Nearly half of home insurance claims in the US are due to wind and hail, while almost 20% of all claims are due to water damage from burst pipes, and 23% are from fires.
The truth is a lot of the damage to your home can be prevented if you know what cleaning and maintenance steps to follow throughout the year. Spring is the perfect time for this, so learning spring cleaning tips to keep your home safe is essential.
Are you ready to learn about six spring cleaning tips that will help protect your home and prevent losses? Keep reading this guide to learn what you need to know!
1. Clean and Repair All Outside Structures
Spring is the perfect time to take an overall survey of your house. Some of the most significant hazards often get overlooked, especially during the winter. Make a checklist of important aspects of your structures and carefully examine each one.
First, check around your sidewalk and driveway for cracks and holes. Depending on the material used in your home, you should also check for rotting wood or broken bricks. Leaving this can lead to further damage, water leaks, and leave space for various animals to enter your home.
Check your deck, outside doors, and windows for rotting boards and raised nails. Finally, visually check your roof for signs of loose shingles, nails, or damaged skylights. Take this time to power-wash the siding of your home, windows, and porches.
Doing this at least once a year is one of the best ways to protect your home. You’ll be able to spot damage before it becomes a severe issue.
2. Clean Your HVAC System
Spring is almost here, and you’ll soon need to switch to your AC when the days start warmer. But cleaning out your entire HVAC system is essential before you start up your AC.
This is because when your AC unit isn’t in use, the trays that collect condensation from the unit can sustain damage. When this occurs, water leaks and damage to the AC unit itself can occur. Water damage can extend to other areas of your home, like the walls, carpeting, and other surfaces.
It’s best to have an HVAC professional come in and do a full inspection before the temperatures heat up.
3. Clean Your Gutters
As winter melts into spring, the changing temperatures and weather patterns can do a number on your gutters. It’s easy to forget that gutters are crucial to home maintenance.
Gutters can quickly become clogged with leaves, dirt, and debris, which prevents them from draining properly. Water builds up and sits on your roof, damaging the shingles and other structures.
Ultimately, this causes leaks, water damage, and even flooding in your home.
How to Clean Your Gutters
While cleaning your gutters, pay attention to areas where ice may have formed around the edge of your roof. Ice dams form after water freezes and melts during fluctuating temperatures. Eventually, it can get under your shingles and enter through the attic and ceilings of your home.
If you notice roof damage, be sure to call in a professional company for an inspection. It’s also best to have roof inspections at least twice yearly in the spring and fall.
4. Check for Mold and Water Damage
Water damage in your home can sneak up on you after winter, so you’ll need to prioritize this. During the winter, pipes leak and freeze, often unnoticed. In addition, temperature fluctuations can weaken connections and joints in pipes.
Your first step is to begin cleaning the structures in your home, like the walls or ceilings. Look for wet spots, small cracks, discoloration, and paint flaking.
Other subtle signs include dampness and a musty odor. If you see any mold, it’s a sure sign that you have water somewhere it shouldn’t be.
What to Do if You Find Mold
If you come across mold, you must take care of it immediately. Mold can pose a health risk, so it’s best to call a mold remediation specialist. If your home has extensive mold, you may need to move out temporarily until it’s resolved.
5. Clean Yard Materials
Remember, spring cleaning means your yard too. During the winter, dead branches, twigs, and other debris can build up in your yard. High winds can blow around branches and twigs, causing damage to the roof, windows, and structure of your home.
You also need to protect your home by trimming and pruning shrubs along with proper weed and pest control. This will help prevent damage to vital structures in your home, like screens and windows.
Creating a yard cleanup checklist is the best way to stay organized. You can begin by removing refuse and trimming trees and shrubs, then moving on to getting your garden ready.
6. Clean Your Dryer Hose
Home dryers are one of the leading causes of house fires in the United States each year. In fact, 34% of home dryer fires result from improper or lack of cleaning of the dryer and dryer hose.
Cleaning and checking your dryer vent and hose should be on your spring cleaning list since most people are less likely to do this during winter.
First, you’ll need to unplug your dryer and locate the vent. Check for a white or silver hose coming from the back of your dryer, usually about 4 to 5 inches wide. Then, move the dryer away from the wall and use a screwdriver to loosen the hose clamps.
Have a drop cloth handy and a trash bag ready to catch debris. Carefully remove the debris and vacuum the area. There are also companies that do this type of service.
Use These Spring Cleaning Tips to Protect Your Home
Knowing these spring cleaning tips will help keep your home safe year-round.
Your next step is ensuring you have the insurance coverage you need so your home is protected no matter what. The good news is you can turn to NorthEast Insurance Services for your homeowner’s insurance needs.
We’ve been providing quality insurance products since 1983 and are dedicated to finding a policy that works for you and your family. We strive to give you a broad choice of insurance products with competitive pricing. Be sure to visit us online to request a quote!