Spring by the numbers
25
Tasks total
6
Categories
9
Critical priority items
5 tasks
Inspect roof for winter damage
From the ground with binoculars: look for missing or lifted shingles, exposed nails, damaged or separated flashing at chimneys, skylights, and wall transitions, and debris buildup in roof valleys. Ice dam damage to shingles often shows as curled or cracked tabs at the eave line. Document anything that needs repair before spring rains begin.
Flashing guide →
Critical
Clean gutters and downspouts after winter debris accumulation
Winter leaves, seedpods, and shingle granules accumulate over the cold months. Clear gutters completely and flush downspouts with a hose to confirm free flow. Check gutters for sagging caused by ice dam weight — hangers may need to be reset. Verify downspout extensions are still in place after snowmelt.
Critical
Examine siding and exterior trim for winter damage
Walk the perimeter and look for cracked, split, or loose siding boards, peeling or blistering paint (a moisture signal, not a paint quality issue), soft or rotted trim boards, and caulk that has pulled away from joints. Freeze-thaw cycles crack sealant that was marginal in the fall. Address siding damage before it allows bulk water intrusion in spring rains.
Paint peeling guide →
Important
Check window and door caulking and weatherstripping
Inspect caulk at all window and door frames for cracks or separation caused by winter thermal cycling. Check weatherstripping for compression loss — it should spring back when released. Failed caulk at window corners is a leading source of hidden wall moisture in spring. Replace anything that's cracked, missing, or no longer making contact.
Important
Inspect attic for moisture, mold, or ice dam damage
Early spring is the best time to assess attic moisture — the winter's moisture load is freshly visible before summer dries it out. From the attic hatch, look for frost staining or darkened sheathing at the eaves, wet or compressed insulation, and any mold on sheathing or rafters. Any of these findings need professional assessment.
Attic condensation guide →
Critical
Why spring matters for roof inspection
Spring is the only season when winter damage is fully revealed before summer heat hides it. Shingles lifted by ice dams lie flat again in warm weather. Moisture damage is fresh and still visible in the attic. Do this inspection in March or April — not May — to catch problems while they're still easy to document and repair affordably.
4 tasks
Verify proper grading around the foundation
After winter frost heave and soil settlement, grading that sloped away from the house in fall may no longer do so. Add soil to any areas that have settled toward the foundation and regrade to maintain at least 6 inches of drop over the first 10 feet. Spring snowmelt and rain are the highest-volume water events of the year — this is when poor grading causes the most damage.
Critical
Confirm downspouts discharge 6–10 feet from the house
Check that downspout extensions are still in place and correctly positioned after winter — snowplows, foot traffic, and frost heave routinely displace them. Spring produces the highest combined roof runoff volume of the year; short downspouts during spring rains are the leading cause of basement seepage in homes without other drainage defects.
Important
Inspect crawlspace or basement for winter moisture accumulation
Look for standing water, water staining at the base of walls, musty odors, white efflorescence on masonry, mold on joists or framing, and condensation on ductwork. Any of these indicate moisture entered during the winter. Identify the source (grading, drainage, wall crack, or condensation) before it becomes active again in spring rains.
Basement water guide →
Critical
Test sump pump before spring rain season begins
Pour a 5-gallon bucket of water into the pit and confirm the float triggers the pump, the water discharges completely, and the pump shuts off cleanly. Confirm the discharge line is clear and draining well away from the foundation. Spring is when sump pumps run continuously during wet events — test it before that first heavy rain, not during it.
Critical
4 tasks
Inspect supply lines and shutoff valves for freeze damage
Look under sinks, at the water heater, and at the main shutoff for signs of damage from winter: corrosion at joints, mineral deposits from a slow drip, or valves that don't turn smoothly. Shutoff valves that haven't been exercised in years may fail when you need them — turn each one fully off and back on to confirm it operates.
Important
Flush the water heater tank to remove sediment
Connect a hose to the drain valve and flush until the water runs clear. Sediment that accumulates over winter reduces recovery speed and efficiency. Listen for rumbling or popping during heating cycles — heavy sediment produces these sounds and significantly shortens heater lifespan. Spring flushing is the most effective time of year since the heater has been running at high demand all winter.
Water heater noise guide →
Routine
Test all fixtures for slow drains, running toilets, and pressure issues
Run water at every sink, shower, and tub. Slow drains mean partial blockages that will worsen. Toilets with a running sound after the tank fills have flapper or fill valve issues — often a $10 repair ignored for months. Check that water pressure is consistent across the house; a sudden pressure drop at one fixture can indicate a supply line issue.
Slow drain guide →
Routine
Open, test, and inspect all outdoor hose bibs
Reopen the interior shutoff valve for each outdoor spigot. Turn on the hose bib and let it run for 30 seconds, watching for any dripping around the stem or from the wall behind it — signs that the pipe cracked over winter. Also check the spigot body for cracks. A failed hose bib that went undetected through winter will be actively leaking into the wall now.
Critical
T.A.
