With the onslaught of “spring cleaning,” it can be hard to know where to begin and which projects take precedence.
Below are 7 important spring chores that will not only give you a place to start on your spring cleaning, but will save you money in energy efficiency and preventative maintenance. Read up and get started! Happy cleaning….
1. Clean the refrigerator and air conditioner coils. Your fridge and air conditioner work in nearly the same way – by exchanging heat through a system of coils. When those coils are dirty and dusty, they can’t exchange heat as efficiently, so the system has to run harder and longer to have the same cooling effect.
Luckily, cleaning these coils is simple. Just take a vacuum hose to the coils on the back of your fridge. For an outside air conditioner unit, you’ll need to disassemble the casing (making sure the power to the unit is off first), and clean using canned air and/or a stiff brush and spray bottle.
2. Schedule routine heating, ventilation and air conditioning maintenance. Yes, it costs money to get an HVAC professional to look over your system. But routine maintenance costs much less than major fixes down the road. So call and schedule your HVAC maintenance now, before they start getting too busy with all the warm weather!
3. Clean the dryer vent. Just like your refrigerator doesn’t work properly with dusty coils, your dryer is less efficient with a lint-filled vent. Even if you clean the lint trap before every load of laundry, you’ll still get some lint in the vent hose, which builds up over time.
To clean the vent, just remove the vent hose from the back of the dryer and vacuum it well. Then, remove the vent cover on the outside of your home, and vacuum it from that side, too.
4. Check the washing machine hoses. Over time, washing machine hoses can crack, which can cause leaks. Sometimes, these inconspicuous leaks go on for weeks or months unnoticed, usually because the washer is pushed back into a corner. This can cause mold problems, water damage and more.
So while you’ve got the dryer pulled out to clean the vent, pull out the washer, too. Check that the hoses are still flexible, and they show no signs of cracking. If they do look worn or cracked, just replace them. It’s an easy fix!
5. Re-caulk windows and doors. You might have caulked your doors and windows before the winter chill set in. Unfortunately, even the best caulk can harden, crack and shrink when it’s cold outside.
So check your windows and doors, and replace as needed. Keeping the hot air out during the summer is just as important as keeping it in during the winter.
6. Inspect and repair your roof. Spring is the time to get out on the roof to check for ice, hail or water damage from winter. Repairing minor damage can be a quick do-it-yourself fix, and keeping an eye on your roof’s condition can save you money by avoiding water damage later on.
7. Clean gutters. This is an important chore, especially since our area has a propensity for spring storms. A clogged gutter doesn’t allow water to properly pass through, which means more water gets near the foundation of the home. While this may not cause immediate problems, over time, too much water near the foundation can cause damage and weakening, which are expensive problems to fix later.
Have real estate or home related questions for me? Email me at sara@realtyconcepts.com!
Sara Wolters is a Realtor at Realty Concepts, Ltd., in Oakhurst. sara@realtyconcepts.com
