Spring is the natural moment to check what winter left behind. A calm walk around the house now finds small problems while they are still small, and gets your cooling and yard ready before the heat arrives.
Clear the gutters and check the roof
Winter fills gutters with debris and can loosen shingles. From the ground, look for missing or curled shingles and clear leaves so spring rain drains away from the foundation instead of pooling against it. Water that cannot drain is the source of most basement and foundation trouble.
Wake up your cooling system
Before the first hot day, replace the AC filter, gently clear leaves and debris from around the outdoor unit, and run the system briefly to confirm it cools. Catching a problem in spring is far easier than waiting on a repair during the first heat wave.
Reset the yard and exterior
Check the deck and fence for loose boards, look at exterior caulk and paint that winter may have cracked, and test outdoor faucets and irrigation for leaks now that freezing is past. A slow spring walk turns up the little fixes that are easy to ignore.
Give the outdoor AC unit at least two feet of clearance on all sides. Plants and stored items that crowd it make the system work harder and cost you more all summer.
Spring reset kit
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Common questions
When should I turn on my air conditioner for the first time?
Test it on a mild day before you actually need it, ideally in early spring. That gives you time to book a repair before the first heat wave if something is wrong.
How often do gutters really need cleaning?
Twice a year is a good rule, once in spring and once in fall. Homes surrounded by trees may need it more often to keep water draining away from the foundation.
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