• Check for loose or leaky gutters. Improper drainage can lead to water in the basement or crawl space. Make sure downspouts drain away from the foundation and are clear and free of debris. Low areas in the yard or next to the foundation should be filled with compacted soil. Spring rains can cause yard flooding, which can lead to foundation flooding and damage. Also, when water pools in these low areas in summer, it creates a breeding ground for insects.

Use a screwdriver to probe the wood trim around windows, doors, railings and decks.

• From the ground, examine roof shingles to see if any were lost or damaged during winter. If your home has an older roof covering, you may want to start a budget for replacement. The summer sun can really damage roof shingles. Shingles that are cracked, buckled or loose or are missing granules need to be replaced. Flashing around plumbing vents, skylights and chimneys need to be checked and repaired by a qualified roofer.

• When painting a surface that needs to be primed – new drywall or wood – tint the primer to match the finish coat, reducing your painting project from three coats to two.
• Sand the face of the hammer head with sandpaper to help the hammer grip the nail and prevent the nail head from slipping.
• Wrap paint rollers and brushes in a plastic bag between coats to keep them full of paint and prevent them from drying out.
• Don’t try to work with electrical or plumbing projects you are not confident about. It often costs more to repair later and can be dangerous.
• When drilling though ceramic tile or natural stone, place masking tape on the surface. This makes marking the tile easier and helps the drill bit stay in one place.
• When building or renovating your home, always print a budget breakdown. If you’re not sure how to do one, invest in a professional estimator or quantity surveyor to do it for you. The printout will show you the cost of every trade, nail and screw, giving you an accurate figure to base your budget on. This information is great for comparing quotes as you will have done the homework and know the costs!

Indoor Maintenance Tips

• Check your air conditioning system. If your AC doesn’t work during the  first hot day you try to use it, you’ll most likely have a very long and hot      wait before a repair man can fix it. You’ll be cranky from it being so hot out  and the repair man will likely be just as cranky if not more.

• Inspect or  replace your HVAC filter monthly.

• The clothes dryer vent and stove hood  should be regularly checked and cleaned.

• It’s likely that you have a  coil-back refrigerator. Be sure to vacuum the coils at least twice each year.  Clean coils help your refrigerator to run more efficiently. • Use non-toxic  soaps and cleaners to clean everything from top to bottom.

Here are some tips to help cope with cold weather:

Insulate all pipes located in

unheated areas, such as the garage

and garden areas. Inexpensive

foam insulation is available at

most home-improvement stores.

Have your yard sprinklers and backflow preventer

drained and winterized. Be sure to wrap the

backflow preventer with insulating material.

Disconnect outside hoses, wrap faucets and

cover them with plastic or faucet covers.

Cover crawl space vents when temperatures

dip below freezing. Remember to uncover

vents when the weather warms up.

At 20 degrees or less, turn on a small but

steady stream of cold water at the inside faucet

furthest from the water meter. Also, open cabinet

doors below the sink to let warm air circulate

around water pipes.

 If your pipes freeze and you know where the

frozen spot is, wrap the pipe with warm towels.

 Never use a flame or hair dryer to thaw

frozen pipes.