Spring Maintenance Checklist Peoria IL

Ah, it’s time for spring again. Different regions have different sorts of spring—in some places it’s cool and rainy, and in others it’s hot and dry. No matter what kind of spring you have, these steps can help during the transition from winter into summer.

Inside the Home

To enjoy the spring and prepare for summer, be sure everything is in working order.

• Inspect ceiling and room fans, and clean the blades
• Clean screens for doors and windows before hanging in place
• Examine and repair screens in doors and windows
• Wash windows to enjoy the longer days
• Check exhaust fans and vents, and clean and remove any buildup
• Change air conditioner filters    
• Check smoke detectors
• Spray for insects
• Clean out the fireplace, removing ashes and inspecting any moving parts and gaskets
• Do your spring cleaning
  • Dust walls and ceilings
  • Clean and condition woodwork
  • Clean curtains and draperies
  • Wash and polish furniture
• Examine plumbing, including toilets, faucets, and drains
• Look for swarms of termites around the house

Outside the Home

With spring rains approaching and summer on the way, take some time to check the exterior of your home.

• Check the roof for winter wear and tear
• Clean gutters and downspouts
• Check lightning rods and grounds
• Equip everything protruding from your roof with a lightning arrester
• Check and maintain the evaporative cooler
• Service the air conditioner and clean the condenser coils
• Repair cracks in siding and shingles
• Examine and repair caulking in windows
• Find your main sewer line and carefully remove any trees near it; roots seek out moisture and may eventually destroy pipes
• Trim trees and shrubs away from exterior walls and roof
• Check the outdoor barbecue for insects, spiders, and birds—and remove them
• Condition the deck
  • Hammer in loose or protruding nails, or replace them with galvanized deck screws
  • Replace broken boards and rails
  • Clean dirt and mildew from the wood, and then apply an all-weather sealer or stain
  • Set up patio furniture
• Check fences, and repair any broken fence boards
• Clean the pool

In the Garage

During the spring, your garage is a comfortable place to prepare for summer.

• Clean the garage to gear up for summer projects
• Bag up items that you no longer use, and haul away or donate them
• Inspect your yard and garden tools to be sure they’re ready for use
• Tune up your lawnmower
• Check for leaks in the doors and repair them
• Check for places that need to be painted and take care of them
• Examine and repair the weather stripping at the bottom of the garage door
• Lubricate garage door tracks, hinges, and rollers
• Lubricate entrance door hinges and check weather stripping

In the Yard

The freezing and thawing of winter can cause damage to trees, walkways, and entryways.

• Check trees for dead and dying branches and remove them
• Examine outdoor steps and walkways, straightening or repairing as necessary
• Check the grout between bricks and flagstones, repairing if necessary
• Check the gates, and lubricate latches and hinges
• Regrade where necessary
• Replant any trees, shrubs, or plants that have been uprooted by winter storms

In the Garden

With the arrival of spring, you can begin your early garden work.

• Fill your birdfeeders in time for migrating species
• Add mulch to your flowers and trees
• Fertilize the lawn, trees, and flower beds
• Prune dead branches from shrubs
• Clear flower beds of frozen blooms and leaves
• Turn the compost
• Use a mulching mower to spread clippings evenly over the lawn to fertilize naturally
• Loosen the soil around perennials
• Plant annuals
• Plant your vegetable garden
• Turn on outdoor water supply
• Hook up the garden hose, and inspect it for cracks or leaks

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