Is Your Home Ready for Spring? A Spring Maintenance Checklist

Spring is a time for renewal both for ourselves and our homes. It’s also a great reminder to check key areas around the home for defects or repairs.

Here’s a handy checklist from the nationwide experts at Pillar To Post Home Inspectors.

Interior

• Check ceiling and surfaces around windows for evidence of moisture
• Check caulking around showers, bathtubs, sinks and toilet base
• Verify ceiling areas beneath bathrooms have no leakage
• Ensure all stairs and railing do not have any loose sections
• Test all fire and safety systems regularly, including carbon monoxide (CO) detectors
• Know the location of all gas shut-off valves

Heating & Cooling

• Clean or change furnace filters every three months of operation
• Lubricate fan and motor bearings (only where indicated)
• Check fan belt tension and listen for unusual noises
• Keep area around heating and cooling equipment clear
• For boiler systems, check water level and shut-off valve for leaks
• Have system serviced annually prior to the start of the season

Doors & Windows

• Look for loose or missing glazing putty
• Check caulking for deterioration at the openings and joints between dissimilar materials (e.g. wood and masonry)
• Check weather stripping
• Check for broken glass and damaged or missing screens
• Inspect all window and door hardware

Roof

• Check for any missing, loose or damaged shingles
• Look for open seams, blisters, bald areas on flat roofs
• Clean gutters, strainers and downspouts. Make sure downspouts divert water away from the foundation.
• Verify the attic has no evidence of any leaks
• Check flashing (sheet metal placed on joints of the roof to prevent water seepage) around all surface projections, sidewalls and protrusions
• Trim back all tree limbs and vegetation away from the roof
• Check fascia (board or roof trim) and soffits (connecting the roof overhang and the side of your building) for deterioration and damage

Foundation & Exterior

• Check foundation walls and floors for cracking, heaving, spalling, deterioration or efflorescence
• Inspect chimney for loose, deteriorated or missing mortar or bricks
• Check grading for proper slope away from the foundation
• Verify basement and crawlspace has no moisture or leaks
• Check all wood surfaces for weathering and paint failure
• Inspect all decks, patios, porches, stairs and railings for deterioration
• Cut back and trim all vegetation from structures

For more information, visit www.pillartopost.com.