Warm Weather Check-up - AHA Homeowners Advantage Web Network

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Warm Weather Check-up

The warmer months are the perfect time to embark on home repair and remodeling projects, large and small. To prevent minor trouble spots from becoming major repairs, homeowners are encouraged to perform a thorough spring inspection of their homes, both inside and out, according to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). Since the home is the largest purchase most people will ever make, it should be treated as not just a house, but as an investment worth protecting.

The best course of action for your inspection is to start outside with the home's grounds and foundation. Carry a clipboard or note pad with you to take notes as you go along. Gradually work your way around the house and be as complete as possible in your observations. Such actions will allow you to determine which problems you can tackle yourself and which may require consulting a professional.

First, inspect your gutters and downspouts from the ground up. Be certain your splash blocks are centered properly under your drains and tilting away from your house. If the angle has diminished over the winter, build them up with some soil.

The considerable weight of snow can often bend your gutters out of shape so that they no longer slope toward their drainpipes correctly. Check to see if water is heading for the downspouts by carefully positioning a ladder over your gutters and pouring a container of water into the gutter, noting which direction it goes. Repeat the task near every downspout. If you find the water either pools in one spot or moves away from the downspout, the gutters may need repair or replacement. Make sure the gutters are free of leaves and debris, and contain no holes or corrosion.

Walk around the house and look closely at the foundation. Many houses continue to settle each year and can develop stress cracks in the concrete - a perfect opportunity for water to enter your basement. Cracks should be repaired immediately to prevent moisture infiltration and energy loss.

If your home has a brick exterior, inspect your exterior walls and chimneys for loose or missing bricks. Check any metal flashing near your chimney for corrosion and make sure that the chimney screen positioned on top is intact to prevent bird and rodent from entering your home.

When inspecting homes with other exterior materials, check siding for loose or sagging panels and trim. Visually inspect soffits and fascia below the gutters for rotting and every homeowner's nightmare - termite infestation.

This is when you might want to decide what siding and trim pieces require painting or replacement to get an idea of the scope of any repair projects you have discovered.

Moving around the house again, inspect your doors and windows for proper operation and sufficient caulking around window trim. Re-caulking is a wise annual ritual to avoid costly energy loss. Spray a silicone lubricant or equivalent on door hinges and window tracks to ensure smooth movement.

Last on your exterior inspection list is the roof. Look for missing, loose or cracked shingles and irregular water drainage (evidence of water forming "streams" in specific parts of the roof). Such irregularity indicates that water is not draining properly into the gutters and is a problem best handled by a professional roofer.

Moving inside, clipboard still in hand, check your furnace filter - if it's dirty, either clean or replace it. Check it throughout the spring and summer at least once a month, when traffic from children and pets tend to be heavier. A wise investment, an electrostatically-charged replacement filter is a low-cost way to improve the indoor air quality.

Check all exposed pipes for leaks and corrosion. Also inspect all faucets for drips, including pipework under all sinks. Moving to the attic or top floor, check for water infiltration via visible stains which indicate a leaking roof.

Taking a few hours out of your weekend to perform a detailed spring inspection can prevent a small repair from becoming a major problem - and expense.