Stuck at home? Hit the to-do list

It’s spring anyway, so why not tackle some of those simple jobs that often get put off?

Spring is here. We’re in a unique position this year, where as many of us as possible are being asked to stay inside and keep our distance from each other. It’s tough — normally at this time of year, we’re planning get-togethers — this year, we’re trying to find ways to keep our families safe and entertained while we’re at home.

We all need to make some changes — but that doesn’t mean we can skip out on our regular maintenance. While we’re homebound for the next little while, it’s a good opportunity to strike off a few items from your to-do list.

These tasks don’t take much to do properly. If you need any supplies, they can be ordered online if you don’t have them on hand, and you can complete these jobs on your own if necessary.

CHECK THE EAVESTROUGHS

The eavestroughs along your roofline play an important role in your home’s health. Why? Well, their job is to prevent the water that runs off your roof from the rain, sleet, and snow melt from dropping right next to your home, where it can sneak in through the foundation and create problems with mould and rot.

After an especially harsh winter, you may find that the eavestrough has started to pull away from the roofline.

You’ll want to resecure the gutters to the roof to prevent any water from seeping through the cracks.

Clean out all the fallen leaves and debris that got missed during the fall. You can install a mesh screen over top of the gutters which keep the leaves on top, while the water is able to seep through as it’s supposed to. If you get tired of climbing the ladder, this is a really good solution.

Finally, you want to make sure the downspouts are expelling water far enough from your home. If they travel down the gutters and drain right down by your foundation what’s the point? Make sure that they expel at least 3 feet from the home.

KEEP THE AIR FLOWING

Everything we do in our home

creates moisture. Cooking, cleaning, bathing, even breathing will create some traces of moisture — and if that’s not dealt with properly, it can seep into the home’s structure and cause damage. Open the windows for a few minutes every day to promote a healthy air exchange. If you don’t have a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) to automatically perform that task for you, it’s an easy way to keep the moisture levels manageable. If you do have an HRV, make sure it always stays on. Another way to move air is to make use of your exhaust fans.

You should change your HVAC filters at least once per season. I usually change mine monthly, to ensure the unit’s running as efficiently as possible, but during the spring season, we tend to rely on the unit less, so you can probably get away with changing it once and leaving it until the summertime.

DO YOUR SPRING CLEANING

Check on the integrity of your outdoor structures. Rotting deck boards and fence posts

should be replaced quickly to prevent spread to the rest of the structure. Ensure the ledger board that connects the deck to the home is still connected and structurally sound. For any fence posts that need to be replaced, place the post below the frost line, so it doesn’t get heaved out of the ground next winter.

Once all your maintenance jobs are done — it’s time to give your home a thorough cleaning. Dust mites can trigger allergies and asthma. Items like your bed sheets, curtains, and couches can be huge magnets for dust mites, so wash them regularly. We love them, but pet dander can do a number to our allergies. Do your best to keep animals off the couch cushions.

If you’re a tool person, make sure to clean and lube them as necessary. It’s also a good time to change the oil in your lawn mower and snowblower.

We’re all in this together. Stay home, take care of yourself, take care of your family and take care of your home.

To find out more about Mike Holmes, visit makeitright.ca.