Spring Cleaning

The cold winter kept many of us indoors, and any “house maintenance” energy went towards shoveling the mounds of snow and ice on our driveways and sidewalks. But now that the weather is nice, it is a great opportunity to catch up on other projects that could help prevent future home damage and expense.

1) Clean your dryer vents

To keep your clothes dryer working efficiently, it is useful to clean the dryer

vent yearly. In addition, blockage within your dryer vent could be a cause of

fire.

Unplug your dryer’s gas and electric, pull the dryer away from the wall, and

unclamp the dryer vent. Using the hose of a vacuum cleaner, reach in to the

vent tubing and pull out any lint or buildup.

 

 

2) Check roof flashing, caulking, and shingles

Often winter can cause damage to roof shingles. The spring and summer sun,

too, can cause your shingles to suffer. This is a good time of the year to check

for cracks, or loose shingles.

 

 

3) Clean downspouts/check for loose or leaky gutters.

With the high amount of rain that often comes with springtime, improper

drainage from your gutters or downspouts can cause water to make its way

into your basement. By making sure your gutters are in good shape and your

downspouts are clear, you can ensure proper drainage and prevent more

debris from accumulating.

 

4) Be sure to have an operational fire extinguisher accessible in your home.

Lastly, take this opportunity to double check that you have fire extinguishers

accessible in your home that are not out of date.

– Did you purchase your fire extinguisher over 5 years ago?

– Is the hose cracked or blocked with debris?

– Is the locking pin missing or unsealed?

If any of these are the case, it is time to purchase a new fire extinguisher. This

small expense could be tremendously useful in an emergency.