Spring Into Action: Home Maintenance Tips for a More Efficient Season

Spring is in the air, and it's not just the flowers that are ready for a refresh.

After a long winter, your home could use a little TLC. Spring is the perfect time to inspect, clean, and repair areas of your home that may have taken a hit during the colder months. I always remind homeowners that seasonal maintenance isn't just about keeping things pretty, it's about protecting your investment and making sure your home is weather protected and efficient year-round.

Unfortunately, I should have been more mindful of keeping my lawn pretty. As I begin to look over my house and property after winter, it's my lawn that's in the worst shape. Larger areas of brown and dead looking grass, while I have neighbors with practically plush green already. At first I thought grub worms victimized the lawn in the fall. But, after further evaluation I think it's winter-kill gone mad. More attention will need to be given to my lawn this spring and beyond I guess.

Here’s a practical spring home maintenance checklist to get you started at your house this spring:

1. Inspect and Tidy up the Exterior

Inspect your siding, foundation, and exterior paint for damage or signs of moisture. Painting upkeep is essential to protect degradable material such as wood or cement board siding. Annual touch up is not unusual. Expect to apply a fresh coat of paint to your entire house every 10-12 years for optimal protection. Areas of caulking around windows, doors, and other trim may need to be touched up or redone depending on level of deterioration. This is vital to prevent moisture intrusion. Trim back any vegetation that’s too close to your house...it can promote mold and attract pests. 

2. Inspect Your Roof and Gutters

Winter can be rough on roofs. Look for missing or displaced shingles. If comfortable doing do, walk your roof to get an up close look. This can also help identify deficient flashing around vents or plumbing stack pipes. The rubber-boot flashing around plumbing vent pipes is known to weather and crack. Clean out your gutters to prevent water backup and foundation issues as spring rains roll in. Properly functioning gutters prevent water intrusion that can damage components and reduce your home’s thermal performance.

3. Check Attic and Basement for Signs of Moisture

Spring thaws and rains can lead to damp basements or attics. Look for signs of mold, mildew, or pests. Many homes may succumb to heat loss to the attic in the winter months. This can lead to condensation within the attic. Adjustments to insulation and/or ventilation in the attic may need to be considered for prevention of excessive heat loss and potential moisture issues. Examine basement walls for moisture-like stains or efflorescent discoloring. Consider installing a dehumidifier in the basement if humidity levels are consistently high.

4. Service Your HVAC System

Many have their HVAC looked over in the fall ahead of heating season, which is great. Having a general Clean & Tune completed on your system at least every other year is a good idea. It's also a good idea to have your A/C system evaluated before you switch from heat to A/C. Cleaning of the outdoor A/C condenser unit is essential each year. Often you can blow off debris and spray it down yourself as a good maintenance practice. However, it's always good to have a HVAC technician provide a tune up of the system....whether you choose to do that annually, or at least every other year. Be sure also to replace air filters and make sure vents are clean and unblocked. A well-maintained system runs more efficiently and lasts longer.

5. Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Use the time change as a reminder to check your safety equipment. Replace batteries and test all alarms. If your detectors are 10 years old, they should be replaced. If you are on propane, you should have a propane gas leak alarm close by your HVAC system and within two feet of the floor. While you’re at it, check your fire extinguisher’s pressure gauge and expiration date. We should all have at least one fire extinguisher at our house. I recommend keeping one within your kitchen area. One in the garage is also a good idea. 

(I had to use the fire extinguisher on our toaster on one occasion. Just don't try to warm up taco shells with your toaster!) 🔥

6. Prepare Your Windows for Summer; Check and Seal for Air Leaks

Clean both sides of your windows to maximize natural light. If you don’t already have them, consider installing energy-efficient window treatments or films to reduce summer heat gain.

Cold drafts may have been more noticeable in winter, but spring is a great time to address them. Inspect weather stripping around doors and windows. Not only will this keep your cool air in during summer, but it’ll also reduce your energy bills. Exterior wall outlets and light switches may also be an opportunity to seal air leaks. 

Wrapping Up: Spring maintenance isn’t just about upkeep....it’s a chance to reset, improve comfort, and save on utilities before summer heat sets in. A well-maintained home is a happier, healthier, and more efficient home.

Got a maintenance ritual you swear by? Share it in the comments or drop me a line.

Happy Spring!!!

Fun Friday -- “Home Maintenance Tips the Three Stooges Would Recommend (But Maybe Don’t Try These at Home!)”

