6 Things to Do Now to Prepare Your Home for Spring

6 min read

It may feel like spring is never going to get here, but in fact the equinox is fast approaching. Honestly! In anticipation of the return of longer days and warmer temperatures, you might be googling how to prep your home for spring. After all, this in-between season, before spring really starts and when the worst of winter is over (fingers crossed), is the perfect time to dig in to home maintenance. Because when spring fever really hits, wouldn't you rather be enjoying your flowering bulbs, hitting up the farmers' market, or planning a party rather than mucking out your gutters or de-linting your dryer?

We thought so. That's why we've put together this list of the things you should start doing around the house right now rather than a little bit (or a lot) later. Some you're going to wait for the next sunny, warmish day to do, like washing windows and screens, and trimming your shrubs. Others, including flushing your hot water heater, can be accomplished on even the chillest, most gray late winter days. Because even if you're feeling more like lazing around than getting going, it's going to feel so good to start taking these tasks off of your to-do list.

And we can promise you'll feel even better about putting in the elbow grease now when you get to enjoy a fun time outside with the fam next month, instead of working through your homeowner responsibilities. To inspire you to get everything out of the way pronto, you might want to head over to our favorite spring activities. And then read on for our recommendations of what you should do to prep your home sweet home for the season of renewal!

Inspect Your Smoke Alarms

According to home safety experts, you should inspect your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors annually. Make it a part of your yearly pre-spring to-do list, and you can be sure you won't forget this important task. Check every alarm and monitor to verify they're in good condition, replacing the batteries in each. You should have smoke alarms on each floor of your house, outside of your bedrooms, and, ideally, in each bedroom, as well.

As part of your home inspection, take a look at your fire extinguishers, ensuring that the pressure gauge is in the green, and that all working parts, including the nozzle and hose, appear to be in good working order. This is also a great time to check electrical outlets and power cords for hazards like fraying wires or loose connections.

Declutter

Before you dive headlong into that intensive spring cleaning, it's a good idea to spend a weekend getting your home organized. Doing it now rather than later means that when it's time to get rid of grime, you won't need to waste energy moving piles of clutter around or going through it to decide what to pitch and what to keep. Besides, less stuff means less stuff to gather dust!

Among the areas you want to focus on are the entryway "drop zone," one of the prime places that attracts messes, the pantry (yep, it's time to toss that expired food), and any and all closets, another space that's typically more chaotic than orderly, according to home cleaning specialists.

Clean Your Windows

This is a traditionally hateful chore that double-hung windows have made a lot easier to accomplish. Still, it takes time to get all those panes of glass in your home shining after winter storms have added a layer or two of dirt, pollution, and even road salt and de-icing chemicals to them. You can get a head start on your spring cleaning by tackling this task now. Pick a warm, sunny day and have at it—that way, when spring arrives you'll be ready to enjoy the tulips and daffodils through your sparkling clean windows.

Just don't neglect your screens while you're working on your glass. It's a bigger job, unfortunately, because you'll need to remove your screens before washing both sides with a solution of warm water and dish soap. But think of all the pollen, dust, and even mold spores you're preventing from entering your home—the payoff in improved indoor air quality is worth the hassle. While you're cleaning your screens, check them for damage caused by winter winds and storms. Either repair or replace the mesh as necessary.

Maintain Your Appliances

Your home's major appliances cost a pretty penny, but you can delay the need to repair or replace them by keeping up with maintenance on your hard-working mechanical devices. Tune-ups and in-depth inspections should be handled by a professional, but there are routine tasks homeowners can DIY, including the following:

• Furnace: Your heating system has been hard at work all winter long, so you're going to want to treat it to a cleaning or inspection when winter wraps up. Otherwise, you can replace the air filter yourself, which will help minimize springtime pollen in your home.
• Water Heater: Flushing your water heater removes minerals and other sediments that can build up over time, reducing its efficiency and even shortening its lifespan. Units should be drained at least once a year, so think about adding this job to your pre-spring to-do list. Make sure you also keep an eye out for any evidence of leaks or corrosion.
• Air Conditioner: Before the weather gets hot enough to warrant turning on the central air, schedule a tune-up for it with a pro. DIYers will want to change the unit's air filter and inspect its outer panels for winter damage. You should also take time to clean up any yard waste that may be on or around your AC, which could potentially hamper its air flow.
• Dryer: Sure, you clean your dryer's lint trap, but at least once a year, you should go a step further and brush out the exhaust duct and vent pipe.

Trim Trees and Shrubs

No one is suggesting you shimmy up your 40-foot oak and try to hack off a 100-pound branch. But you should take a walk around your property, keeping an eye out for broken limbs, split trunks, or weakened trees that are leaning. Because they can be hazardous to people as well as property, you're going to want to hire a professional arborist to take down large tree limbs or mature trees. This is also a good time to trim any shrubs that are overhanging or impeding walkway or driveway access, or brushing up against your home.

Check Your Home's Exterior

With its frozen temps, snow, ice, sleet, and wind, winter can wreak havoc on your house's exterior. Make inspecting it a priority before spring starts, so you can book the pros to come in and make any necessary repairs when milder weather returns. In particular, you want to take at look at your home's:

• Roof: Inspect your roof for missing, damaged, or curled shingles, which can make your home vulnerable to leaks when April showers make their annual visit. If you don't want to get up on a ladder, no problem. Look from the ground up, and check inside your attic for signs of leaks. Otherwise, leave it to the roofing experts!
• Gutters: Whether you do it yourself or hire professionals, you're going to want to clean out your gutters before spring rains start. Pull out leaves and other debris that may have accumulated and check to make sure downspouts are pointed away from the house and aren't plugged up. Also keep your eyes peeled for cracks or holes in your gutters caused by ice forming and thawing.
• Siding and Deck: Visually confirm that your siding and brickwork is still in good shape after the season's harsh weather. Look for cracked or weathered pieces, crumbling mortar and peeling paint. As you walk around your home, make a point of checking out your deck, keeping your eyes open for loose or broken boards.

Jill Gleeson

Jill Gleeson is a travel journalist and memoirist based in the Appalachian Mountains of western Pennsylvania who has written for websites and publications including Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Country Living, Washingtonian, Gothamist, Canadian Traveller, and EDGE Media Network. Jill is the travel editor for Enchanted Living. Learn more about her journey at gleesonreboots.com.