LGBT Senior’s Around the House: Spring-erizing Your Home

Spring Has Sprung — And So Should You: A Home Checkup for the Season

I waited a long time for the cold weather to finally makes its way out, but now that spring is here there are lots of things to do to and around the house. There’s also the semi-annual ‘spring cleaning’ (I don’t do this just once a year – it’s not an apartment!). There are eaves to clean out, porches to sweep, vines to trim, and vegetables to plant. And weather you live in house, an apartment, or you’re sharing a living space with someone, there are always things to do when the temperatures rise. Let’s take a tour …

Spring is the perfect time to do a walkthrough of your home — inside and out — and take care of the small stuff before it becomes the expensive stuff. You don’t have to do it all in one weekend. Think of it as a stroll through your space with fresh eyes.

Start Outside

Winter is hard on a house. Walk the perimeter and look up. Check your gutters for debris — leaves, twigs, and whatever else settled in over the cold months. A clogged gutter can send water right where you don’t want it, against your foundation or into your walls. While you’re up there (or hiring someone who is), check that downspouts are directing water away from the house.

Look at your roof if you can safely do so from the ground. Missing or curled shingles after a rough winter are worth a call to a roofer before spring rains do their worst.

Check your driveway and walkways for cracks that freeze-thaw cycles may have widened. A tube of concrete caulk or crack filler is cheap. A tripping hazard is not.

Windows and Doors

Open every window. Yes, all of them. Check the seals, look for cracks in the frames, and make sure screens are intact. Replace any that aren’t — screens are your first defense against the insects that would very much like to join you for dinner this summer.

While you’re at it, check weatherstripping on exterior doors. If you can see daylight around the edges, your air conditioning will work harder than it needs to all summer long.

Inside the House

Replace the filters in your HVAC system if you haven’t done so recently. This is the one task that makes an immediate difference in air quality and system efficiency, and it takes about five minutes.

Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Press the button. If the batteries are more than a year old, swap them out today. This is not the task to put off.

Check under sinks for any slow leaks that may have developed over winter. Look at the caulking around your tub and shower. A small bead of new caulk now prevents water damage and mold later.

The Bigger Picture

None of this has to be done alone. If mobility or health makes some of these tasks difficult, many communities have senior services that offer home safety checks or connect you with volunteers. Don’t let pride stand between you and a safe, comfortable home.

Spring is a season of renewal. A little attention to your home now means more time this summer doing the things you actually enjoy — whether that’s gardening, entertaining, or simply sitting on the porch with someone you love.