Spring Home Checklist
Open Foundation Vents
Make sure to open all your vents to allow for air circulation under your home. This helps prevent mold and mildew growth.
Spray For Ants
This is typically needed annually. Spring is when carpenter ants hatch and the best time to spray. It is also a good time to refresh your mice bait and traps.
Seal Your Driveway
We typically recommend a crack fill and driveway sealing every 2-4 years.
Get Your Windows Cleaned
Always a tough one to schedule with spring storms, pollen, etc, but ultimately your windows will always look better.
Exterior Staining/Painting
Most homes need to be stained or painted every 3-5 years. Horizontal surfaces (decks and railings) should be done annually.
Repair Your Roof
If you have a composition roof it’s common for shingles to get damaged from ice dams, especially at the eaves. Metal roofs often need a ‘tune-up’ every 1-2 years as the screws back out and metal bends. Tahoe Donner’s new 360 inspection program is targeting roof damage and exposed metal (among other things).
Service Your Furnace
HVAC contractors are not as busy in the Spring so it is a good time to get a furnace tune up.
Install a WiFi Thermostat
This is a great product to allow you to monitor your homes temperature (and get alerts if the temperature gets too low). Turn up the furnace as you pass through Auburn and turn it back down remotely after you or your guests leave, all from your smartphone.
Clean Your Chimney
You should clean your chimney after burning 1-2 cords of wood. Contractors are not as busy in the Spring, so it may be better to get it done now. Also, consider purchasing your firewood or energy logs now to get the best prices and make sure it is properly seasoned.
Perform Defensible Space
Good for both fire safety and aesthetics. Check with Tahoe Donner and other local agencies for minimum firebreak and clearing requirements.
Spring Cleaning
The ‘shoulder season’ is a great time to have your home ‘deep cleaned’. It is also a great time to purge those items that are taking up space.
Install Carbon Monoxide Detector(s)
Simply put, this is a life safety item that every home MUST have. It is now the law.
Service Your Garage Door
This should be done every 1-4 years to prevent more costly repairs and to insure that your garage door works safely and properly.
Clean Your Carpets
A regular steam clean can help make carpets last longer and will get many stains out that household cleaning products may not be able to accomplish. It also helps to remove allergens that get trapped in your carpet.
Fix Your Garbage Can Enclosure
Consider getting one installed if you don’t have one yet. If you do already have one, it might be time for some touch up painting and pressure wash/cleaning of the inside.
Test Your Home For Radon
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the decay of uranium, an element present in granite rock. Because of the prevalence of granite around the Truckee/Tahoe area our homes are at a heightened risk of radon exposure.
Looking For More Home Improvement Ideas?
The Truckee Home & Building Show is held every Memorial Day Weekend at Truckee High School.