Edmonton Home Maintenance Feature: Getting Ready for Spring
In a good year the winter in Edmonton lasts until mid-June so technically the season of Spring has a unicorn status as far as Edmontonians are concerned. However, that doesn’t mean we avoid Spring clean-up. Once the snow melts there is a significant amount of leaf or debris build-up around the exterior of your house and a few other problems that every home owner should attend to before enjoying the sun. Read below for a list of home maintenance items to get your house ready for Spring:
Inspect your gutters. The winter can make them loose or leaky and improper drainage can result in water in the basement. Ensure that downspouts drain away from the foundation and free of any obstructions.
Examine your yard for low areas. Rain in the Spring can lead to yard flooding which can lead to foundation flooding and damage.
Check out the wood trim around windows, doors, railings and decks. Make repairs to these items before the rain does more damage to the exposed wood.
Take a look at the chimney exterior for any signs of damage. Get the flue (the duct pipe that lets out the exhaust gases from the fireplace) cleaned and inspected by a certified chimney sweep.
Inspect the hose faucets for freeze damage. A proper inspection would be turning on the water and placing your thumb over the opening, if you can stop the flow then it is extremely likely the pipe inside the home is defective and should be replaced.
Look at the concrete for signs of cracks or shifting. Every exterior slab should drain away from the foundation. Fill in the cracks with crack filler or silicone caulk.
Source: Full Scope Home Inspections Inc.
Tags: Home maintenance, Tips
