Are you getting spring fever? Ready to start digging your hands into some garden soil or jump-start the spring cleaning around your house? Here are 10 helpful tips to get your house and homestead ready for the warmer weather.
1. Trim Trees Around Your House
Check for overgrowth of limbs that might be rubbing up against your paint, siding, or roof. If you’re not able (or willing) to do the trimming yourself, hire it out to a local tree-trimming company with the equipment to access those hard-to-reach limbs. Otherwise, you might be having to do some unwanted roof repairs later!
2. Change the Batteries in Your Smoke Detector
Some people change their smoke detector batteries when it’s time to set their clocks forward and back. Others plan it around Memorial and Labor Day or sporting events. Whatever works for you, stick with it. They won’t change themselves!
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3. Get Your Lawnmower Ready
Plan a day to get your lawnmower up and running again after it’s been tucked in storage for the past few months. Change the oil, charge the battery, and get the blades sharpened up. Otherwise you’ll be giving your lawn a head start and the risk of looking pretty shaggy while you play catch up with your equipment.
http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/slideshows/15-spring-home-maintenance-tips?slide=13
4. Check Your Widow and Door Seals
Leaky windows and door frames can impact your monthly electric bill. As the heat outdoors starts to crank up, so will your air conditioner. Do a simple check of all windows and exterior doors to find possible air leaks so that you can seal them off in a timely manner.
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5. Drain Your Water Heater
Throughout the year, sediments can settle inside of your water heater. Not only does this clog it up and accelerate deterioration, it means it takes longer to get warm water to your morning shower. Extend the life of your water heater by fully draining it at least once a year.
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6. Clean Out Your Gutters
Your trees are getting their spring leaves, which means they’re through shedding off the old ones. There’s a good chance that your gutters are full, too. Get ready for the April Showers by performing one good cleaning of your entire gutter system so that the spring rainfalls won’t do any unwanted damage to your foundation or landscaping.
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7. Check the Chimney
Your chimney is one of the top sources of leaks come springtime rains. Check the masonry work around it to be sure that everything is properly sealed. Be sure to examine the area where the chimney meets your roof and shingles as well. Since you’re through with burning fires for the season, now is also a convenient time to have a certified chimney sweep come out and conduct a good cleaning of the flue.
8. Service Your Air Conditioner Unit
Now that it’s time to crank up the AC again, the last thing you want on a hot day is for the unit to go out. Have a qualified technician come out to make sure everything is running properly, no parts need to be replaced, and examine the coils.
9. Start Your Garden — Indoors!
Once you start to prep your garden for your spring planting, you can get a jump start by growing your seedlings indoors. This can buy you some extra time if you need to clear the soil of dead leaves, unwanted pests, or do some tilling work.
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10. Plan Your Planting and Harvesting Schedule
It’s easy to want to get ahead of yourself when it comes to gardening. Spend some time planning out when which plants will be put in according to the best growing and harvesting seasons. That way you’ll get more out of your garden once the summer is over!
http://lifehacker.com/top-10-ways-to-get-your-dream-garden-ready-this-year-1691415272
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