Every year, I swear I’m going to embrace that “Spring Cleaning” thing …. pull out the heavy furniture and vacuum underneath, air out the drapes, wipe down every surface in the house. And every spring goes by with my typical “lick and a promise” cleaning, the usual mopping or dusting that doesn’t quite reach the places that only get cleaned when we MOVE OUT. But while the dust bunnies are not harmful or damaging, there are a few things you might want to put on your mental Spring Cleaning list that can save you money in the long run.
1. Clean your gutters. With spring and summer rains coming, it’s so important to clear out the leaves and pine needles that have accumulated over the last year. If you live in Colorado, you know how unpredictable the weather is, to the point of epic flooding. Water that is not carried away from your home via your gutters and downspouts can seep down to your foundation, potentially causing damage that can be costly.
2. Consider upgrading your gutters and downspouts. Older homes typically have 3″ gutters, but the new standard is 5″. If your gutters are starting to rot or separate, think about installing larger ones that can handle a heavy downpour.
3. Check your drainage while you’re at it. As you walk around your house, cleaning the gutters, make sure water will run away from your house, not toward the foundation. A peripheral drain will help keep water from running into your basement or crawlspace, keeping mold and other air quality issues at bay. If you think you need an expert to look at the drainage surrounding your home, give us a call. Remember that while rain is one obvious cause of wet basements and foundation damage, groundwater or underground springs are not as apparent, but just as damaging.
4. Keep your sewer free and clear. Have a reputable company snake your sewer yearly. (Call us for a referral if you need one.) If you are not sure about the condition of your main line, we can camera the line and give you an honest assessment. Then, once your line is clear and any roots are freshly cut, use a foaming root killer to keep those roots from infiltrating the line. Since roots typically grow into the top of the pipe, we prefer the foaming root killer instead of using something like copper sulfate that will flush through the bottom of the pipe.
The structure of your home needs upkeep as much as the interior. Save one of these beautiful Colorado days for a bit of work and protect your investment for years to come!