Here at FaithFi, we always want to help you manage your time, talent and treasure. And make no mistake—do-it-yourself preventive maintenance is a wise use of all three of those gifts you received from God.
The more time and talent you have, the less of your treasure you’ll have to use to get things done. But if you don’t have the physical ability or know-how to do any of the chores on our list, it’s also wise to hire someone to do them.
Now, of course, we always use the Bible as our ultimate guide, and Proverbs 14:23 tells us, “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.” That means we’d better get started with our list!
- So first up, Inspect your outdoor air conditioning unit to make sure it’s ready for summer. Look for debris inside and around the unit. Leaves and other material can collect over the winter and could cause damage when the system kicks on.
Of course, it’s also wise to have a qualified heating and cooling contractor clean the coils and service the outside unit—and that’s not a D-I-Y project. An annual maintenance checkup to clean coils, change filters and possibly add coolant can add years of service to the unit. Definitely worth having done.
- Next up, take a look at the roof. You may be able to do this from the ground and we’d recommend that, if possible. Did you lose any shingles over the winter? If you spot damage, you can call in a professional roofer to make repairs.
You may also want to start saving a little each month toward a new roof. They do wear out, and these days can cost anything from $7,000 to $15,000 or more, depending on the size of your house. Set up a separate savings account that can earn interest until your roof needs replacement.
- Our next spring maintenance chore can’t be done from the ground—inspect for loose, leaky, or clogged gutters around the house. You’ll need to get on a ladder for this one, so if you’re not comfortable and careful doing that, again, it’s better to hire someone. It’s important to have this done, though, because drainage problems can lead to water entering your basement or crawlspace, causing further damage.
If the gutters are only clogged, you can try removing the debris from the ground with one of those hose attachments shaped like a candy cane. Various models sell online for $15 to $115. Anytime you can avoid getting on a ladder, it’s best to do it. - Next, check around the yard and next to the foundation for low areas. They can fill with spring rains and also threaten to flood the house. You can fill them with soil and spread grass seed there to eliminate the problem.
- You should also test your outside faucets for freeze damage. How do you do that, you ask? It’s pretty simple, actually. Just put your thumb firmly over the faucet opening and then turn on the water.
If you can stop water from coming out of the faucet, the pipe inside your home is probably ruptured from freezing. Turn the water off immediately and replace the entire faucet unit. Unless you’re very handy, you’ll probably have to call a plumber for that one.
By the way, if you’re wondering why the pipe inside your house wasn’t leaking all winter, it’s because the actual shut off valve for the faucet is in the pipe a foot or more inside the house. That prevents flooding if the pipe closest to the outside wall is ruptured.
- Okay, here’s a spring maintenance project you may not have thought of. If you stacked firewood for heating over the winter on your deck or otherwise near your home, it’s time to move it. You don’t want it close to the house over the summer when termites and carpenter ants get busy. Move the wood farther away, or stack it away from the house to begin with, so you don’t have to move it in the spring.
- Here’s another one, especially if you live in the north where moisture is constantly freezing and thawing. That can cause cracks in your concrete patio, sidewalk and driveway, so inspect those areas and fill any cracks with cement filler or silicone caulk. Otherwise, they’ll just keep growing and widening every winter.
- And one last spring maintenance project— prepare your lawn mower to sally forth and slay grass for another season. Do a walk around inspection and tighten or repair outside components on the mower, such as handles, grass chutes and wheels. Then change the spark plug and oil, and inspect air, oil and fuel filters. Replace as needed.
- Next, sharpen or replace the blades as needed…and finally fill the tank with fresh ethanol-free fuel. Ethanol is terrible for small engines and will dramatically short the life of the carburetor, so avoid that.
Okay, those are your spring maintenance tips. We hope they help you to have an enjoyable summer season.
Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources.
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