Spring, it has sprung?

“Create each day anew.”

-Morihei Ueshiba

Depending on the region you live in, the transitional period after a mellow winter should be used wisely to prepare for the unpredictable nature of spring to come. Actually, lets just go ahead and say that this should be a general guidelineimages for everyone, no matter the region. It is always better to be prepared than to play the perpetual game of catch up.

Take a look around your house, take note of minor to major repairs, write a list and get started!

Some things to keep an eye out for in your home are mostly for energy efficiency. With temperatures on the rise, it’s important to stay ahead of them, for your wallet’s sake. Change the direction of your fan to keep hot air from rising. Be sure to check all the insulation around doors and windows to ensure that cold air doesn’t escape. Also, check window screens for holes or warp. Make sure the fluke of your chimney is working properly to deter spring critters from making their homes in your home.

The exterior of your home is just as important.

Examine the outside of your home. Take note of loose gutters or shingles, those could be problematic if a powerful storm rolled in. Gutters are important to maintain due to the fact that they guide water away from your home. Specifically, the foundation, which is a surprisingly vulnerable area. I mean, we are talking about the foundation here, the foundation of your home. It’s important. Which is why, if you live in a region with basements, you should consider sealing it to prevent water from seeping in and causing warping, molding or any other hazard to the structural stability of the foundation.

The same attention should be given to any foliage in close proximity to your house. Loose branches or branches close to your house should be trimmed or professionally removed. Taking preemptive measures to protect your home from damage is one of the bet things you can do for your wallet and your sanity, no one likes negative surprises.

Other things that you should consider for the comings months are your outdoors faucets. If you live in an area where freezes occur, it is best to know sooner rather than later if damaged occurred during the winter. A simple way to check is to turn on the faucet and cover it with your thumb, if you can stop the flow of water, most likely they pipe has been compromised and needs replacing. Be sure to take a look at all of your gardening equipment too. There is nothing worse than getting all jazzed up to do some yard work only to find that all of your tools have been affected by the winter blues as well!

 

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