Momentum - Business to Business Online Magazine MOMENTUM May 2018 | Page 25

9 Home Maintenance To-Do’s You Should Be Tackling This Spring Article Submitted By: Joe Cook [email protected] Joe Cook & Associates You may be ready to enjoy the warm spring weather, but is your home? We’ve put together a spring home maintenance checklist to help ensure a smooth seasonal transition. Inspect the roof To help avoid leaks check seals around your chimney or skylights. It’s also a good idea to use a ladder to check your shingles, and replace any that are cracked or missing. Another quick tip: if you have an asphalt shingles on your roof and keep finding piles of black grit in your gutters, it’s likely from your shingles decomposing. Sun damage causes asphalt shingles to break apart, and when this happens, it’s time to replace your roof. Doing so in the spring can help prevent the hot summer sun from causing even more damage to your roof. Sharpen your lawnmower blades Get spring lawn care started by sharpening lawnmower blades. Grass that’s cut sharply looks better and is healthier. Also, setting aside time to make sure your lawn mower is in top working order prevents you from having to attempt impromptu repairs while mowing the lawn. Level the yard The next step in spring lawn care is leveling your yard. A roller attachment on your lawnmower can do the job, or you can fill lower spots with soil. Leveling is perhaps one of the most underrated elements of spring lawn care. Nothing ruins a backyard game like a sprained ankle from uneven ground. And, if one of your guests is injured on your property, you might be held liable. Clean the gutters While you have the ladder out, don’t forget to  clean the gutters so water can efficiently drain from your home. Dirty gutters can cause all sorts of problems. If there’s a heavy rainstorm, gutters and downspouts can bet backed up and fail to do their job: keeping water away from the foundation of your house. Gutter cleaning is a simple job that can prevent some significant problems for your home. Check your outdoor furniture Another part of a thorough spring yard clean-up is checking on your furniture. Well-worn furniture is like an old pair of jeans— comfortable. However, if your chairs are rusted, wooden benches are rough, cushions have dry rot or paint is peeling off your porch swing, it can be hard to relax outside. Check outdoor faucets Check for a line leak by seeing if water flows at a drip or the flow of water can be stopped by placing your thumb over the faucet. Leaky faucets can do a number on your water bill, and, if unnoticed, can cause some soggy ground. If a faucet or spigot is leaking onto a wooden deck, it could potentially cause wood rot. Sometimes, the solution is as easy as replacing the spigot handle. Clean the grill Thoroughly cleaning the grill before its first use is a smart move in twofold. First, removing stuck on food, grease, and grime from beneath the grates prevents fires and helps your food cook more evenly. Second, a deep clean of the grates removes harmful bacteria that can make you sick if it contaminates your food. It also doesn’t hurt to review BBQ safety rules before you get grilling this spring! Have your air conditioner checked Air conditioning is a necessity for comfortable spring and summer living in much of the country. Get your system checked out early in the spring to make sure it’s running properly and ready to fend off the summer heat. Offer to do this for elderly parents or neighbors as well, since heat waves and resulting high temperatures can be especially taxing on the elderly. Get the fire pit ready Fire safety should be at the heart of every bonfire. Thoroughly clean the area surrounding the pit, removing flammable debris and revealing any cracks in the ring. When choosing seating for around the fire ring, opt for non-flammable materials like metal or plastic. If you have a fire pit in your backyard, be sure you know the do’s and don’ts of fire pit safety. While taking care of your spring maintenance can help protect your house from damage, the unexpected can still happen at any time.