Fun and laughs are important in life, so I will always do my best to drop a Fun Friday post. To be honest, I prefer to have fun and laughs throughout the week, not just on Friday, but we gotta balance in some business too. Maybe you've noticed this with my blogs, or on Instagram (@coach_dits).

Speaking of Instagram, I posted a story earlier this week that offered a clue to the subject of this Fun Friday post. That Instagram story also highlighted the fact, as a military brat living overseas in the 1980's, you had one TV channel. It's called the Armed Forces Network or AFN. The Three Stooges was one of my favorites to play on AFN, and was a real treat when it did. Heck, I'll sit and watch them today. 

AFN was unique. Although it played a standard, sometimes boring schedule of shows day in and day out, it did cater to the kids on Saturday mornings with Bugs Bunny and gang.....as well as allowing us to call in and vote for what movie would play on Saturday night. The movie Stripes was always a top choice I voted for. I may have voted for the movie Airplane more than once as well. You're probably thinking, "Surely you can't be serious." "I am serious, and don't call me Shirley." 

Be sure to check back in next week for some business-like talk on Spring Home Maintenance. But for today, enjoy Larry, Moe and Curly's thoughts......

When it comes to home maintenance, some folks follow YouTube videos, others call in the pros…and then there’s the Three Stooges approach. If Larry, Moe, and Curly were in charge of your seasonal checklist, you'd better have a helmet, a mop, and a fire extinguisher handy. Still, there’s a twisted kind of wisdom buried in their slapstick chaos...so let’s have some fun exploring what home maintenance might look like, Stooge-style.

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1. “If it leaks...plug it with a pie tin and chewing gum!”

What they'd do: Patch a leaky pipe with whatever’s in arm’s reach, including a slice of baloney.
What you should do: Use a proper pipe repair clamp...or better yet, call a plumber if you're in over your head.

Takeaway: Improvising can be good in a pinch, but long-term fixes require the right tools and materials.

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2. “When in doubt, whack it with a wrench!”

What they'd do: Smack the furnace, the light switch, or each other until it ‘works’ (usually followed by a short circuit or small explosion).
What you should do: Listen for weird noises and investigate methodically. Wrench whacking is rarely the answer.

Takeaway: Treat your home’s systems with respect. Aggression isn't a maintenance strategy...diagnostics are.

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3. “Paint with it? We bathe in it!”

What they'd do: Tip over a full can of paint while spinning in circles on a ladder, then blame the cat.
What you should do: Prep your space, use drop cloths, and follow paint instructions. Maybe leave the cat out of it.

Takeaway: Painting is an art and a science. Preparation prevents paint-pocalypse.

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4. “Electricity!, Nyuk-Nyuk-Nyuk...just hold the wires with your teeth!”

What they'd do: Attempt DIY wiring with zero training and a strong belief in trial and (electrocuting) error.
What you should do: NEVER mess with electrical systems unless you’re qualified. Shocking, I know.

Takeaway: Electricity isn’t a joke. Call a licensed electrician for anything more complicated than changing a lightbulb.

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5. “We installed insulation...just not in the walls!”

What they'd do: Use shredded newspaper, spaghetti noodles, or popcorn as insulation (and probably start a fire in the process).
What you should do: Use proper, code-compliant insulation that improves energy efficiency and safety.

Takeaway: Good insulation saves energy and money. Bad insulation just creates problems...and maybe pests.

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Final Thoughts:
The Three Stooges may not be OSHA-compliant, but they do remind us not to take home maintenance too seriously all the time. Mistakes happen, and sometimes the best stories come from the repairs that didn’t go quite right. Just make sure you're laughing after everything's fixed.

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Got a real-life home repair that felt like a Three Stooges skit? Share it in the comments! Bonus points if it involved paint cans, ladders, or a cat.

  

 

The Weatherization Assistance Program — Helping the Low Income

So, what is the Weatherization Assistance Program or WAP? I only became familiar with the program just months before working within it. Many are familiar with the LIHEAP program or Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, however, most did not know WAP is connected to LIHEAP. It has been around since the 1970’s. While focused on energy efficiency and financially helping the impoverished, it also provides essential health and safety measures. 

Here is a short outline to explain:

The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is a U.S. government initiative that helps low-income households reduce their energy costs by improving the energy efficiency of their homes. It’s managed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and carried out locally by states, territories, and tribal governments.

