No matter what the groundhog says, winter is almost over. That's not always the case in Montana were I have personally experienced snow in every single month of the calendar year. You know what they say, "If you don't like the weather in Montana, then just wait 30 minutes!"
Anyway, this just gets me thinking as a home inspector about the kinds of things we should all be looking at now that the snow is starting to melt.
1. Gutters - it's a good time to make sure that your gutters are free of debris. I know that you are a conscientious homeowner and that you did this before the snow fell, but I still recommend it. If your gutters get clogged when all of the snow starts melting, it could lead to some moisture issues in your attic, on your fascia and potentially you siding as well.
2. Attics - for those adventurous homeowners out there, warmer weather is a good time to pop your head up in the attic with a flash light and look at the underside of your roof, called the sheathing, for any damp spots where water from the roof could be penetrating into the attic.
3. Furnace - with all the hard work that your furnace has had to do in the cold montana winter, it is a good idea to have a tune up done by a qualified professional. Check your furnace filters (especially if you have pets) and replace them if dirty.
4. Siding - look for any new penetrations in your siding. What I mean is any hole or crack or exposed nail head that could allow water to penetrate through the siding. Spring and caulk walk hand in hand as far as I am concerned. Look at the paint on your siding, trim and fascia. Make sure that the paint is not starting to peel.
5. Dryer vent - make sure the vent does not have any accumulated lint built up that could impair the airflow.
6. Foundation - look for any new or enlarged cracks in your foundations. Again, for the adventurous out there, hop down into your crawlspace and look for any dampness on the foundation walls, or on the ground. Hopefully, you have covered up the ground in your crawlspace with plastic. Doing so can lower the relative humidity in your crawlspace and will help prevent mold and radon issues. If you have foundation vents, remember to open them up in the spring to keep the crawlspace well ventilated. This also, will help protect against mold and radon and will help to keep your house cool in the warmer seasons.
Those are the primary things that are on my mind right now. My ever-so-organized wife, whom I love with the burning intensity of a thousand suns, wants to make sure you're planning out your garden and getting ready for your spring cleaning. Planning and organizing are just as important as getting the job done!
Wamest regards,
Terry Lorenz - Criterion Home Inspection, LLC
http://www.CriterionHomeInspection.com
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