It’s that time of year again – time to spruce things up, open the windows and enjoy the fresh air. Nothing can help you enjoy spring more than getting your house in order and cleaned. Below is a short list of items that you can start with for your spring maintenance and cleaning:
- Tune up your lawnmower – Before you spend countless hours mowing this summer, take a minute to change the engine oil and sharpen the cutting blade on your mower; you’ll lengthen the life of the mower and improve the look of your lawn.
- Clean your gutters – You may want to wait until those pesky maple helicopters are finished dropping, but soon after, don’t forget to clean out your gutters. Gutters direct rain away from your roof and home, protecting both in the process. Clogged gutters, meanwhile, open your home to water damage—and there’s a good chance you won’t notice the damage until you need an expensive repair.
- Check the grading around your house – Since this is rainy season, that also means that there is a greater risk for getting water in your basement. The first step in keeping water out of your basement is keeping your gutters clean. Secondly, you’ll want to make sure the dirt around your house is sloping away from the house. If the ground slopes toward your foundation, you’ll want to get some more dirt to correct this issue.
- Replace your HVAC filters – You need to do this more than once a year, but spring is a great time to do it. A dirty filter forces your heat, ventilation and air-conditioning system to work harder, which in turn drains your wallet as well as affects the air quality in your home.
- Clean your dryer vent – Not all lint gets caught in the lint trap; some makes its way into the dryer vent. A clean vent will save you money by reducing the time your dryer has to run, while a plugged vent not only wastes money but could cause a house fire.
- Clean the vegetation around your AC – To work efficiently, the AC compressor needs good airflow. To ensure it has breathing room, prune any plant growth that could block it and make sure all leaves and debris from the winter are cleaned out.
- Clean your deck – To fully enjoy your outdoor spaces, you may want to run a power washer over your deck or give it a good scrub. If you don’t have a power washer, you can usually rent one from Home Depot.
- Start up your sprinkler system – Once spring comes around, it’s time to recharge the sprinklers and prepare the system for the season. Sprinklers that have been properly winterized should contain no water, and a cap on the base of the vacuum breaker was probably loosened or removed. You’ll need to reverse these procedures to get your system ready for daily use. If you’re not sure how to do it, just check our list of experts below.
- Check your trees – Visually inspect trees for damage or rot, and remove (either yourself or through a contractor) any dead trees that might blow over in heavy winds or during a storm. Keep healthy trees and bushes trimmed and away from utility wires.
If you’re running low on energy, time or both, we also know some local service providers who can help take care of your spring to-do list.
Lawn care, sprinkler system maintenance and mowing
Brian Lingner | Lingner Residential Services
913.424.6971 | [email protected]
Window AND gutter cleaning
Heart of America Window Cleaning
913.791.4068 | [email protected]
HVAC maintenance and repair
Scott Walden | Walden & Sons Heating & Cooling
913.461.5542 | [email protected]
General home repair and maintenance items
Lindell Clark | Clark Home Improvement
913.522.4423 | [email protected]
House Cleaning – regular and one-time deep cleanings
Ana Navarrete | Royal Clean – Custom Housekeeping Services
913.940.8842 | [email protected]