From the field
"The spring inspection I never skip is the attic in March. That's when you see everything winter did. Frost staining on the sheathing tells you exactly where warm air leaked out. Wet insulation at the eaves tells you the soffit vents were blocked. A dark streak along the sheathing tells you where the roof was leaking all winter. By May those moisture patterns have dried out and blended in. Spring is the only season where the evidence is still fresh — and cheap to fix."
T.A. — CHFM · NFPA CFI-1 · CLSS-HC
4 tasks
Replace HVAC filter before cooling season begins
Install a fresh filter rated for your system. The filter that ran all winter is full — a clogged filter at the start of AC season causes the evaporator coil to freeze, short-cycling, and reduced efficiency on the first hot day. This is a five-minute task that prevents a service call.
AC freezing up guide →
Critical
Clean outdoor AC condenser unit
Remove any cover if the unit was winterized. Clear leaves and debris from inside and around the unit. Gently straighten any bent condenser fins with a fin comb if accessible. Maintain 18–24 inches of clearance on all sides. Do not spray water directly into the electrical components — rinse the coil fins from inside outward if needed with a low-pressure hose.
Important
Test AC operation on a mild spring day
Set the thermostat to cooling mode 5° below current room temperature. Within 10 minutes you should have cool air at the registers, normal cycling, and no unusual noises. Test on a mild day (55–70°F outside) when outdoor conditions won't stress the system. Do not run AC when outdoor temperature is below 60°F — low ambient temps can damage the compressor.
AC not cooling guide →
Critical
Inspect accessible ductwork for winter damage or disconnections
In the basement, crawlspace, or attic, look for duct sections that came apart during the heating season, missing insulation on ducts in unconditioned spaces, and condensation staining on ducts near crawlspace vents. Reconnect loose joints with metal tape and insulate any bare metal duct in unconditioned spaces.
Duct problems guide →
Routine
3 tasks
Test all GFCI and AFCI devices
Press TEST on every GFCI outlet and confirm it trips and resets properly. Test AFCI breakers in bedrooms and living areas. Outdoor GFCI circuits are particularly prone to moisture-related failure over winter — a tripped GFCI that won't reset may indicate the wiring upstream has a ground fault requiring professional attention.
GFCI guide →
Safety
Inspect electrical panel for signs of heat or corrosion
With the panel door open (but don't touch anything inside), look for rust or moisture on the interior, any breakers in the tripped position, burn marks or discoloration near breaker terminals, and any unusual smell. Any of these warrant a licensed electrician inspection — do not attempt to address panel issues yourself.
Safety
Check outdoor lighting, receptacles, and fixtures
Test every outdoor outlet and light. Spring moisture migrates into outdoor fixtures that had failed or cracked covers over winter. Look for cracked fixture lenses, missing outlet covers, and receptacles that don't hold a plug firmly. Replace any damaged covers before the rainy season — water in an outdoor electrical box is a serious hazard.
Important
5 tasks
Inspect decks, porches, and steps for winter damage
Probe deck boards and ledger connections for rot — a screwdriver pushed into soft wood is a quick test. Check that stair stringers are not cracked or settled. Look for fasteners that have backed out from freeze-thaw movement. A deck ledger that has separated from the house framing is a structural failure risk — this should be addressed before the deck is used for the season.
Critical
Check subfloor and interior floors for soft spots
Walk slowly through every room, including along baseboards and near exterior walls, feeling for soft or bouncy floor areas. Winter moisture intrusion — from crawlspace condensation, basement seepage, or plumbing leaks — often shows up in the subfloor months after the event. Soft spots near bathrooms, under windows, or near exterior doors warrant investigation before they worsen.
Soft subfloor guide →
Important
Test every smoke and carbon monoxide detector
Press the test button on each unit and confirm the alarm sounds. Replace batteries in all battery-powered units as a standard spring task regardless of apparent charge. CO detectors have a limited lifespan — check the manufacture date on the back; most should be replaced after 5–7 years. Make sure every bedroom level of the house has working CO coverage.
Safety
Deep clean the dryer vent duct
Disconnect the dryer from the duct and use a dryer vent cleaning brush to clear lint accumulation from the full duct run. A dryer vent clogged with lint is a leading cause of house fires. Extended winter use means more lint buildup by spring. Also confirm the exterior vent hood opens freely when the dryer runs and doesn't have a mesh screen (screens trap lint and must be removed).
Safety
Perform exterior pest inspection
Walk the perimeter in early spring looking for: fresh mud tubes on the foundation (termites), piles of sawdust-like frass near wood (carpenter ants or wood-boring beetles), rodent entry points at foundation penetrations, and soft or hollow-sounding wood at the fascia and trim. Spring is when pest activity resumes after dormancy — finding evidence early means treatment before a minor infestation becomes a structural problem.
Important
What spring maintenance actually does
- Documents winter damage while evidence is still visible — attic moisture patterns dry out by May
- Prepares drainage for spring's highest water volume before it reaches the foundation
- Tests the AC system on a mild day — not during the first heat wave when technicians are booked out two weeks
- Catches freeze damage to hose bibs and pipes before active leaks develop inside walls
- Identifies deck and subfloor deterioration from winter moisture before summer loading
- Resets all safety systems after the heating season's highest-risk period