What is the first thing you think of when you think of spring? Flowers? Easter? Spring break? Home maintenance?

For homeowners, home repairs and maintenance may not be the first thoughts on your mind, but they should be near the top. Whether it’s planting flowers, trimming hedges or doing a little cleaning, spring is the perfect time to address little problems around your home.

Just as your body requires an annual physical, your home could use a similar checkup. Regular home maintenance reduces the risk of major damage and saves money in the long run. And a well-maintained home increases your home’s value if and when you decide to sell.

Here are a few, simple home maintenance chores you’ll want to check off your list this spring.

Look Up

With the arrival of warmer weather, now is a good time to step outside and take a close look at your roof and gutters. Do you see dirt, leaves, branches and other debris?

Clean Out Gutters

The first item on your spring home maintenance checklist is inspecting and cleaning out your gutters. Clear away the dead leaves, sticks and branches the fall months leave behind, before the arrival of spring rain storms.

Clogged gutters prevent storm water from draining away from your home and can, instead, send it running down walls, potentially damaging your siding. If water pools around your foundation, it can create cracks and cause flooding in basements and crawl spaces. Furniture, flooring and electrical systems may be at risk for water damage, which can be a very costly repair.

Inspect Roof

Your roof likely took a beating over the winter. Heavy snow and ice weaken and crack shingles. Damaged or missing shingles can’t stop rain water from seeping into and damaging parts of the roof like your joists, trusses and rafters. Continued neglect could lead to water damaged ceilings and insulation, causing mold growth. Repairing and replacing damaged shingles before the next rain storm can reduce this risk.

Take this opportunity to clean off your roof. Dirt, leaf, moss and algae buildup weakens the roof, risking major, long-term damage to your roof if left untouched.

That said, be very careful not to damage the shingles while cleaning the roof. Pressure and power washing solutions can do more harm than good. Follow the guidance of the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association or hire a pro that uses the ARMA certified “soft wash” technique.

Chimney Maintenance

While you’re on the roof, check the condition of your chimney for cracks and debris. If your chimney has cracks and spalling (broken or missing bricks), then it needs immediate repair. It’s well worth the money to have a professional chimney sweep inspect and clean the chimney to decrease the risk of a fire.

Extend the life of your chimney by coating the bricks with water repellent and sealing minor cracks in the crown with brushable sealer. Installing a chimney cap is also a smart and inexpensive way to prevent flue damage. You can secure the cap with screws, but make sure the screws are just snug and not overly tight. Otherwise, the excess pressure can cause the chimney flue to crack.

While these are all fairly straight-forward DIY projects, any roof project presents risks. If you feel at all uncertain about safety, consider hiring a professional roofer or handyman to help you with these vital tasks.

And don’t forget, you should also inspect the underside of your roof, either from the attic or by wriggling into the crawl space. Look for damp spots or light filtering through holes and patch those trouble spots immediately.

Next: Look Down