It's Springtime--Time for New Beginnings!

It’s springtime. The snow is finally receding, and perhaps even gone for the season. You are hopeful for those long summer days and lazy evenings. But if you are a homeowner, spring also brings responsibilities. There are many chores that need to be done around the house to keep it in tip-top shape.

Appliances:

• Uncover your air conditioning unit. Have it serviced and checked. Change the air filter on the furnace if this is not part of the service.
• Defrost your freezers. Toss any old food.
• Clean your refrigerators, including the coils outside, and vacuuming underneath. Toss any old food.
• Clean out your dryer vent all the way to the outside. Make sure the vent is properly covered on the outside of the house. You want air flow, but need to keep critters out.
• Clean your oven/stove thoroughly. This includes lifting the top and moving the unit away from the wall to vacuum.
• Drain your water heater. Is the water rust-colored? This may indicate damage on the inside.
• Open your dishwasher and scrub the inside, including gaskets and drain. Remove any large food particles or debris that have accumulated. Then place a cup of vinegar on the top shelf and run the (empty) dishwasher on the hottest cycle possible to sanitize.
• Run vinegar through your coffee maker to sanitize it.
• Empty your toaster/toaster oven of crumbs and wash thoroughly.

Don't spend your summer making repairs on your home that could have been prevented with careful maintenance.

It's Spring! A Time for New Beginnings!

It’s springtime. The snow is finally receding, and perhaps even gone for the season. You are hopeful for those long summer days and lazy evenings. But if you are a homeowner, spring also brings responsibilities. There are many chores that need to be done around the house to keep it in tip-top shape.

We continue our April series with general home maintenance:

General home maintenance:
• Replace burnt out light bulbs.
• Launder winter clothing or take in for dry cleaning.
• Take fur coats to cleaners for summer storage.
• Clean leather boots and winter boots for storage.
• Go through hats/mittens and discard any mismatched items.
• Take wool sweaters in for cleaning. Launder washable sweaters.
• Pack away winter clothing and pull out spring/summer clothes.
• Have your carpets/floors cleaned.

Next week: Appliances

It's Springtime! A Time for New Beginnings!

It’s springtime. The snow is finally receding, and perhaps even gone for the season. You are hopeful for those long summer days and lazy evenings. But if you are a homeowner, spring also brings responsibilities. There are many chores that need to be done around the house to keep it in tip-top shape.

We continue our April series with the yard and garden:

• Clear garden beds of leaves, protective layers from the fall. Remove cones from roses/plants.
• Clean branches and other debris from your yard.
• Cut down plants that weren’t trimmed in the fall. Check gardening resources before trimming or digging up any plants so they aren’t damaged.
• Pull out your rain barrels and place them under your downspouts.
• Dethatch and aerate your lawn to encourage growth.
• Prepare vegetable beds for planting.
• Bring in your lawnmower for servicing.
• Re-seal your deck. Check for loose and warped boards. Repair as necessary.

Next week: General Home Maintenance

It's Springtime--A Time for New Begninnings!

It’s springtime. The snow is finally receding, and perhaps even gone for the season. You are hopeful for those long summer days and lazy evenings. But if you are a homeowner, spring also brings responsibilities. There are many chores that need to be done around the house to keep it in tip-top shape.

Let’s start outside the home:

• Clean out gutters from leaves. Keep them clean during the spring when seeds and buds start to fall. Consider investing in leaf guards for your gutters, especially if you have a lot of trees in your yard.
• Make sure downspouts are clear and free to drain.
• Check your roof and flashings for damage. Alternate freeze/thaw cycles over the winter can cause water to build up under shingles.
• Make an appointment to have your sprinkler system turned on for the year.
• Make an appointment to have your swimming pool cleaned and checked for damage.
• Power wash your siding, patio, deck, garage floor, etc.—anything that is dirty and dingy from the winter.
• Wash the winter grime from your windows.
• Check bicycles and sporting equipment. Does anything need replacement or repair?
• Check brick walkways/driveways and concrete sidewalks for cracks and bulging. Repair as needed.
• Have your asphalt drive seal-coated. A good company will also check for cracks/holes, etc. and repair as necessary.

Next week: Your yard and garden