Home Maintenance Tips for Spring

[Source - CMHC]
Protect Your Home — and Your Investment!

One of CMHC’s Home Maintenance Tips for Spring is to make sure your sump pump is operating properly before the spring thaw sets in, and ensure the discharge pipe allows water to drain away from the foundation.If you're like most Canadians, your home is probably your most important investment. It's also the place where you and your family tend to spend a great deal of time. A regular schedule of seasonal maintenance can help you protect that investment for years to come, and help keep your home — and your family — healthy, safe and sound all year round.

This spring, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has a short checklist of simple inspections and repairs that can help you put a stop to the most common and costly problems before they occur, in as little as a few minutes a week, including:

Check your furnace, air exchanger and air conditioner filters, and clean or replace them if needed.

Check and clean your range hood filters on a monthly basis.

Make sure all indoor and outdoor air vents (intake, exhaust and forced air) are clear of snow and debris.

From the ground or any overlooking windows, check your roof for missing or damaged shingles. Have any damaged ones repaired.

Check the condition of caulking around windows and doors. Replace as necessary.

Test ground fault circuit interrupter(s) on electrical outlets each month by pushing the test button, which should cause the reset button to pop up.

Consult your hot water tank owner’s manual and follow its recommendations for testing the temperature and pressure relief valve to ensure it isn’t stuck. If you are unsure, consult a plumber.

Shut down and clean the furnace humidifier, and close the furnace humidifier damper on units with central air conditioning.

Have your fireplace or woodstove and chimney cleaned and serviced as needed.
Clear all drainage ditches and culverts of debris.

Check smoke, carbon monoxide and security alarms, and replace their batteries.
Clean all windows, screens and window hardware. Repair any holes in screens or replace them if necessary.

Open the valve to the outside hose connection once any danger of frost has passed.
Examine the foundation walls for cracks, leaks or signs of moisture, and repair them if required.

Repair and paint fences as needed.

Make sure your sump pump is operating properly before the spring thaw sets in, and ensure the discharge pipe allows water to drain away from the foundation.

Re-level any exterior steps or decks which may have moved due to frost or settling.
Clean any debris from eavestroughs and downspouts, reattach any sections that are loose, and make sure they are securely attached to your home and that the flow of water discharges away from your foundation.

Have well water tested for quality, and test for bacteria every six months.

Carry out any spring landscaping and, if necessary, fertilize young trees.

For more information or a free copy of the "About Your House" fact sheet Home Maintenance Schedule and other fact sheets on owning, maintaining or renovating your home, ask CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit our Web site at www.cmhc.ca. For over 60 years, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has been Canada’s national housing agency, and a source of objective, reliable housing expertise.

For story ideas or to access CMHC experts or expertise, contact CMHC Media Relations — National Office at: 613-748-2799 or by e-mail: media@cmhc-schl.gc.ca