Preparing your home for spring

(NC)—The beginning of a new season is the time to inspect your home to help flag potential trouble areas and identify opportunities to freshen up its look. To help take the guesswork out of home maintenance this spring, the team at Canadian Tire has the following maintenance checklist for the interior and exterior of the home.

• Inspect furnace filters to assess if the filter should be replaced. Filters should be changes every 90 days or sooner. As a tip to remember – write the date on the front of the filter when installing it so you know when it is due to be replaced

• Replace batteries and check all smoke detectors, CO2 monitors and fire extinguishers. Also re-assess your planned fire escape route to ensure it is still the most convenient and safest option for your family.

• Check that home security alarms as well as interior door and window locks are in good, working condition.

• Adjust thermostat for seasonal temperature changes. The honeywell 7-day programmable thermostat, available at Canadian Tire, is a great option as it can be programmed to provide optimal comfort and energy savings for each day of the week.

• If your home has a basement, walk from corner to corner of the room, looking for any signs of cracks or leaks.

• Spring is the perfect time to do some cleaning and organizing. Canadian Tire has an entire assortment of garage organization products to help organize any garage and maximize space.

• Inspect the driveway for any cracks. Paving the driveway will keep it looking new and protect against weather-damage. While there many options for re-paving the driveway, asphalt is a more cost effective option, making it one of the more popular choices.

• Check the exterior of the home for peeling paint. The average exterior paint job lasts five to eight years, but can be prolonged with annual touch-ups. Scrape, sand and repaint any patches that are peeling before the wood deteriorates.

• Trim bushes, shrubs and plants back at least 18 inches from the house, as they can cause moisture damage.

• Clear the roof of all debris. Look for missing, slipped, sagging shingles on the roof and replace as necessary. Also, be sure to clean out the eaves trough as this is a popular spot for leaves and twigs.