Spring Showers

4/10/2019 (Permalink)

With all the recent storms Southeastern Idaho has been having, it is a good idea to know how to prepare your house for these Spring showers. On www.hometips.com they offer these tricks and tips for a worry free spring.

• Inspect the house siding. Check for damage, cracks, and holes. Seal up leaks with paintable or clear caulk. Make sure the paint is in good condition. If it isn’t, consider getting the house painted before winter really sets in.
• Weatherstrip windows and doors to seal out drafts and minimize heat loss. For more, see Weatherstripping Windows and/or Door Weatherstripping Options.
• Prepare or install storm doors and windows. If your home has a combination storm/screen door with interchangeable glass and screen panels, switch from screens to glass (see Screen & Storm Door Buying Guide). Spray a little WD-40 on the storm door’s hinges and latches. Be sure the door closer is adjusted and working smoothly.

• Clean your gutters and downspouts. When gutters and downspouts clog with leaves and debris, water overflows and spills down where it can damage walls and footings. Please see Rain Gutter Cleaning & Maintenance.  If your house is beneath many trees, it’s smart to clear the gutters at the beginning of the season, and then clean them again after the first rain to remove leaves and debris that wash down from the roof.
• Check your roof, skylights, and flashing. The roof is the most obvious point of entry for rain. Please see How to Find & Fix a Roof Leak.  If checking your roof is more than you want to handle yourself, please see our affiliate partner, HomeAdvisor, to receive free bids from local asphalt shingle roof repair pros.
• Repair gutters and downspouts. Fix loose, sagging, or leaking gutters and make sure downspouts carry drainage well away from the house. For more, see How to Fix Rain Gutters & Downspouts.