Spring showers are here which means summer heat is near.  The sun shining through your windows is sure a welcome sight after winter months, but, the light maybe drawing attention to areas in need of a little spring care.  Routine home maintenance can help save you from headaches and costly repairs that could be avoided.  It can also help you to prepare and budget for any future repairs or upgrades your home may need.  Spring is the perfect time to tend to those home maintenance items we’ve been putting off since the end of fall, undo winter’s damage to our home, and get ready for the long hot summer.

To help you get started we’ve created a list of four simple home maintenance tasks you can tackle this spring that will help you to keep cool this summer:

Inspect Windows and Doors

If you have an air conditioner, make sure all that comfy cool air stays inside (and the summer heat stays out) by getting rid of leaks and drafts.  Winter weather can crack and harden caulk and other weather sealers.  To thoroughly inspect doors and windows for air leaks, start by trying to rattle them, since movement means possible air leaks.  If you can see daylight around a window or door frame, then the window or door leaks.  You can usually seal these leaks by weather stripping or caulking them.

Caulking and weather stripping can be an easy to do weekend project.  Use Caulk for stationary cracks, joints, or gaps less than one quarter inch wide.  On objects that are moveable, such as doors and operable windows, weather stripping should be used.  Sealing leaks is among the most cost-effective things you can do to conserve energy, increase comfort, prevent water damage, and reduce your air conditioning bill.

You may also want to consider replacing your old doors and windows with newer, high-performance ones.  In a lot of older homes, while replacing windows can be an expensive option, many times it’s actually more cost effective to replace them because eventually they will pay for themselves through lowered heating and cooling costs.  If factory-made doors or replacement windows are too over your budget, you can install low-cost plastic sheets over your existing windows to cut down on leaks and drafts.

Window Cleaning – Don’t Forget the Weep Holes

Welcome every beautiful ray of spring sunshine into your house by washing your window glass.  Cleaning your windows is probably not on your favorite things to-do list but, when you throw your windows open for the first time in the spring you can probably tell it’s time.  Your windows should be thoroughly cleaned at least once a year, and springtime is the perfect time to do it.  Not only will this improve the lifespan and performance of your windows, but it’s a great way to maintain your homes curb appeal.  You’ll be pleased with the transformation a good window cleaning can provide to make your home feel new again.

Now that you’ve added washing your windows to your spring maintenance list, don’t forget to clean out the weep holes and get rid of the dirt and debris that’s accumulated throughout the winter.  Weep holes are the vented slots at the bottom of a window frame that allow exterior drainage.  It’s normal for dirt to build up in these areas, so, make sure the openings are clear.

Check Window and Door Screens

Window and door screens are wonderful because they allow you to let in fresh air and sunlight into your home without inviting in annoying insects or other unwanted visitors.  Screens allow you to cool your house the cheap way.  In cooler parts of the summer you can reduce your electric bill by opening your windows at night and turning off the air conditioning.  Without regular maintenance window screens can become dirty or damaged and will eventually need to be replaced. It’s always less expensive to clean and maintain your screens than it is to replace them, so save yourself some money and take the time to take care of those screens.  To clean, gently scrub the screen on a flat surface with soapy water.  Patch holes in screen if needed.  Make sure screens are totally dry before placing them back into position.

Test Windows and Fresh Air

Open windows and doors when it’s nice out, let some fresh air in.  Maybe you can even catch a cross breeze. In addition to testing the operational function of your windows, opening the windows is also an effective way to naturally aerate your home and may freshen up your indoor air quality.  Take this opportunity to wipe down the interior of the window sills as they have likely collected dust, dirt, and mold over the winter months.  Once you’ve cleaned any dirt so that the windows open and close easily, lubricate the tracks and rollers with a dry silicone spray. (You may have to do this more often if you live in a coastal area)

At Dick’s Rancho Glass we have many years of window installation experience and are happy to serve homeowners throughout the Sacramento Area.  To keep your home beautiful and cool, we are proud to offer a large selection of high quality Milgard® windows.  To begin exploring your replacement window options, check out our gallery, give us a call, click here to contact us, or visit one of our two glass showrooms in the Sacramento region.