When you become a homeowner, maintenance is a part of the package. Everybody has heard of spring cleaning, but the reality is you have to prepare your home for summer, winter, and fall as well.

Use the tips below as a guideline for planning out your seasonal home maintenance schedule.

 

Pest Control: All Four Seasons

Any pest control technician will tell you pest control is seasonal. The weather has a huge impact on insect behavior around the home. For instance, during the winter some insects like ladybugs move inside to stay warm.

The best pest control companies in your area will know which pests pose the biggest threat season by season. As such, they’ll adjust your services to make sure your property is properly protected. Ask about the possibility of signing up for a quarterly treatment plan so your pest control is on autopilot.

HVAC Tune-Up: Spring and Fall

You don’t want to wait until the heat of summer has set in to learn that your HVAC system needs repair. That’s why experts recommend getting an HVAC inspection and tune-up in the spring. You can catch problems early and HVAC companies won’t be charging a premium for services.

It’s also recommended to get an HVAC tune-up in the fall. The tune-up will prepare the system for keeping the house nice and toasty throughout the winter.

 

Gutter Cleaning: Fall and Spring

Gunk in your gutters can cause major problems, especially during heavy spring showers. That’s why you’ll want to clear the gutters out at the start of spring once new leaves are beginning to sprout.

A build-up of gutter gunk can be equally bad in the winter. If leaves pile up, icicles are more likely to form and the gunk could freeze over, which could cause roof damage.

*Special note: if you have pine trees that hang over your gutters cleaning needs to be more frequent. Inspect them once every three months or at the start of each season to see if pine needles need to be cleared out.

Yard Clean Up: Fall

Lawn and yard maintenance is a regular occurrence throughout the year. However, there’s one season where a major yard clean up is needed.

During the fall you’ll want to get the yard ready for the winter by cutting the grass, raking up all the leaves and clearing out the debris. It’s also a good idea to cover or store outdoor furniture if you live in an area that experiences freezing temperatures.

Getting your yard cleaned up before winter sets in doesn’t just get it through the winter weather. It also helps ensure your yard is healthy when spring rolls around.

 

Weatherizing Around Windows and Doors: Spring

Your house may seem air-tight, but chances are you’ll find a number of air leaks if you look around the windows and doors. Those air leaks are increasing your monthly energy bills, allowing insects inside and making it less comfortable indoors.

But there’s a simple solution – weatherizing. With a little bit of caulk and weather stripping, you can get cracks and crevices sealed up. The spring is the best time to weatherize since you can catch damage that was caused by the rough weather and get it fixed before the summer heat sets in.

Use these weatherizing tips from Energy.gov to seal up the air leaks around your house.

 

Water Heater Draining: Spring

It’s easy to forget about the hot water heater – until it stops working. The easiest way to prevent problems and increase the lifespan of a hot water heater is to drain it once a year. You can do this during any season, but the springtime is usually best. Add it to your spring cleaning list to remove all the sediment that’s built up over the fall and winter.

 

Sealing the Deck: Spring

Many homeowners mistakenly think sealing a deck once means it’s good for years. But if you want to keep the wood looking it’s best and improve longevity, it’s best to seal the deck once a year. This is a chore that should go on the spring seasonal maintenance list. Just make sure there’s no rain in sight for at least 2-3 days.

 

There are plenty of other tasks to do around the home as well. What are some of your favorites and least favorites?