Get Prepared for Spring in Charleston

If you’re like me, when the weather gets warmer you spend a lot more time outside. As the cold weather finally recedes, now is the time to start thinking about ways you can get your house ready for warmer weather. Let’s go over some tips that will help you prepare your house, yard, and summer equipment for the season. Add these tips to your summer checklist, so you can spend more time enjoying the weather and less time worrying about the condition of your house.

GET AN AC TUNE-UP

We all know how hot it gets in the south especially if you spend as much time outdoors as I do. Having your AC inspected now can save you time before demand for these services goes up. A tune-up will make sure your unit is working efficiently, clean filters, proper levels of refrigerant, and the thermostat is calibrated. Getting an AC tune-up may even reduce your utility bill by more effectively controlling the inside temperature. Having an inspection done now can extend the life of your unit and possibly lower future maintenance costs. 

INSPECT YOUR ROOF

It's easy to forget about your roof when you rarely look at it. But, it's best to spot any problems now that have popped up after the winter months. If you are comfortable with being on a ladder you can do these yourself. If you don’t feel comfortable you can observe from the ground, walking around your house taking notes of anything odd you see. You want to look for cracked, crooked, or missing shingles. Also, look at any flashing for rust, cracked, loose, or missing caulk around skylights and pipes. If you went with the ladder option, you can clean out any debris that may be clogging your gutters while you're up there. Cleaning out your gutters now can save you from having water overflow behind your siding or entering into your foundation. 

GET YOUR TOOLS READY

With warmer weather comes outside chores. You’ll want to make sure you service any lawn mower, string trimmer, edger, leaf blower, and pressure washer. Also, check all your garden tools for any malfunctions and signs of wear. While you're outside check if any of your lawn furniture needs to be replaced. If you’re a foodie like me, you will want to scrub your grill and make sure it's clean and ready to go. When it's time to host guests, you want to be ready, having your outside equipment inspected can make it easier to plan. 

CLEAN YOUR WINDOWS

South Carolina has some of the most beautiful sunsets. You will enjoy looking outside a lot more when your windows are clean and maintained. Storm windows should be removed and cleaned before storing them away for the summer. Both sides of your windows should be cleaned and inspected for cracks or screen damage. Most modern windows tilt so that they are easier to clean. Inspect the caulk around your windows and see if any is missing or broken. Water seeping into your window seals can cause major problems down the road that you want to prevent. Resealing areas of concern now can prevent future water damage from happening.

Preparing your house for the summer is just as important as it is for the winter months. A lot can happen on the outside of our homes over the winter months. The sooner you perform these preventative maintenance tips, the more time you will have to enjoy this year's warm weather.

Call me today to talk about other things to do in the Charleston area.