Spring Has Sprung: A Few Ideas for Projects
March 20 marked the beginning of the spring season.
Even though Omaha is has been toiling under clouds, wind and rain this week, homeowners are eager to get outside again and get cracking on home projects. Whether you've got a few tasks leftover from before the snow came, or you're just looking forward to throwing on some shorts and trimming up some foliage, we're sure you've got a list (even if it's a short one) of projects you want to tackle.
Just in case you missed a few things, we've done some research and gathered three essential projects for the spring season. We sourced some of these tips from HGTV's great article on spring projects.
1. Get some compacted soil and fill those low spots around your foundation.
With spring rain already sprinkling your yard, it's important to remember that low spots around your foundation can accumulate standing water. That water has the potential to wreak some serious havoc on your foundation, so make sure you fill in any low spots with compacted soil.
Doing so will ensure that water is drawn away from your foundation instead of toward it. Trust us; you don't want to start off the spring with a cracked foundation.
2. Call the chimney sweep
You probably gave your fireplace a great workout this past winter and may even use it again before the weather starts to warm up. If you used chopped wood, there's pretty good chance you've got some sooty buildup somewhere in between your fireplace and the top of the chimney. Fire logs burn a little cleaner, but after hours and hours of use, they can leave deposits in your flue.
So, regardless of what type of wood you use, call a local chimney sweep and have him or her come out and give your fireplace, flue and chimney a once over. It never hurts to do an inspection and it's much better to get it done early than have something go wrong in the middle of winter.
Tip from Bob Vila: "If you have a masonry chimney, check the joints between bricks or stones. Have any fallen out, or is vegetation growing? Both can be evidence of water infiltration."
3. Check Up on Your A/C Condenser
Remember, your A/C has gone through the extremes of hot and cold over the past nine months. It's important that you make sure the condenser coils are clean and that the condenser is functioning properly. A visual inspection can help you understand if anything is amiss, but we recommend you contact a professional to do a thorough inspection.
Bob Vila recommends checking hoses and drip pans to make sure the unit is draining properly and there are not leaks.
More Spring Suggestions
Checking your concrete sidewalks, patios and driveways is another smart thing to do. The cracks are easy to see.
Beyond what we've mentioned today, we know there are dozens of rituals that homeowners across the city like to do once the cold weather thaws. Do you have any suggestions for spring projects? Let us know in the comments section below!
