As Spring encroaches on us, we’re sure you have your spring-cleaning list ready to go. Cleaning out the garage, organizing your closet, clearing out the gutters, these are all great to start with, but there are a few things you should also be taking a look at in regard to your homes ‘well-being’. Take a second to examine your home’s exterior and systems to ensure they are in top-tip condition for the weather to come. We’ve created a Spring Home Health checklist to help organize your to-dos, aside from cleaning.
Change those batteries
Now is a good time to check the batteries in your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detectors. We often go without ensuring these things are powered up until it’s too late and the batteries are completely dead. Avoid the interruption by checking or changing the batteries every so often. Also make sure there isn’t any battery corrosion in these devices, and if there is, it’s time to replace them all together to avoid malfunction. Also check the batteries in your garage door fobs and doorbell cameras so you can ensure everything is in working order.
Replenish your emergency and first aid kits
If you don’t already have an emergency kit prepared, it’s ideal you put one together now. But if you have one, check and make sure everything inside is still in good condition. Your kit should have water, flashlights, canned food, toiletries, a first aid kit and a battery powered radio (one that has USB charging ports is recommended). Check the batteries and make sure they are still in good condition, make sure what’s holding the water isn’t leaking, and the canned foods haven’t expired.
Clean the fireplace
If your home has a wood burning fireplace, now is a good time to peek inside and clean it out. The Spring is a great time to do this since the weather will permit and you won’t be using it again until perhaps the end of the year.
Check screen doors and windows
Screens are designed to let the breeze flow in and keep the bugs out, but they can only do their job if they’re free from holes and tears. Before setting up your screens for the warm months ahead, be sure to carefully check each one and repair any holes or tears, no matter how small. You can find repair kits at most hardware and home-improvement stores.
Look for leaks
Take a second to check for leaky faucets, clogged drains and sweaty pipes. Go under those sinks to ensure the connections are secured and properly sealed. Look for wet spots under areas of piping and even around your dishwasher as these could be signs of existing problems. This way you can nip it in the bud before the flood. The same for your laundry room, check the hoses for cracks, bulges or dampness and don’t forget your water heater! Any sign of corrosion or leaks should be fixed immediately to avoid any problems worsening.
Wash the inside of your windows
This often gets overlooked. But cleaning the inside windows will brighten up your home and also adds to your curb appeal. A good time to do this is when inspecting your screens so you can feed two birds with one seed.
Inspect your HVAC system
Starting with your thermostat, ensure its communicating with your systems properly and if not, it may be time to replace it. Check your systems connections and listen for any squeaking or hissing as this means there are issues waiting to arise. Remove and clean or replace the air filters. Use a portable vacuum to remove dirt and dust from the air vents and around the HVAC system. Doing this often not only helps prevent it from breaking down but may also help it last a lot longer.