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By Stuart Kushner 

Spring has arrived, and with it comes melting snow, warmer temperatures, blooming flowers… and household chores. You probably have a never-ending list of things to do. Figuring out what to do and where to begin can be overwhelming. Use this seasonal home maintenance checklist to help you stay organized and on track.

Exterior

Winter’s cold temperatures, wind, and snow can do a lot of damage to the outside of your house. Address the following chores as quickly as possible to avoid problems later:

Inspect and Clean Your Gutters: Winter weather can cause gutters to crack or fill with debris, causing leaks and house damage. Fortunately, spring is one of the best times of the year to clean gutters.

Remove the debris from the gutters and apply a gutter sealant to fill the cracks. Additionally, ensure your gutters are turned away from the house so the water flows away rather than toward it.

Inspect the Foundation of Your Home: Walk around the outside of your home and check for cracks, bulging, buckling, and water damage. If your doors and windows don’t open and close smoothly, the foundation may have shifted. In this case, contact a professional to see if structural repairs are necessary.

Test Your Irrigation System: Check each sprinkler head to see if it rises and sinks into the ground properly. If they aren’t, replace them as soon as possible. Ensure the water is spraying normally and not onto the pavement or walkways. Verify the watering schedule on the control panel.

Power Wash the Outside of Your Home: This task involves washing away dirt, grime, mold, mildew, and pollen to refresh the exterior of your home. Focus on patios, decks, driveways, walkways, outdoor furniture, and siding. Either hire a professional or rent a power washer and do it yourself.

Inspect and Tune Up Your Lawn Equipment: Sharpen the blades, charge the batteries, and check the spark plugs and air filters to see if they’re in good condition. Replace old gas, change the oil, inflate the tires, and lubricate the moving parts to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Refresh Exterior Paint: Check for signs of paint damage from the harsh winter weather, such as peeling, bubbling, fading, or cracking. Refurbish it with a fresh coat of paint if necessary, or change the color for a new look.

Trim Trees and Shrubs Near Your House: Remove the diseased and dead branches to promote healthy growth and keep them from damaging the sides, windows, or roof.

Examine Your Deck and Patio: Check if the wood has warped, discolored, or rotted. Reseal and repair it to protect it against the elements if necessary.

For concrete decks and patios, look for loose or cracked areas. Smaller cracks can be patched up, but larger ones are beyond repair and need replacing.

Check Your Windows and Screens for Damage: Damaged and warped screens are an open door for insects. Go around the house and see if there are any holes in them. If so, don’t worry - screen repair kits are available at any hardware store.

Cold weather can damage window seals, so check for broken seals and repair them by removing the old seal, cleaning the window frame, and applying new sealant.

Remove Standing Water from Your Property: Standing water attracts –– and provides a breeding ground for –– mosquitoes. It can also damage landscaping and flood basements and crawl spaces. Finally, it’s a source of mold, which can cause health problems. 

Look for Termites: Termites are active in spring, damaging wood structures and causing respiratory problems. Look for tiny insects flying outside your home's exterior, and call a professional if you see them.

Get the Grill Ready: Check the propane, hoses, and connections to ensure everything works properly and there are no leaks. Inspect the grill for dents and rust. Clean the entire grill, inside and out, with a cloth and mild dishwashing detergent.

Clean Debris from Foundation Vents and Window Wells: By keeping these areas clear and accessible, you’ll prevent water damage due to poor drainage and minimize the risk of mold growth. It’ll also protect your home's foundation and improve air quality.

Interior

Though winter does the most damage to the outside of your home, the brutal weather also affects what’s inside. Keep the interior in tip-top shape with these chores:

Check the Air Conditioner: Call a qualified HVAC technician to ensure your AC works properly. You don’t want to go through summer without working AC.

Look for Leaks in the Basement and Attic: A musty smell indicates moisture issues. Look for discoloration on the walls, ceiling, and other materials, and call a professional if you see any signs of water damage.

Investigate Leaks Elsewhere: Check under the sinks and look for wetness around the kitchen, bathrooms, toilets, dishwasher, and water heater.

Inspect Your Detectors: Test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to see if they work properly and replace the batteries if necessary.

Clean the Furnace: You most likely won’t be using your furnace system once spring arrives. Thus, spring is a great time to clean its filters, blower, and motor to ensure it runs smoothly. 

Drain the Water Heater: This will prevent sediment buildup which can cause it to produce less hot water and increase the risk of leaking or flooding.

Replace Damaged Window Screens: Doing so keeps flies and other insects from entering your home.

Add or Check Weatherstripping: Weatherstripping adds a seal to your doors and windows. As a result, it keeps cool air inside, puts less pressure on the AC, and lowers energy bills.

Test and Clean Ceiling Fans: Ceiling fans can cool your house down with a pleasant breeze. Clean them so they don’t blow dust everywhere.

Spring Cleaning: Giving your house a deep clean limits dust and dander before allergy season arrives. Start by tackling surfaces throughout the home. Start from the top down, cleaning ceiling fans and blinds first, then surfaces, windows, and doors. Finally, mop and/or vacuum the floors.

In the kitchen, clean the pantry and deep clean the oven and refrigerator. Don’t forget to dust the refrigerator coils.

In the bedroom, wash all bedding and pillows and clean out the closet, dresser, and the space under the bed.

In the bathrooms, clean and disinfect all sinks, showers, bathtubs, and toilets.

Finally, clean the dryer vent in the laundry room.

Preparing your home for spring is a lot of work, but it keeps you from needing to make costly repairs later. Whether it’s a gutter inspection or general spring cleaning, keep your home functional with consistent upkeep. Whether you’re planning to sell or not, keeping your home clean and well-maintained is the most important aspect of home ownership.

Stuart Kushner is a NYC-based writer who is passionate about home improvement. When he's not cleaning kitchen cabinets, adding gadgets to his apartment, or caring for his indoor plants, he's reading, exercising, cooking, listening to music, or enjoying the city's cuisine.