 | Richard and Elaine McClanahan are the owners of Andy On Call. Richard was active in the Air Force for over 6 1/2 years during 1966-1972. His assignment was in communications, and he was honorably discharged in November of 1972. However his military career did not stop there as he joined the US Army Reserve program in 1974 and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer with over 20 years of service in 1989. He was awarded the Air Force and Army Commendation Medal for his actions while serving in the both branches of the Military. Elaine was a teacher by trade. After retiring from teaching she devoted her time to the home and raising their two adopted sons. During her college years she worked in a lumber yard that her father managed, where she picked up a great amount of experience in home remodel/repair. Richard or Elaine can be reached at 681-ANDY (2639). Or you may visit their web site @ www.andyoncall.com |
Home Improvement
2007-04-01 08:09:00
Spring is here - things to check
Here are some tips on how to prepare for the spring season.
Another winter is about to be a thing in your past. It is now time to look toward spring. Take time to really examine and analyze your house, look at the roof, see if winter has taken any toll.
Turned up shingles could cause you problems later down the line, gutters may be clogged, good time to clean and check for stability. Gutters can pull away from the house if there has been a very bad freeze (and we had them this year) or tree limbs hit them during the winter months, this could cause serious damage later in the year. Fascia boards may have become rotted over the winter, this is because water has flowed behind gutters and caused the boards to become rotted.
Spring brings on the thaw. Check your basement or foundation area for leaks. The spring rains like to build up ground water, and this can come into your house or other areas that it is least needed. Driveways and sidewalks may have taken a toll over the winter. Check to see if they have cracked or decided to push up above ground. This could cause a hazardous situation if left to continue cracking and chipping away from the main surface.Decking material and or landings my have moved or become unstable by ground water erosion. Check for rotting boards and other wood materials. Spring is a good time to have your water heater drained; this will take care of sediment buildup, and allow the heater to work more efficiently. Air conditioning system should be serviced, at a minimum clean the air intake that sets outside the house, it is referred to as the exchanger, and it should be cleaned and made ready for June and beyond period of time.
Exterior doors may have taken a beating, might be time to install a new storm door to save the very expensive to replace exterior doors. Windows may have suffered from broken glass, time to replace to keep the moisture where it belongs, outdoors.
