The weather is slowly warming up here in Minnesota and that means it is finally Spring! As we get further into Spring, you may be wondering what home maintenance projects you should get done before Summer. You want to make sure your home is in the best shape for the hot summer months. Here are some projects you can do for your home this spring: What are Home Maintenance Projects for Spring?
Air Sealing
Like many aspects of home maintenance, it’s easy to overlook the need for insulation. But ignoring your home’s insulation is like leaving a leaky faucet on while you are out of town. Once the water in your pipes freezes, you will be stuck without hot water during the winter. But that is an extreme example; it is easy to overlook air leaks in your home, which can occur in any place where a thin wall or door meets another object. This is especially true when you consider that houses are designed to allow a certain amount of air leakage. Most homes have multiple places throughout their rooms where this happens over time and after changes are made (like rebuilding walls or doors). So what follows is a fairly basic list of things you should do to inspect for air leaks in your house:
- Check areas where cracks can form between walls or doors
- Inspect any windows, vents, or skylights with screens for holes too small for light to pass through
- Rebuild cracked sections of wall with new materials (this will not only seal up the area but also provide support)
Insulate your attic
You should insulate your attic to prevent drafts and keep heat out of your attic in the summer and in your home in the winter. This saves energy and improves comfort. Good insulation will improve the energy efficiency of your home, which can save you money on energy bills. It also helps protect the environment by reducing carbon emissions from heating/cooling. Spray foam insulation is a great choice to insulate your attic with because it can get into those hard-to-reach areas in your attic and seal up the gaps.
Update Your Insulation
Another home maintenance project you should do this spring is to update your insulation. There are steps you can take to do this. First, check your current insulation. What type of materials are in place? How much area does each material cover? Is it effective? This will help you determine if you should add to, replace or remove your existing insulation. Next, upgrade your current insulation. If you have a relatively new home or live in an apartment, chances are good that your existing insulation is sufficient and won’t need replacing. However, if the material was improperly installed or is damaged, degraded, or wet, it may need to be replaced. Keep these best practices in mind when updating your current insulation:
- Make sure the brand of insulation you select has a high R-value (the higher the value, the more effective the product).
- Hire an insulation contractor to help ensure the insulation is installed properly for maximum effectiveness. An insulation contractor will help get the job done so there are fewer worries for you.
Now is the perfect time to get ahead on those spring projects for your home. An insulation contractor can help with your home maintenance. They can make sure your home is properly sealed, along with helping you have up-to-date insulation to keep your home cool this summer. Contact Century Insulation in Circle Pines, Minnesota. We would love to help with your home maintenance projects!