Winter is a great time to snuggle in bed and watch your favorite shows while sipping hot cocoa. The cold weather also gives a chance to showcase your fashion skills in terms of layering clothes. You can also forget your diet for a little while since you need to stock up on carbs to give your body enough energy to stay warm.
But as you approach the end of winter, you’ll find that you need to do a lot of cleaning up and maintenance tasks to prepare for the spring season. These tasks are also essential to ensure that your home is in tip-top shape and ensure your family’s safety.
Inspect the Roof
As the winter ends, you’ll have to inspect your roof. But you’ll have to do a bit of cleaning first. Remove the snow on your roof and other debris, such as tree branches.
Once the roof has been cleared, check for damages. Are there any loose tiles or curled shingles? If there are, check if there is moss around the affected parts and remove them. If left for a long time, moss can grow roots that will degrade your roof fast. You can remove moss using readymade cleaners that you can buy from your nearby grocery store. You can also make a DIY cleaner using diluted chlorine bleach. Also, check if some broken tiles or shingles need to be replaced.
You also need to check your ceiling for any damages. If you notice curling parts in your ceiling, they may be a sign of leakage and require more extensive repair.
Check the Gutters
After inspecting the roof, check the gutters as well. Gutters are vital since they protect the structure of your home and prevent more significant damages. Good-quality gutters made of aluminum or galvanized materials can last up to 20 years. But if they’re not well-maintained, they will be short-lived.
Remove debris from the gutter and clean it. Check for cracks and leaks. If your gutters are made of metal, check for rust. If you find issues, you’ll need to have your rain gutter repaired as soon as possible. You can try doing it yourself if you have the materials required. For example, you can use sandpaper or a wire brush to remove the rust from the gutter and then apply a rust-resistant primer. But if there are bigger damages present, consider hiring an expert instead.
Check the Sidings of Your Home
The siding is the barrier that protects your home’s overall health, apart from the roof. And any damage to your house siding can easily lead to problems in other parts of your home as well. Thus, after checking the top part of your home, you need to check its sidings next. The cold weather may have affected the integrity of your home’s exterior.
First, look for any cracks, gaps, and splits on your sidings. If there is massive damage, you’ll need to repair them as soon as you can. If you find holes, check for any pests, such as termites that may have taken refuge in them. Even just a tiny group of pests can easily turn into an infestation. So make sure to have the pests exterminated as soon as possible.
Also, if you have vinyl sidings, check for any contraction or expansion that may weaken the structure of your home. Have any issues repaired when you can.
Check Your Pipes
The cold winter may result in frozen pipes. Frozen water can expand and damage your plumbing, leading to even worse problems, such as damp walls and water leakage.
Thus, you need to check all your pipes post-winter. Open every faucet you have. Some signs of a frozen pipe to keep in mind include little to no running water and strange smells. If you notice any of these problems, have your pipes checked immediately to prevent further damage.
Check Your Windows
Window damage is typical after winter. For instance, if your windows are made of wood, they may have expanded due to moisture. This can cause your windows to get stuck. In the worst cases, the wooden frame may rot and smell.
Thus, check all your windows. If they’re stuck because of swelling, get a hairdryer and run it along with the problem areas. And then try to open your windows gently. Replace rotten windows, if any.
It should be automatic to conduct home inspection and maintenance regularly, especially in-between season changes. After a chilly winter, check your home for any problems and have them addressed immediately to keep your home in its best condition.
