For those that live in climates that experience a more notable change in seasons every year, you may be aware that there are certain things that need to be adjusted to suit the season. You will switch over your wardrobe to accommodate for chillier weather or you may pull out your gardening things in preparation for a spring garden.
Most of us have heard about winterizing but did you know there are also good ways to prepare your house for the change back to warmer weather? Here we will take a look at the most common or important things to do to prepare your house for the spring/summer seasons.
How to Prepare for a Change in Seasons
We’ll begin with spring and summer and how you can restore your house to order after a winter of snow, ice, or rain, all of which can cause external debris to collect. We will also look at ways to freshen up the indoors from a dark, cold winter and get ready for the sun and fresh air again.
Gutters
We’ll begin with the exterior of the house, starting with the gutters. Over the winter rain, snow, wind, and ice will have allowed a lot of debris to collect in your gutters and downspouts. To prepare for spring and summer you need to clear this out and ensure they are back in working order. Use gloves to carefully remove debris and a hose to carefully rinse out downspouts. Be sure to check that your downspouts shoot water far enough away from the house’s foundation not to cause structural damage to the house. This may be a job you feel more comfortable hiring a contractor for if you have a large or tall house.
Roofing
In the same way that debris can clog up gutters over the winter, sticks and dead leaves can pile up on your roof and cause damage. You will also want to examine your roof shingles or tiles for any damage caused by snow or ice and repair it if needed.
Windows
This is both an indoor and outdoor job. Over the fall and winter spiders will have made nests in your windows, snow or rain may have left the glass streaky, and very likely the sills are dusty and dirty. Cleaning the inside and outside of your windows is a great way to prepare for the spring.
Exterior Vents
There are a few vents you can check at the end of winter in preparation for spring each year. If you have a crawlspace you will want to check and clear any foundation vents that keep the crawl space ventilated. You will also want to check your exterior drier vent and clear up any excess lint or debris buildup.
Porch or Deck
If you have a porch or deck you enjoy using in the summer, this is a great time to prep it. Clear off any debris, hose it down if it is dirty or dusty, and pull out and clean off the outdoor furniture so it is ready to use as soon as it gets warm enough.
Air Vents
One of the first things you will want to do when you prepare for spring and summer inside your house is to change your air filters. These usually need to be changed every 3-6 months so this is a good time to check and change them. This will ensure they are clean and ready to filter that allergy-laden air as soon as the plants begin to bloom.
In addition to the filters, this is a good time to do a check-up on your HVAC system overall to ensure it is ready to keep you cool over the hotter months. Call in a professional contractor to do a maintenance check before the heat wave hits and he becomes overbooked.
Drier Vent
Just like you checked the external drier vent, this is a good time to clean the inside drier vent. Disconnect the drier from the vent and use a drier vent brush to clean out any lint and debris that has built up over the winter.
Pest Problems
Oftentimes winter is when pests like rodents or raccoons come inside and make their home in our warm houses. Spring is a great time to call a service for pest control Chico and eliminate any and all pest problems.
Dust
With the dark winter months, it is likely that more dust has accumulated, and now is a great time to tackle it all. This includes dusting all surfaces, light fixtures, and handrails. You will also want to take down and dust or vacuum your curtains or blinds. You will also want to dust or vacuum out all the air vents and registers so they are ready to move clean fresh air efficiently.
Sweep and Vacuum
After dusting you will want to do a thorough sweeping and vacuuming over the whole house. You may want to add in mopping too. You should make a point to move furniture that may not be moved often and clean up any collected dust and crumbs.
Walls and Baseboards
An often overlooked aspect of spring cleaning is the walls and baseboards. However, walls can get pretty dirty over the winter and a lot of dust can build up on baseboards. Use warm water and mild soap and clean your walls and baseboards with a sponge or brush. You can also use this time to disinfect your house’s hardware. This includes handles, doorknobs, and light switches.
Fresh Air
Lastly, as soon as it gets warm enough, but before it gets too hot, open up your window and let the old, heavy winter air out and fresh, light, new air in. You will want to do this before it gets so warm that bugs will come in, but not so cold that you also would need to run your heating system.
Final Thoughts
Getting your house ready for the spring in summer can be a big undertaking and you may want to break it up to make it manageable over a few days or weeks. You can also save some time by hiring professionals to handle plumbing, HVAC, pest, or electrical issues. By spring your house will be open and ready for a new season and a new set of activities and needs. You will be able to rest easy knowing that your home is clean and prepared to handle the coming seasons admirably and dependably.
