Maintaining a home is a big responsibility and it can be easy to let things slide if you’re not proactive about it.
Spring is the ideal time for sprucing up the garden, servicing your air conditioner, and refinishing your deck. It’s important to get these things done before the weather gets hotter and you miss the opportunity.
Keeping your eye on your plumbing, irrigation, and appliances throughout your home will help you avoid costly breakdowns and keep your home looking in top shape.
Use this spring home maintenance checklist to help you remember the things you need to do to look after your home over spring.
1. Inspect the roof
Winter storms and strong winds can cause damage to your roof, so spring is a great time to check your roof over.
Stand on the ground and take a good look at your roof for any missing tiles, damaged pipes, or anything that looks out of place. If you need to get closer, use a ladder with caution and don’t get onto the roof unless you have to. For repairs, it’s best to call in a professional.
If you notice unsightly stains, moss, or algae building up, you might also want to have your roof professionally cleaned.
2. Clean the gutters
Remove any leaves and debris from the gutters around your house and inspect them for damage. If you notice any holes or rusting, fix what you can or get a professional to install a replacement.
3. Check your irrigation
As the weather starts heating up and we get less rain, it’s important that your sprinklers and irrigation systems are in good working order.
Do a test run of your irrigation system by switching it on, walking around to each sprinkler, and checking that it’s doing its job. Any sprinklers that aren’t spraying properly or have low water pressure should be serviced.
You should also check that the irrigation system reaches all parts of your garden. If areas aren’t getting watered, consider calling a professional to install new sprinklers.
4. Get your air con serviced
With summer approaching, it’s important to make sure that your air con is in top shape. You can change or clean air filters yourself, in fact, you should do this regularly to ensure healthy air quality.
It’s also important to get a professional service at least once a year and spring is the perfect time for it. Look for a professional who specialises in residential air conditioning in Perth to be sure you’re getting a good service.
Professionals will be able to carry out the general maintenance like cleaning your condenser coils and inspecting electrical wiring, but they’ll also be able to spot any minor issues that might cause you problems down the track.
5. Fix any plumbing issues
Go through your home and check all taps, showerheads, and pipes for signs of leakage or damage. Spring is a great time to get your plumbing in order to make sure you’re not using excess water over summer.
Consider also installing water-saving attachments in your bathroom and kitchen. If it’s been a while since your hot water unit was serviced, get a professional in to give it a thorough look over.
6. Add a fresh coat of paint
Towards the end of spring when the weather is warm and there is less rain, consider adding a fresh coat of paint to the exterior of your home. It’s the best way to quickly improve the appearance of your house. For maximum protective benefits, make sure you choose high-quality, exterior-grade paint.
7. Refinish wood surfaces
Whether you’ve got a deck, timber cladding, or a wooden fence, give your wooden surfaces a good clean and refinish in spring. This will help protect them over summer as they get exposed to more intense sunlight.
Also, consider refinishing any wooden outdoor furniture you have. If your cushions are looking a little sad, consider reupholstering them. As the weather warms up, you’ll be using your outdoor spaces more, so spring is the ideal time to get everything sorted.
8. Give your garden some love
Aerate your lawn and give it some fertiliser to help it keep its greenness as the weather heats up. Prune your summer flowering shrubs like hibiscus so that you can have a better flowering season later on.
Remove any weeds or dead winter foliage from your garden beds and consider adding a layer of mulch to improve water retention over summer.
Spring is the perfect time to plant a huge range of plants. Spruce up your garden beds with new flowering plants or start your own veggie patch.
9. Repair window and door screens
Inspect your windows and doors for any gaps or damage to the flyscreen. Fixing these in spring will make sure you keep all those summer bugs at bay.
Also, consider replacing the weather sealing and caulking around your windows and doors. This will help improve temperature regulation and energy efficiency in your home over the summer.
10. Consider power-saving strategies
As the weather gets warmer, we tend to run the air con more and chew through electricity faster. Before summer hits, consider implementing power-saving strategies throughout your home to keep costs down.
Do some research into solar power installation, replace your lights with LED lights, and inspect your insulation. If you’re planning on replacing any appliances in your home, look for energy-efficient models.
11. Take advantage of springtime
Spring is a great season for many reasons. The weather is warmer but not too hot, the garden is coming alive again and we start spending more time outdoors. It’s the ideal time for showing your home some love and care.
