Spring Home Inspection

 Now that 'Ol Man Winter is gone and Spring has sprung, it's time to sit back and survey the damage. Most homeowners don't realize the impact that harsh weather can have on their home. Apart from obvious impairments such as fallen tree limbs, cracked windows or seals, there are far more subtle things to look for that may be the root cause of a future problem. Who would have imagined that their expensive roof repair was the result of a storm that caused shingle damage 3 years earlier?
 
 By adding the following tips to your spring maintenance schedule you'll be well underway to hopefully preventing costly repairs.
 
 Outside:
 
 Take a walk around the foundation and look for cracks or other structural damage and seal them. Inspect supporting beams under your deck for water damage or signs of rotting. Check that seals around outdoor taps, pipes, and windows are leak free and repair any caulking that has come away. It's also advisable to caulk around your whole house every 3-4 years. Clean your gutters, check for leaks and make sure they haven't come loose. While you're up there take a look at your roof for any broken shingles or signs of lifting.
 
 Inside:
 
 Call a technician to inspect and maintain your air conditioner before the season starts. Most problems are detected during the dog days of summer when you need it most. Technicians recommend having the units serviced once a year, and changing your air filters frequently. Leaks in hot water tanks tend to go unnoticed until they've created some sort of water damage. Now is a good time to inspect your tank, looking for leaks or rust. Your heating element has worked hard all winter so replace the filters, and have it ready to go for the next cold front. This simple fix is as valuable as changing the oil in your car and can prevent expensive repairs down the road. Test and inspect all carbon monoxide and smoke detectors replacing batteries if necessary. The cold weather may have cracked larger branches or froze your plants, so now is a good time to inspect any damaged trees and remove partially broken branches along with pruning your plants. At the same time, your trees have grown over the last year, make sure that none are too close to the roof or gutters. If so, some pruning may be in order. This is one less thing to potentially damage your home in a windstorm.
 
 If your house has a fireplace that saw a lot of use this past winter, call a chimney cleaner to do a thorough job of cleaning the pipe, and make sure it's animal proof at the top opening. This is not an area you want to let slide. In the kitchen, pull out the fridge and vacuum well, including the vent and coils. Also vacuum behind the stove and clean the range hood.
 
 This may seem like a lot of work, but if you do this every year, you'll be glad you did.
 
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