How It Helps People in Poverty:

1. Lower Energy Bills:
   By making homes more energy-efficient, the program helps families save money on heating and cooling costs. On average, families save $283 or more per year after weatherization.
2. Improved Comfort and Safety:
   Weatherization services can include:
   (These upgrades make homes more comfortable and reduce risks from old or broken heating systems.)
• Insulating walls, attics, and floors
• Sealing leaks and cracks
• Installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors 
• Repairing or replacing heating and cooling systems
• Installing energy-efficient lighting or appliances
3. Health Benefits:
   Reducing drafts, moisture, and indoor air pollution can improve indoor air quality and reduce respiratory issues—especially important for children, the elderly, and people with health conditions.
4. Long-Term Relief:
   Unlike one-time utility bill assistance, WAP provides permanent improvements, which means lasting financial relief for struggling families.
5. Job Creation:
   The program supports local economies by employing energy auditors, contractors, and technicians.

As you can see, the Weatherization Assistance Program is very beneficial for a number of reasons. In my mind, tax payer dollars being well spent. 

Coming off of Holy Week and Easter Sunday I hope you find yourselves rejuvenated and feeling good. Many lessons can be taken away. A common theme we hear as Christians is, we need to help those less fortunate than us. The program of WAP is one tool doing just that. 

Many people are stuck in a pattern of generational poverty. To simply tell someone to go get a job, or a better job, does not necessarily get to the core of the difficult life challenges they may face. Throw in physical and mental disabilities - this is very real at preventing many from financial advancement, or even meeting basic needs. Many elderly also simply rely on social security checks for basic needs, and often can’t afford utility bills. 

Some are fortunate to have positive mentors in their life, such as a teacher, coach, or a pastor. This can lead to a positive life direction, thus financial success. But without such an influence, negativity overwhelms and almost makes it impossible to escape. 

I challenge you to be that positive influence, and show compassion for others. Especially those in greater need. 

Energized for Life—It’s a Good Friday

✟ I'm thankful to have been raised Christian on and around military bases. The chapels may not have had much flair, but they served the purpose of teaching faith and fostering relationships. Even when helicopters or F-16’s were buzzing in, the sermon went on. 

Now as a practicing Catholic, there are many holy days that shape the tempo of the year and deepen that faith, but Good Friday should hold a special place in our hearts. It's a day that invites reflection and reverence. Every year, it pulls us in with its quiet, powerful gravity.

In a world that moves fast, celebrates wins, and avoids discomfort, Good Friday stands as a counter-cultural act. It asks us to slow down, to remember sacrifice, and to confront the reality of suffering with faith, not despair. 

It’s a reminder that love doesn’t always look like flowers and sunshine. Sometimes, it looks like a cross.

Good Friday is a day about grace and love.  And though it’s a day of sorrow, it’s also the beginning of hope. Because without the cross, there is no resurrection. And without Good Friday, there is no Easter Sunday.

So every year, take this day to pause, to pray, and to give thanks for a love so deep, it stretched out its arms and said, “This is for you.”

Energy Efficiency MythBuster: “Lowering the Thermostat Cools Your Home Faster”

🌞As we approach the cooling season, or summertime, it reminds me of a story. We seriously take comfortability for granted while on vacations. In the middle of one summer, my wife and I found ourselves in a hotel that was experiencing air conditioning problems. Of course, it was the weekend and a technician was not readily available to deal with it. Changing rooms quickly, or even hotels, was not an option given the circumstances.  

Enter MacGyver, you know, the clever and resourceful guy. I like to believe I can think like MacGyver anyway. Typically only generating laughs rather than effective results. The brilliant idea I concocted would hold true to this. 

The hotel distributed some box fans to a number of guests. I got ahold of one for our room. Naturally, these fans are simply blowing around hot air, and not really cooling. A thoughtful gesture anyway. How can we enhance this setup I thought? A lightbulb went off. (It wasn't a LED bulb at that time, but would be today. 🥁) 

I proceeded to gather up a couple ice buckets and filled them with ice. Placing them in front of the blowing fan, I thought I was a genius. This would generate a cooling effect and for sure bring the room back to a bearable temperature. 

After a handful of hours away, we returned back to the hotel and found the temperature had dropped....wait for it....by one measly degree. Ok, so we got down to 89ºF, and now had two buckets of water. Fun times and a good memory anyway - not sure my wife would agree with that. 

So, this one’s a summertime favorite and a common habit for anyone walking into a hot house:

“It’s 80°F in here—crank the AC down to 60°F to cool it faster!”

The Myth:

People assume that setting the thermostat way lower than your desired temperature will speed up the cooling process.

