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Spring Handyman Preparation Guide

Home Handyman

Winter weather in Anchorage, Alaska, can be wrought with challenges. During an average winter, Anchorage sees over seventy-five inches of snow. That number totals out to over six feet of snow each winter between October (when Anchorage usually sees its first snow of the year) and late March when spring officially arrives. The snow and ice that generally come with winter weather can be very damaging to your home; however, in addition to the damage winter may bring, the arrival of spring can also provide for its own challenges and issues. Spring is right around the corner. One of the best ways to avoid springtime damage is to inspect your home thoroughly for winter damage as the days begin to grow warmer. We are here to provide top-notch property maintenance services that include lawn care, remodeling and handyman services, decks, siding, and fencing.


Winter weather can cause damage to your home that may not be readily visible to the eye. It is vital to take the time to conduct a complete inspection of several important areas of your home to make sure none of this hidden damage is present. If you are unable to, or simply would feel more comfortable hiring a professional, a handyman service such as Be Happy could be beneficial in these home inspection processes. Above all, it is important to remember to do check out your home before spring weather arrives so you can get ahead of any damage that may have occurred.

Below is a list of different parts of your home that tend to experience the most damage during the winter. Most of these areas are exposed day in and day out to the elements, and this causes wear and tear over time.

Take a look at this list and then have someone take a look around your home to see if it is ready for spring.

Take A Tour Around Your Home and Contact Your Alaskan Handyman

Examine Your Siding

During the winter, snow and falling ice are common, as are strong, gusty winds and freezing temperatures. Falling ice and snow can strike your siding and cause damage or even cause pieces to fall off and be lost to the snowplow or the wind. Missing or loose siding opens up the walls of your home to the elements which can lead to leaks during heavy rains. It can also pose challenges for temperature regulation and have a negative impact on your heating and cooling bills.

Check Your Window and Door Seals

Many windows and doors are sealed with caulking or foam insulation products. While it is true that the caulking used for this purpose is made for exterior use, it still has a useful life and can wear down over time. Harsh winter weather can hasten the deterioration process and cause old caulking or older weather stripping to become brittle and eventually crack and fall off. As with other environmental protection elements associated with your home, if these seals fail, it opens your home up to air passing through. As with siding, this can impact your heating and cooling abilities. It can also allow water to pass into your home if heavy rains directly impact the areas where the seals have failed.

Inspect Your Roof

As soon as the snow melts and it is safe to do so, you should have your roof inspected. You can climb up and take a look yourself or, more preferably, hire a professional to take care of this project for you. This will ensure all of the critical items are inspected. Whether a DIY project or hired professionally, your roof inspection should include a close examination of shingles (or other roofing material), chimney flashing, and seals around skylights or other access points directly into your home.

­Repair Your HVAC System

The spring months are the perfect time to have someone come and inspect both household heating and cooling systems. As the warmer weather arrives, your heating system is not as necessary as it is during the deepest part of winter. This is the perfect time to have your system cleaned, inspected, and have your filters changed. The bonus? If something is indeed in need of repair, you are not without your heating system when you need it most. This is also the time of year when heating technicians are a little more available, and it may be easier to schedule an appointment. The same idea follows for your air conditioning system. While you may not need it just yet, you certainly want to make sure your system is in working order and ready to go when you do. Have this system inspected and change any necessary filters.

Inspect Your Gutters for Leaks

As the old saying goes, what goes up must come down. When ice and snow build up on your roof during winter storms, they eventually must go somewhere. Unfortunately, snowmelt is not always graceful. More commonly, the weather begins to warm, and snow and ice fall off your roof in large sheets. Often times, this results in snow and ice hitting and damaging your gutters. Your gutters are vital in keeping water from building up close to your home and potentially making its way inside. Due to this, be sure to check your gutters and downspouts for damage, broken pieces, or loose pieces. Also, be sure your gutters are clear of debris, which could block water from exiting the gutters without overflowing. Once you are sure your gutters are in good shape, be sure to check for water in other places in your home. Check your attic, crawl spaces, and around the base of your foundation to make sure water has not made its way into your home during the spring thaw. If you find water, it will be vital to hire a professional to determine where the water is coming from and to fix the problem before it leads to further damage in your home.

Patch Cracks

Driveways, sidewalks, and foundations are prone to cracking after years of exposure to cold weather, salt, and temperature fluctuations. Leaving cracks in these areas opens up the opportunity for water to enter and cause further expansion and damage. This is especially important if you have a concrete foundation. Allowing water to enter through cracks in your foundation can lead to water damage in your basement along with long= term issues, such as mold and mildew.

Winter is not yet over here in Anchorage, Alaska. According to the groundhog, there are at least a few more days of winter. As a result, we are likely to collect a few more inches of snow before the cold weather begins to move on and make way for sun and warmer temperatures. However, even though winter has a few more weeks, it is the perfect time to begin looking around your home and determining what may need to be inspected or repaired once the snow and ice have melted. Many professional handyman services begin to book up for the summer months early in the year. This means if you wait too long, it may be harder to secure appointments with your desired professional to obtain the handyman services you need.

If you have completed your spring home inspection and realized there are repairs that may be in order, be sure to do your research and find a reliable home improvement professional who can adequately address your needs. There are multitudes of construction and home improvement professionals in the Anchorage area. Unfortunately, not all construction companies are created equally. When you are selecting a home improvement contractor, be sure to inquire about their licensing, insurance, staffing, and how their project sites operate. You will want to know what you, as the homeowner will be responsible for before, during, and after your project is completed.

If you are looking for a qualified, professional, and experienced handyman service in the Anchorage area, contact Be Happy Property Services. We pride ourselves on our wide variety of handyman and general contractor services. Whether your needs are large or small, we would be happy to come to your residence and provide you with a no-obligation quote for your project. Contact Be Happy Property Services today for help with your springtime household property service preparation.