Written By – Michael Dux, Service Manager

With the first day of spring arriving tomorrow, March 20th, it’s time to look forward to enjoying the amazing beauty that is the Pacific Northwest. It’s also a good time to do a little spring cleaning and home maintenance.

We’ll leave the spring cleaning checklist to you, though here’s a list that might help with taking care of the home itself.

• Clear any debris inside the gutters.

• Look to make sure that the gutters are still flush to the fascia and that the down spouts are still straight and drain away from the home.

• Some manufactured homes have a vent along the marriage line roof where the two sections come together. Look for loose shingles or debris that might have blown in.

• Look for missing shingles or shingles that have popped up.

• Check the chimney for signs of damage.

• Examine any decks, stairs, or landings for damaged or splintered wood.

• Check caulking at windows and doorways, and trim. Rework as necessary.

• Remove any debris that may have piled up near or around the home.

• Check the hose bibs, though it might not be time to take those insulating covers off just yet. 

• Check your multi use fire extinguisher to make sure it’s full and in a good location.

• Clean out the clothes dryer exhaust vent.

• Check and replace any burnt out light bulbs. Consider changing to LED lighting for cost savings, and change the batteries in your smoke / carbon monoxide detectors.

• Clean / Replace the Air Handler (Furnace) filter.

• Inspect your exterior heat pump or AC for debris both inside and outside.