With the turn of the season, a home maintenance checklist is a must! Your home goes through a lot during Canadian winters, so it’s important to check up on it come springtime. Cracks in your driveway, clogged gutters and water damage are just a few issues that can manifest during winter. Spring is the perfect time to get your home back in tip top shape. Here are our best home maintenance tips for spring!
 
1. Conduct an Exterior Spring Cleaning
While many homeowners prefer to hibernate in the winter, the warm spring weather offers a boost of motivation to work on our home exteriors. Wash the inside and outside of your windows and glass doors; check your fence and deck and do any necessary staining; and get your landscaping in order. Give your siding a good clean and examine the exterior caulking around your doors, windows and vents to see if it needs to be scraped out and replaced.
 
2. Examine Your Gutters
During winter, your gutters are more likely to experience improper drainage and also get clogged with debris and ice. This can result in ice dams forming on your roof, which can cause water to leak in and damage your home. Make sure your gutters are clear of debris, patch any holes with exterior caulking, and ensure your downspouts are directing water away from your home.
 
3. Inspect Your Foundation
If the foundation of your home is compromised, it can lead to water damage in your basement. Inspect your foundation by walking around the exterior and checking for cracks, and inspect the exterior walls, siding and brick for any damage. Make sure to contact someone who specializes in foundations if you find any damage that needs repairing.
 
4. Check Your Roof Shingles
Winter is hardly the time to go up on your roof to check your shingles, so when spring comes around, you’ll want to head up to see if any damage has been done. Any shingles that are cracked, buckled, loose or missing need to be replaced and should be repaired by a roofer. A qualified roofer also needs to be called if flashing around your plumbing vents, skylights or chimney requires fixing.
 
5. Do a Scan of Your Driveways and Walkways
Cracks in your walkways and driveways are common after the winter months. Depending on the material of your surface- concrete, brick, or asphalt, you’ll have to repair any damage you find. Fix any cracked, broken or uneven driveways and walkways that the winter season has left behind. Make sure to do repairs on a dry day and check the applicator label as application temperatures will vary.
 
6. Check Your AC and Furnace
You’re going to need to turn the air conditioner on during the summer, and maybe the end of spring too! So spring is the ideal time to make sure that your AC is working efficiently. For your outdoor unit, turn off the power, and clean out debris from the cage and fan. On the inside, make sure to frequently change your furnace air filter so it runs smoothly.
 
Spring is a great time to do a check up on your home. Make sure your home is in good shape post-winter with these 6 maintenance tips!