Spring is here! What should you be doing to care for your home? Keep reading!
1. Clean out your gutters.
Clean leaves and other debris from your gutters and your downspouts. You can use gloved hands and then a hose. Make sure downspouts face away from the foundation of your home, and that they drain at least 5 feet from your home.
2. While you are cleaning out gutters, check out your roof.
You are looking for damaged or missing shingles as well as signs of rusting, cracking or leaking. Call a professional if you find issues.
3. Check window and door seals.
Winter weather can cause the seals around windows and doors to loosen or crack. Make the appropriate repairs to reduce summer cooling costs and keep your home dry.
4. Check outside faucets and your sprinkler system.
Leaky hose bibs waste water. Water may leak from the handle when the water is turned on. Also, the faucet may not shut off completely and leak constantly. De-winterize your sprinkler system, or call a professional.
5. Inspect your air conditioning unit.
Start your inspection by ensuring the exterior unit is clean and unobstructed. This means no make sure plants aren’t attached to it!
6. Inspect your basement and attic.
You are looking for leaks, water stains, and mold.
7. Change batteries!
Change the batteries in your smoke alarm. Check your carbon monoxide alarm. Make sure fire extinguishers are intact with the needle in the green zone.
8. Change filters.
Change your air filter. Replace any water filters and range hood filters. Replace filters every 3-6 months depending on the type of filter you have.
9. Clean your dryer vent.
To help with fire safety, clean your dryer vent. To do this, disconnect it from the back of the machine. Use a dryer vent brush to remove lint. On the exterior of your home, remove the dryer vent cover and use the brush to remove lint from the other end of the vent line.
10. Clean your grill.
Love cooking outdoors? May as well prep your grill for another season of outdoor meals!
If you have any questions about these spring home maintenance tips, or just want to chat about the Boulder area real estate market, please give us a call at 303.402.6000. We love talking about real estate.