These are the sounds of Spring: the chirp of birds, the wind in the trees, and the drip of water from the gutters. Are you ready for all of the ice and snow to thaw? Here’s what you can do to get ready for the Spring thaw.

1. Get Ready for the Water

The Spring thaw means that a lot of water is going to move into the areas around your home at the same time. How can you get ready for this influx of water?

• Unclog drains and make pathways so that meltwater can flow into the right places in your garden instead of flooding pathways and garden beds.
• Test water feature equipment to ensure that ponds and other water features are working properly to move water.
• Check your outdoor plumbing. Unwrap protected pipes and take a look for breakage or leaks. Address these before they become a serious problem when you turn the water on again.
• Clean out catch basins near the road to make sure that the water can move from your yard into the drainage system.

2. Manage the Snow

If you have piles of snow in and around your garden, try to spread them out if possible. If it’s continuing to snow, try to keep the snow in your garden in small piles. This allows it to melt more easily and to melt in a way that distributes the water all around your garden, rather than in a single large puddle.

3. Tune Up Your Home’s Systems

Many of your home’s systems have been working overtime in the winter months. Your hot water tank and your furnace or gas fireplace have kept your house warm. As you prepare for Spring and warmer weather, take a look at how each of these home systems is doing. Are there obvious problems or areas that have broken? Schedule maintenance on these home systems before winter begins and after it ends so that they’re in excellent shape when you let them rest for the summer.

4. Inspect Home Structures as the Snow Melts

Spring is a time to regroup after a long winter. One of the ways you can regroup is to look at the damage your home has sustained over the winter month. During the winter, ice and snow take their toll. You’ll find that concrete slabs have broken and shifted, paint has chipped and peeled, roofing tiles have become loose, and your gutters have sagged due to the snow. Look for problem areas and schedule an appointment for roof repair, gutter replacement, or other work that must be completed on your home.

5. Rework Your Landscaping

Spring is a time of beginnings, and your garden begins with your landscaping structures. Here’s how to keep your garden landscaping looking its best as Spring arrives:

• Assess your perennial plants, and look for damage from snow, salt, and meltwater erosion.
• Examine your drainage as the snow begins to melt and consider what you need to do to improve your soil this year.
• Look into using garden beds or planters as a way to maintain a garden if you have poor yard drainage conditions.
• Examine your gutters and your foundation and make sure that water is not dripping from the roof onto plantings and into the soil around your home.

At Harry Helmet, we know that protecting your home is a priority. That’s why we offer gutter covers, gutter heat, and roof replacements are the guaranteed to last. Contact us today for an estimate and view our photo gallery of successful home projects.

Written by Del Thebaud