Even though that rascally groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, saw his shadow, spring will arrive before you know it. When it comes, it’s time to prep your home for the new season.

What do you need to do to get your homestead ready for warmer weather? Tackle these five most forgotten spring maintenance tasks, and you will successfully prepare your home for fun in the sun.

1. Cleaning Your Gutters

You don’t want to let leaves and other debris accumulate in your gutters. If they do, water could seep between your interior and exterior walls. The moisture can allow toxic mold to flourish and may spark electrical fires.

Please make sure you protect your head with a hard hat and take time to inspect your roof while you have the ladder out. Water can creep into small cracks in your shingles or tile. The freeze and thaw cycle causes this moisture to expand and create large holes.

2. Prepping Your Gardens

You might think there’s no point in starting yard work while frost still threatens to kill new plants. However, there’s nothing to keep you from prepping your beds so you’re ready to go when planting season arrives.

Weeds are so insidious that they have a nasty way of popping up even over the winter. Rake and hoe your beds to remove unwanted species. Discourage new growth from wrecking your hard labor by smothering your beds with a layer of cardboard covered by a fresh coat of mulch.

3. Inspecting Your Foundation

The same freeze and thaw cycle that sometimes spells disaster for your roof can also create problems with your home’s foundation.

If this part of your home starts to crack or crumble, you might face tens of thousands of dollars in repairs — or even have to consider abandoning the structure.

Tour your property’s perimeter and look for any cracks. Small, vertical cracks are normal, but pay attention to any that are horizontal, around corners, or wider than a dime’s width. Even slightly bulged masonry bricks can indicate a building collapse risk — so contact a qualified contractor immediately if you spy anything that looks concerning.

4. Touching Up Your Paint

Painting is one of the most cost-effective ways to increase your property’s value. If you do it yourself, you don’t have to worry about labor costs, and the materials aren’t expensive.

It’s best to paint your home’s exterior in the spring or fall, as the ideal temperature range is approximately 50 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. If it’s too hot or too cold, the paint might not set properly. Of course, if a sudden March squall arises on your planned work weekend, you can always tackle the interior instead.

5. Changing Your Filters

Far too many homeowners end up with costly HVAC repairs they could have prevented if they performed the simple maintenance task of regularly changing their filters. How frequently you need to do so depends on the quality of the filter you buy and the conditions inside your home.

If you live alone and don’t smoke, you might get away with changeouts as infrequent as every three to six months. However, if you smoke or have pets, you should swap them out every two months, or even sooner if you select an inexpensive fiberglass filter.

Tackle These 5 Most Forgotten Spring Maintenance Tasks

With the change of seasons, it’s time to do some work around the homestead. Tackle these five most forgotten spring maintenance tasks and get ready to enjoy the warmer weather.

Guest Contributor: Rose Morrison