DIY Spring Home Maintenance Checklist

Spring brings with it a feeling of fresh starts, one that’s certainly welcome after the winter season. This new feeling in the air can make it easier to find the motivation to keep your home looking and performing its best. Thorough, annual maintenance of the structural components, appliances, and systems of your home are important to maintain property value and avoid costly surprises.

We’ve put together a spring home maintenance checklist for you to complete this spring to ensure your home is in excellent condition for the rest of the year.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE SPRING HOME MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST

Air conditioning

Replace your air filters – most filters need to be replaced every month.
Inspect the outdoor AC unit – Clean out any debris or leaves from inside the unit and maintain the area around the condenser to maximize efficiency and the life of your unit.
Clean the outdoor AC unit’s coils. It’s easy to do with your garden hose and light water pressure.
Inspect radiant floor heating systems boilers.
Inspect the vents and air ducts for any buildup of dust, debris, mold or other obvious allergens. To clean, use a vacuum with a brush attachment first, and follow up with a damp microfiber cloth to get any stubborn leftovers.
Pour a couple ounces of bleach down your primary drain line at the evaporator coil in your attic. It may seem obscure, but in order for your air conditioner to work effectively, it must be kept clear.
Clean the bathroom fans. Remove covers and wash them with soap and water. Then, use a toothbrush to clean the fan blades before replacing the cover

Appliances

Inspect your washing machine’s hoses for any cracks or damage and seal or replace if necessary.
Run a wash cycle (no clothes!) with 2 cups of white vinegar. Half way through, stop the wash and add detergent.
Give the dryer vent a thorough cleaning to remove any extra lint buildup.
Clean your clothes dryer filter thoroughly after each cycle.

Electrical

Inspect wall sockets and outlets for any that are loose.
Inspect extension cords and power strips around your home to make sure they’re following safety precautions and have a grounding plug.
Take a look at the breaker box and test the breakers.
Make sure all kitchen appliances, outdoor plugs, garage refrigerator, and bathroom plugs are equipped with a GFCI outlet for added grounding and surge protection.
Test the GFCI outlets by pressing the “test” button to ensure they trip and then press the reset button to restore power.
Check all appliance cords and power tools for damage or frays as that could be a fire hazard and should be repaired immediately.
Test smoke detectors and CO detectors and replace the batteries
Inspect your whole-home surge protector to ensure it has not tripped. Green light = working; red/yellow/amber light = needs service from licensed electrician.
Check exterior safety lights are operating as designed.
Schedule a free electrical inspection with Morgan Pro

Structural

Inspect your attic for signs of any past or present moisture as the leaks can quickly cause costly repairs.
Inspect all downspouts and gutters for any damage or clogs to keep water diverted from the foundation.
Inspect wood used in decks, rails, stairs, and window sills for any signs of rot or termite damage. Repair or replace if necessary and resealing, staining, or painting is a great annual task to avoid future damage. A small fix now can avoid a big project later.
Inspect the caulking and weather stripping around all doors and windows for damage or general wear and tear. Repair or replace where needed to increase energy efficiency and keep out pesky insects.
Inspect the chimney exterior and get a certified chimney sweep to clean and inspect the flue.
Inspect roof surface flashing, eaves, and soffits and clean thoroughly.
Inspect the exterior walls for any rodent entry points and seal with steel wool and caulk or open cell foam.

Landscape

Pressure wash your driveway, deck, patio, fence, and even soffits and siding to get rid of nasty buildup and give your home a facelift.
Trim back any trees or shrubs that are in close proximity to your house to prevent damage from falling limbs or stealthy overgrowth.
Clean out any debris or build up around foundation vents or window wells.
Fill in low spots in the yard or near the foundation with compacted soil. This will help prepare your yard for spring rains to avoid yard/foundation flooding and avoid pooling water (a breeding ground for mosquitoes).
Put organic mulch in your flower beds and around young trees to retain moisture in the soil, prevent weed growth, keep the soil cool, improve the soil fertility, and improve the curb appeal of your home.
Develop a plan NOW to control mosquitoes in your yard.
Give your sprinkler system a once over – check sprinkler heads for damage and look for leaky valves and exposed lines. Then set-up your warm weather watering schedule on the control panel. Run your sprinklers overnight to best conserve water.
Tune-up lawn maintenance equipment – replace any old gas stored in containers over the winter, lubricate the moving parts, sharpen blades, replace small engine oil and charge batteries.

Don’t let home maintenance take a backseat to your spring cleaning routine. Dedicating a weekend and some elbow grease to these tasks can save you time and money you won’t want to spend down the road.