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Spring is like a reward for enduring winter. This year, we deserve a big one! Get ready for this season of new beginnings by following Sandlin Homes’ tips to get your home ready for spring. The Inside Story Follow this spring home maintenance checklist to refresh and repair the interior of your home. Restore your safety features. Change the batteries on your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Make sure your fire extinguishers are full and ready to use. Clean the dryer vents. Have you noticed that your dryer is taking longer to do its job? Cleaning the filter after each load isn’t enough. Have a professional come in and clean the vents to remove the built-up lint, which is also a fire hazard. Clean or replace filters. Your furnace and air conditioner will function much more efficiently when they’re running with a clean filter. Vacuum the refrigerator coils. The dust on the coils behind and under your fridge reduces the efficiency. Drain the water heater. Get rid of the sediment (minerals, sand, and grit) that has built up in your water heater. This step will extend the life of the appliance as well as improve the efficiency. Check the seals. The winter weather can damage the seals and caulk around doors and windows. Those leaks will drive up your electric bill. Take It Outside Use the inviting spring weather to prep your home’s exterior for months of outdoor experiences. Check your roof shingles. Look for missing, cracked, or damaged shingles that need replacing or repair before the hot summer Texas sun beats down on it. Clean and secure your gutters. Put on some sturdy work gloves and remove all the debris that has collected in your gutter. Those obstacles will block the flow of water and potentially redirect it back into your home. Also secure any loose gutters and make sure your downspouts are pointed away from your home. Pressure wash the exterior. Start the spring cleaning season with your home’s exterior, including the patio, deck, and porch. Get rid of all the dirt, dust, and debris, and then take in the benefit to your home’s curb appeal. Have your AC serviced. Make sure your air conditioner is ready to deliver the comfort you need on the hot days. Remember, it has been sitting idle for many months and would benefit from a professional inspection and cleaning. Inspect the sprinkler system. Your lawn will get very thirsty soon and you’ll need a reliable irrigation system. Turn on the sprinklers and see how they’re working. Some might need adjustment or replacement. Fill in holes in your yard. Did the winter wreak havoc on your lawn and garden? If you have sunken areas, fill them with compacted soil to prevent water from collecting there (which sparks a breeding ground for insects). Repair foundation cracks. The process of cold weather and thawing can cause shifting that leads to cracks. Inspect your home’s foundation and fill cracks in the exterior. Prep your lawn and garden equipment. Make sure everything is ready for the coming season’s heavy use. Tune up your mower, check your power tools, and clean the garden tools. Get your hoses ready. Inspect your outside faucets for leaks. Then bring out the exterior hoses and check them for cracks or holes.   Are you thinking of something bigger for this spring—like moving to a new home? Sandlin Homes builds communities of single-family homes in Dallas-Fort Worth’s most sought-after residential areas. There’s no spring cleaning or home maintenance required with these move-in ready, new construction homes. Take a video tour, get creative with our interactive floor plans feature, and then contact us to spring into action.