With the end of winter finally in view, your thoughts may be turning to spring cleaning. While this usually entails such noble aspirations as cleaning out the garage and basement, or planting some new flowers, there are some very important spring home maintenance items that should be on every homeowner’s checklist.
11 home maintenance “must-dos” and “should-dos”
The items on this checklist run the gamut from cleaning home appliances to tuning up outdoor power equipment and maintaining heating & cooling products. While this list is intended to be a general overview (you’ll want to dig a little deeper to determine how to make each one applicable to your home), quite a few of these suggestions can affect your safety and health, so don’t dismiss the list outright:
1. Tune up lawn and garden equipment
Replace air filters, fuel filters, spark plugs, and other key components. Inspect lawn mowers, string trimmers, edgers, and other outdoor power equipment for damage and performance issues. If any of the equipment is having problems, you can get comprehensive troubleshooting and DIY repair help at Repair Clinic.com, so you can repair the equipment promptly before you need to use it.
2. Replace the furnace or air handler air filter
Furnace or air handler air filters should really be replaced twice a year, just ahead of the colder winter months, and again in spring. A dirty air filter will restrict air causing the furnace or central air condensing unit to work harder than they need to, reducing efficiency and increasing utility costs.
3. Clean out the central air conditioning system
Use a condenser coil cleaning brush to help remove leaves and other debris from the central air condensing unit’s aluminum fins. Shrub and tree trimming may be necessary to prevent air flow restriction. There should be at least two feet of clear space around the unit and eight feet of space above the unit.
4. Properly seal the exterior
Inspect your home’s exterior walls for holes and consider using expanding foam to seal up those openings. It’s also a good idea to apply fresh weatherstripping to windows and doors.
5. Clean out dryer venting
Detach the venting from your dryer and use a dryer vent cleaning brush to remove lint buildup or other debris from inside the vent. This should happen at least once per year, as lint buildup in dryers is an extreme fire hazard and is also the primary reason the dryer’s thermal fuse will blow resulting in the appliance not heating. You can also use a vacuum cleaner with a long extension to clean out the lint filter housing.
6. Replace the refrigerator water filter
The carbon block inside a water filter removes sediment from tap water and reduces impurities such as chlorine, asbestos, and lead. In addition to making the water safer, a filter will improve the smell and taste of the water. With use, a water filter will eventually lose its ability to filter the water effectively, so it’s recommended the filter be replaced at least every six months. Follow refrigerator owner’s manuals for model-specific care and maintenance information.
7. Clean off refrigerator condenser coils
Over time, the condenser coils can collect dirt, dust, and hair which hinder the coils’ ability to dissipate the heat from the refrigerant passing through the coils. This can reduce the appliance’s efficiency and prevent it from cooling properly. You can use a condenser coil cleaner brush to periodically clean the debris off the coils to keep the refrigeration system in good condition.
8. Troubleshoot and repair appliances and equipment
Look for changes in performance and troubleshoot to fix issues as soon as possible to reduce energy consumption, avoid downtime, and prevent costlier repairs.
9. Check for water leakage
Inspect pipes and plumbing for water leakage. Check washing machine fill hoses for blistering and cracks. If damage is found, turn off the water supply and replace the fill hoses as soon as possible with stainless steel hoses.
Shop washing machine fill hoses
10. Use a pressure washer to thoroughly clean home siding and decks.
A gas or electric pressure washer is the ideal outdoor power equipment to give the outside of your home a thorough spring cleaning. If you don’t think you’ll use the pressure washer often, you can always rent the equipment for a day which will normally cost under $100.
11. Change batteries in carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.
Springtime is an ideal time to change the batteries in your home’s smoke detectors so you can always be alerted early if a fire breaks out. While deadly carbon monoxide leaks primarily come from a furnace’s damaged heat exchanger or flue pipe, and therefore more of a threat during colder months, it’s still important to replace the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector regularly to keep you and your family safe year ‘round.
Let Repair Clinic make it easy to find the parts your need
So, where can you find the tune-up kits to maintain your outdoor power equipment, the correct water filter for your refrigerator, or the replacement parts necessary to repair your home appliances? Start by entering the full model number of your appliance, equipment, or engine in the Repair Clinic.com search bar to identify the specific items that will work with that model. But more than just a supplier of genuine manufacturer replacement parts, Repair Clinic’s free advanced online repair help system empowers do-it-yourselfers to fix common problems associated with outdoor power equipment, home appliances, and heating & cooling equipment. It’s here that you’ll discover the most likely causes for appliance or equipment failure, along with thousands of “how-to” videos, articles, diagrams, and schematics that will take you, step-by-step, through the repair process so you can successfully complete the job yourself.