Spring is finally here. It may have seemed like that brutal winter would never end, but a new season is here. As of March 20th, winter is over and spring has sprung. Unfortunately, this does not mean the end of potential home insurance issues. With the new season comes new challenges that all homeowners must face. Thankfully, there are actions that you can take now to prevent several of the possible springtime hazards.
Here are a few of the most important home maintenance tips that you can take in the beginning of spring to help ensure a happy home:
Take care of your roof.
Now that the threat of ice dams is waning, you should make sure to check your roof for damage that may have taken place during the winter. Leaks could be an issue if an ice dam damaged your roof, and can be fixed with a call to a roofer and a simple home insurance claim. Also check for any damaged shingles that need to be replaced – this should be taken care of by a roofing professional before those pesky “April Showers” come along.
Now is also the perfect time to check your gutters for damage and bending. Gutter repairs are simple, and can help to ensure that spring and summer rain is properly diverted away from your home. In addition, make sure that you keep an eye on your gutters during the year for blockages. This is more of a concern in autumn, but being aware of the state of your gutters is always a good idea for a cautious homeowner.
Prepare for rising temperatures.
We’re all excited to put coats and scarves into storage for a few months, but your home needs some work before it will be ready to handle the warmer weather. The most important thing that you need to do to prepare your home is to take care of your air conditioner. Change or clean your filters, and check your refrigerant levels. It is also good to keep an eye on the condensing coil for blockages.
Perform “Spring Cleaning” tasks.
There are several tasks that need to be done in your home annually. Since spring is traditionally a time of refreshment and new life, it seems like a perfect time to check off some of these tasks, like testing and changing the batteries in your home’s smoke detectors! Some other tasks that you should consider include having professionals come to clean your sump pump and your hidden built-up dryer lint.
Don’t neglect your automobile.
Don’t make the fatal mistake of focusing solely on your home and forgetting about your vehicle! The winter is hard on cars, so take this opportunity to check and refresh your motor oil and clean out your fuel system. Also have a professional check your tires to make sure that they are wearing evenly. If not, you should consider a tire rotation. Also, there’s nothing like a good thorough wash to get off all of the winter salt!
If you need a Massachusetts auto or home insurance quote, look no further than the insurance experts here at Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency. Call 617-298-0655 and one of our agents will give you a free quote, and answer all of your questions.
