The evenings are drawing out as we leave January and begin heading into spring. Soon the flowers are going to start budding, the birds singing and lambs will be bouncing round the fields. It’s a time of year that we start preparing our nest, our home, for activity in the warmer months.
So what are the best home maintenance tasks for preparing the home for spring? We have put together a short list to help you through.
Our 8 simple spring home maintenance tips
- Spring cleaning
- Window and door maintenance
- Cleaning up the garden
- Cleaning out the gutters
- Repairing the roof
- Boiler maintenance
- Check your radiators
- Test your alarms
1. Spring cleaning
In the age old fashion now is the perfect time to deep clean and declutter the home. By doing this you can free up space and reorganise. It can be cathartic and good for the soul for several reasons;
- By clearing out the old you make room for the new
- Studies have shown that it can bring a sense of calm.
- The activity can inspire ideas of creativity and action. As you’re focused on a simple tasks it liberates the mind and allows room for other thoughts
Also this simple activity may inspire you to give a room a makeover for the sunny months.
2. Window and door maintenance
Now is a good time to maintain your windows and doors. I’m not going to delve deeply into how you should do this as we have a whole page and videos dedicated to ‘How to clean and maintain your windows and doors’. However now is a good time to care for the moving parts of your windows and doors (hinges, locks etc). It’ll help you identify the parts that need replacing before it’s too late. If you’re comfortable with DIY you can replace them yourself or there are tradesmen out there that will help you (we know a few). If you look after your windows and doors, they’ll last a long time.
3. Test your alarms
This is as good a time as any to make sure that the batteries in your fire/carbon monoxide alarm are still working. Let everyone in your household know you’re going to test them before scaring them.
4. Cleaning up the garden
Let’s face it as soon as the sun starts coming out we’re going to be running outside to bask in all it’s glory (hopefully it’s better than last year), the barbeque will come out and this year we have the long weekend for the Queens Platinum Jubilee. Now is a great time to start making preparations to tidy the garden. Here are a few suggestions;
- Clear out the flower beds/pots to make way for spring flowers
- Clean the decking, stairs or anything else that may need a quick once over
- Care for the lawn
- Repair the fencing/shed
- Repaint the fencing/shed
- Clean and prepare the barbeque (very important)
5. Cleaning out the gutters
With the wind, rain and the onslaught of the winter months your gutters may have started to fill up with debris and grow moss, they could also be damaged and or blocked. Cleaning and repairing your gutters is an important job when maintaining your home. If they’re not maintained regularly they can cause damp in the roof and damage the external walls of your property. We recommend that you carry out this maintenance a couple of times a year.
6. Repairing the roof
If you’ve noticed a slipped tile, build up of moss or a damp patch has appeared in the loft now is a great time to get a specialist to take a look. We’re not saying that if you notice these things at any other point of the year to wait until spring, however, now is a good time to check (safely obviously). Your roof can take a lot of abuse over the winter so now is a good time to show it a little TLC.
7. Boiler maintenance
Just like windows and doors, if you take care of your boiler then it can last longer than you think. After it’s been working hard over winter it’s easy for us to forget about it until autumn comes round again. Boiler components can gather debris which can reduce their efficiency so showing some TLC benefits the wallet as well as increases it’s lifespan. Also if you identify an issue it’s easier to get a good plumber in the warmer months.
There are a couple of things that you can do to check the system.
Listen for bubbles
Boilers are known for making noises when they switch on and heat up, sometimes creaking in to life. If you notice a bubbling sound it may mean that something is wrong so you will need to call a plumber.
Build up of limescale can cause issues with anything including our boilers so when in doubt give a plumber a shout.
Look for leaks
With all the expansion and contraction that the pipes go through every time the boiler switches on and off things can become loose and seals can weaken. It’s a good idea to take the time and check around to boiler to male sure that the seals are still in place and gaskets/valves are still tightly connected. While you’re taking a look keep an eye out for any leaks.
If you spot any problems it’s time to call a professional.
Check for blockages
Blockages can be problematic so it’s good to deal with them quickly. If the central heating is still running they should be fairly simple to spot. There are a couple of signs to look for;
- If any areas of the system isn’t getting as hot as usual
- If areas are not getting hot at all
Before calling a plumber it’s a good idea to check your radiators to see if this is the issue before calling the plumber. If you’ve check your radiators and nothing has changed then you should call a plumber.
8. Check your radiators
Checking your radiators is easy. Simply use your radiator key to bleed all the radiators to make sure that there isn’t any air in the system. If you’re worried about a blockage it maybe this that is causing the problem.
If you do have any concerns about your boiler or radiators it’s always a good idea to get expert help.
Please remember that not every job is a DIY job so please consult an expert when needed.
We hope that you have found this useful. If you do have any questions about windows and doors please don’t hesitate to contact us at sales@windowdesigns.co.uk.