Once we reach daylight savings time in Washington, it’s basically Spring. There is finally enough daylight to tackle a few extra items on our to-do lists, including tasks that help maintain your new construction home. Here are a few ways to keep things running smoothly at your home this season.
Spring Home Maintenance:
- Clean gutters and downspouts – Make sure water flows through properly because when your gutter system is clogged, water will run over the top of and down too close to your home’s foundation. Consider hiring a professional to do this work.
- Inspect your roof – For this task, use binoculars to look for damage, including moss growth, loose shingles, or fallen tree branches from the wet and windy winter months.
- Tackle the Moss – If your visual inspection reveals moss growth on your roof, it should be removed and treated to prevent future growth. Do this routinely to avoid damage and to extend the life of your roof. Again, consider hiring a professional to do this work if you are not comfortable doing work on the roof.
- A/C Tune-up – Consider having your air conditioning system serviced yearly to keep it running at optimal performance. Refer to your New Home Owner documents for HVAC contractor information. This maintenance will be at the homeowner’s expense.
- Check your concrete – Inspect your driveway, walkways, and patios for cracks that may have formed during freezing temperatures. Concrete cracking over time is normal, but can it be sealed again to reduce further damage.
- Check doors and windows – Check seals and caulking around doors and windows for signs of moisture or cracking. Caulking will shrink and crack over time and may need to be touched up and repainted to keep a proper seal.
- Yard Cleanup – Once temperatures consistently reach 55 degrees, it is time to remove any dead shrubs and plants near your home and also any leaves or tree needles that may have accumulated since your Fall yard cleanup. Areas of decaying matter (old damp leaf piles) provide a perfect hibernation spot for animals like rabbits and insects like bees, so watch for them as you clear your yard. Warmer temperatures in Spring (55 and above) signal that it is time to be active again, and they leave on their own.
- Smoke and Carbon Dioxide Alarms – The recent time change to Daylight Savings is a good reminder to swap out any batteries in your smoke and carbon dioxide detectors and then test them. Most people replace them all at the same time.
- Test sprinkler system – Test indoor fire sprinkler backflow/check valve (if applicable), via backflow test. Refer to your New Home Owner documentation for our Fire Sprinkler or backflow testing contractor. This will be a homeowner expense and is required by city jurisdictions.
- Test irrigation system – Test your landscaping Irrigation backflow/check valve via backflow test. Refer to your New Home Owner documentation for our backflow testing contractor. This will be a homeowner expense and is required by city jurisdictions.
- Open shut-off valve – Once temperatures (daytime and nighttime) are consistently above freezing, remember to open the hose bib shut-off valve. You can also wait until you begin needing outdoor water hose access.
- Cobweb cleanup – At all covered porch & patio locations, sweep away cobwebs and spider nests away from the ceiling, soffit, and eaves.
- Inspect Siding – If visibly dirty, consider washing your home’s siding with a pressure washer if needed, but on a gentle setting to avoid damaging the paint or material. Be sure to address all horizontal surfaces: window sills, railings, column caps, etc.
- Pressure wash concrete – Your exterior concrete surfaces have probably accumulated dirt and moss growth from Winter. A pressure washer makes cleanup easy.
- Fertilize – Encourage healthy plant growth by fertilizing your landscaping and lawn.
- Hire pest control – Our area of the Pacific Northwest is home to its share of pests, from ants and spiders to rats and mice. Consider routinely hiring a pest control company visit your home to prevent possible infestations.
There is a lot to do to maintain your new construction home in the Spring, but once finished, you’ll be ready to relax and enjoy your beautiful MN Custom Homes property.
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