The Truth:

Your air conditioner works at one consistent speed—it doesn’t go faster or harder because you set the temperature lower. It's like pressing the elevator button multiple times—it feels like it helps, but it really doesn't.

All you’re doing is making your AC run longer than necessary, potentially overcooling the space and wasting energy. I've been guilty. 

The Better Way:

Set your thermostat to the actual temperature you want—typically around 75°F–77°F for comfort in summer. If you want things to start cooling before you get home, consider a smart thermostat. You can control it remotely or schedule it to cool your home just in time for your arrival.

Pro Tip:

Want to cool your home faster without wasting energy?

• Close blinds/curtains during the hottest part of the day.

• Use ceiling fans to circulate cool air (they might make you feel cooler but don’t lower room temperature).

• Keep doors and windows closed while the AC is running.

The Bottom Line:

Cranking the thermostat doesn’t cool your home faster—it just costs you more. Set it smart, stay cool, and save money.

  

The Submarine Shower

 You may have heard in the news recently the topic again of showerheads. Why does our federal government feel the need to be involved in our bathing habits, and define what a showerhead should or shouldn't be able to do? Don't get me wrong, it is about a legitimate cause in water and energy conservation. But, can't we the people decide if we want to enjoy higher water pressure, maybe a bit longer relaxing shower, or a submarine shower?

The political back and forth on showerheads is annoying. To low flow, or not to low flow? That is the question. Does a low flow showerhead save water and energy? Sure, as it limits the amount of water flow per minute. Gallons per minute is the go to measurement for determining what is low flow and what is not. Two gallons of water per minute or less is typically considered low flow. I'm sure many find low flow to be perfectly adequate, whereas others feel they can't get the soap off. 

I can't say I use a low flow showerhead for myself, but I do have a teenager in the house. We had two teenagers in the house at one point. Guess what showerhead they have? Yep!  Mr. Low Flow. As a dad I still yell through the door, "time to shut it down", when they have carried on for 10 plus minutes. Of-course, another 10 minutes generally goes by before it's finally shut down. 

When my kids were entering teenage years we had the conversation about "submarine showers". Having visited a few submarine memorials over the years we learned about the submarine shower. For purpose of water conservation and saving time, the sailor on the submarine was expected to shower within two minutes or less. Maybe even turning the water off intermittently while they scrubbed up. It's not an easy thing to do, especially as a teenager. If they're in a hurry to get somewhere though, they may take a modified submarine shower. 

My first submarine visit came when I was 6 or 7 years old. I don't remember much of the day, but I am reminded of the experience by a souvenir I was given by a sailor attending to the memorial. I was given one of the flags from the USS Batfish (SS-310). Memorialized in Muskogee, Oklahoma, at War Memorial Park, the USS Batfish is known for its tremendous feat of sinking three Imperial Japanese Navy submarines during World War II.  In my later years, I've also been able to visit the USS Bowfin (SS-287) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and the USS Blueback (SS-581) in Portland, Oregon. If you're at all a history buff, these would be great memorials to visit if you're in the neighborhood. 

So, when it comes to showerheads, do what makes you comfortable and happy. I will say, it is never a bad thing to make efforts at water and energy conservation.  

Fun Day Friday: "Thermal Envelopes and Report Card Confusions"

 

Growing up as a military brat, you learn to adapt quickly—new schools, new bases, new climates. One year it’s triple-digit summer in Texas, then next it’s German winters inspiring you to explore and find your true self. The amazing outcome with that change of climate was it came with the Bavarian Alps. More on that another day.  

I remember the first time I heard the term “thermal envelope.” I was in training to become a Building Analyst Professional, trying to act like I understood all the lingo. But in my head? I was thinking of the yellow envelope my report cards came in every quarter—the one my parents opened with the same intensity they used for briefing papers. 😀  Once opened, I knew thermodynamics was coming into play and I for sure would be in hot water. 

Turns out, in the building science world, a thermal envelope isn’t full of grades and disappointment—it’s the boundary that separates inside from outside. It’s what keeps your warm air in during the winter, and the summer heat out. Insulation, air sealing, windows, doors—all part of it. There's a little more to the technical side, but we'll just keep it simple for now.

I'll leave you with a bit more humor on Fun Day Friday:

For those that were a fan of The Simpsons. In one episode, after Lisa constructs a perpetual motion machine whose energy increases with time, Homer scolds Lisa with:

"In this house, we obey the laws of thermodynamics!"

Have a fun Friday, and an even better weekend!