April

DOE's homeowner list: clean the area around the outdoor condenser, remove debris, and trim plants back at least 2 feet so air can flow; occasionally pass a stiff wire through the drain channels, because a clogged condensate drain stops the unit from removing humidity; and have the indoor evaporator coil checked every year and cleaned as needed; it sits inside the air handler cabinet, so if you look yourself, cut the power at the furnace switch or breaker first, and leave the cleaning of a dirty coil to the spring tune-up. For heat pumps, DOE adds: clean or change filters every 3 months or as the manufacturer says, clear plants and clutter from the outdoor unit with the fan power turned off, and have a technician service it at least once a year. A well-maintained heat pump can use 10 to 25 percent less energy than a neglected one.

UGA's checklist calls for gutter and downspout cleaning in spring (and again in fall, or more often if needed), with downspouts discharging 2 to 3 feet from the house. The EPA adds to clean and repair roof gutters regularly as part of keeping moisture out of the house. Work from a stable ladder on firm ground, kept away from the power lines that often reach the house at gutter height, with a helper holding the base, and never stand on the top rung; or hire it out. A gutter is not worth a fall.

Reverse what you did in the fall: open the inside shutoff that feeds each outdoor faucet, then open the faucet outside and watch for leaks at the handle, at the wall and, with the faucet off, inside the house below it. A frost-free sillcock keeps its shutoff deep in the wall, inside the heated part of the house; damage from a winter freeze usually shows up now, when water first runs through it, so look for a leak inside the wall or below the faucet.

The EPA's mold guide sets the targets: keep indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally between 30 and 50 percent; dry wet materials within 24 to 48 hours of a leak or spill, and in most cases mold will not grow; vent dryers and other moisture sources outside; run the bath fan when showering; and keep the air conditioner's drip pan clean and its drain line flowing. Check under sinks, around the water heater and at the base of the toilet while you are at it.