There’s more to do than clean – Fenton Tri County Times

Many homeowners are very eager to begin their spring cleaning chores and gardening at the hint of the first warm day of the season. But theres more to do than just clean; spring is a reminder to check your homes outdoor features to see how they fared over the long winter. The good part? Most of these chores will take you outside in nice spring weather.

Heres a spring maintenance checklist to get your started:

Gutters and downspouts:

Pull leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts. Reattach gutters that have pulled away from the house. Run a hose on the roof and check for proper drainage. If leaks exist, dry the area and use caulking or epoxy to seal the leak.

Siding:

Clean siding with a pressure washerto keep mold from growing. Check all wood surfaces for weathering and paint failure. If wood is showing through, sand the immediate area and apply a primer coat before painting. If paint is peeling, scrape loose paint and sand smooth before painting.

Exterior caulking:

Inspect caulking and replace if deteriorating. Scrape out all of the eroding caulk and recaulk needed area.

Window sills, doorsills and thresholds:

Fill cracks, caulk edges, repaint or replace if necessary.

Window and door screens:

Clean screening and check for holes. If holes are bigger than a quarter, patch the holes or replace the screen. Save the bad screen to patch holes next year. Tighten or repair any loose or damaged frames and repaint. Replace broken, worn or missing hardware. Wind can ruin screens and frames if they are allowed to flap and move so make sure they are securely fastened. Tighten and lubricate door hinges and closers.

Drain waste and vent system:

Flush out system.

Hot water heater:

Lubricate circulating pump and motor.

Evaporative air conditioner:

Clean unit, check belt tension and adjust if needed. Replace cracked or worn belt.

Heat pump:

Lubricate blower motor.

Foundation:

Check foundation walls, floors, concrete and masonry for cracking, heaving or deterioration. If a significant number of bricks are losing their mortar,call a foundation professional. If you can slide a nickel into a crack in your concrete floor, slab or foundation call afoundation repair professional immediately.

Deck and porches:

Check all decks, patios, porches, stairs, and railings for loose members and deterioration. Open decks and wood fences need to be treated every four to six years, depending on their exposure to sun and rain. If the stain doesnt look like it should or water has turned some of the wood a dark gray,hire a deck professionaltotreat your deckand fence.

Landscape:

Cut back and trim all vegetation and overgrown bushes from structures, to protect siding and paint.

Roof:

Inspect roof surface flashing, eaves, and soffits. Clean thoroughly. Check flashings around all surface projections and sidewalls.

Sprinklers:

Check the lawn sprinkler system for leaky valves, exposed lines, and improperly working sprinkler heads. If there is an area of your yard that collects too much water or doesnt get enough, run the sprinklers to figure out the problem. If its not possible to fix yourself, call a professional before your lawn needs the water.

Source: Homeadvisor.com

See the original post here:
There's more to do than clean - Fenton Tri County Times