. Keep that system at peak efficiency by replacing the filter (or cleaning it gently with soap and water if you have a reusable one). Your central AC unit uses your furnace’s air handler to distribute cool air throughout your home, which means they share a filter. A clogged, dirty filter will make your AC work harder to supply cool air.

Have a Peek at the Attic

With melting snow comes the potential for leaks. Keep a lookout in your attic for any signs of leaks and/or water damage.

Inspect the Basement

Now that you’ve checked the top of your home, it’s equally important that you inspect the bottom of it too. Use your eyes and nose to seek out any leaks, signs of damage and/ or the presence of mould.

Test the Smoke Alarms

A change of season is a great time to check the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Test them to be sure they’re working, changing batteries if needed.

Eliminate the Clutter

Keep the Spring clean around longer by making sure you elminate clutter that’s built up. We break out of our habits most often during the winter months, favouring lazy days and procrsastination. Some of our things are still lying around from the holiday season, for crying out loud!

Spring into action now so that you can enjoy your space long after completing “the clean.”

- Deb and Michelle