Spring Home Maintenance: These 10 things should be on your checklist

1. Roof Inspection (From the Ground)

‍Heavy snow, ice dams, and winter storms can loosen shingles or damage flashing without you ever noticing. You don't need to climb up there – grab a pair of binoculars and walk around the house.

Look for:

• • Missing, cracked, or curled shingles
• • Damaged flashing around chimneys or vents
• • Sagging spots or visible debris
• • Moss or algae growth (a sign of moisture retention)

If something looks off, call a roofer before the spring rains really pick up. A small repair now is a fraction of the cost of fixing water damage later.

💡Tipp: A complete overview of all tasks can be found here in our home maintenance checklist.

2. Clean Out Gutters and Downspouts

This one is critical. Clogged gutters are one of the leading causes of basement flooding and foundation damage. So cleaning your gutters is a must do. After winter, you'll likely find a mix of leaves, twigs, shingle granules, and the occasional surprise (we once found a tennis ball, don't ask).

Quick tips:

• • Wear gloves and use a sturdy ladder
• • Flush downspouts with a garden hose to check water flow
• • Look for rust, sagging brackets, or separation from the fascia

3. Check the Facade for Frost Damage

Water has a sneaky way of getting into the tiniest cracks. When it freezes, it expands – and over a winter, that can blow out small chunks of plaster, brick, or render. This is called frost spalling, and it's a big deal if you ignore it.

Small cracks can be filled with exterior-grade filler. Anything wider than a pencil? That's worth a closer look or maybe even a chat with a professional.

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4. Reactivate Outdoor Water Connections

If you shut off your outdoor faucets and irrigation system for winter, now's the time to bring them back to life. But go slow cause this is when burst pipes reveal themselves.

💡Tip: While you're out there, give your window sills and outdoor surfaces a good scrub, winter grime adds up.

5. Service Windows and Doors

Spring is the perfect moment to give your windows and doors a little TLC. Honestly, this is one of those tasks that takes maybe an hour but makes such a difference, both for comfort and energy bills.

Here's what to do:

• • Inspect the seals. Are they still soft and flexible, or are they cracked and brittle? Replace any damaged weatherstripping.
• • Clean the frames and tracks. Dirt buildup wears out mechanisms faster than you'd think.
• • Lubricate hinges and locks with a bit of silicone spray, not WD-40 (it attracts dust).

Windows and doors can account for 10–20% of heating and cooling costs. Tightening things up now pays off all year.

6. Care for Wooden Elements

Decks, fences, pergolas, carports, garden sheds, anything wooden took a beating this winter. Now's the time to assess what needs a fresh coat of stain, sealant, or paint.

Done every couple of years, this kind of upkeep can easily double the lifespan of your outdoor wood.

7. Ventilation Systems and Filter Cleaning

Pollen season is right around the corner and if anyone in your household has allergies, this one's a game-changer.

Whether you have a central HVAC system, a heat recovery ventilation unit, or just simple extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom, clean or replace the filters now.

Clean filters mean better air quality, less strain on your system, and lower energy bills. Triple win.

8. Switch Heating to Summer Mode

Heating season is winding down, so it's time to switch your boiler or furnace over to summer mode. This usually meaning it'll only run for hot water from now on.

While you're at it:

• • Check the water pressure on the boiler gauge (most should sit between 1 and 1.5 bar)
• • Top up if needed
• • Listen for unusual noises
• • Schedule your annual service if you haven't already

Most heating professionals are way less busy in spring and summer which means faster appointments and sometimes better rates.

9. Prep the Outdoor Living Areas

This is the fun part. Sweep terraces, driveways, and walkways. Pressure-wash if needed. Check outdoor lighting and replace any dead bulbs, ideally with LEDs if you haven't switched yet.

There's something deeply satisfying about reclaiming your outdoor space after winter. Even an hour of work makes the whole place feel alive again.

10. Lawn Care – But Not Too Much, Too Fast

Here's where a lot of homeowners get overeager. I get it that you want that lush, green carpet by May. But your lawn needs to wake up gently.

Do this first:

• • Gently rake away leftover leaves and small twigs
• • Let sunlight reach the grass
• • Check for bare patches and signs of moss

Wait on this:

• • Heavy fertilizing
• • Aggressive dethatching or scarifying
• • First mow (until grass is consistently growing and the ground isn't soggy)

Spring fertilizer applied too early just washes away in the next rain, wasting your money and potentially polluting groundwater. Patience pays off here.

💡Tip: Check out the checklist of the most common mistakes when mowing the lawn.