Spring Safety and De-Winterization Tips

Spring is here and Alaskans can look forward to budding plants, melting lakes, and spring cleaning! As you start your gardens and bring out the summer footwear, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation's department of Research and Rural Development has simple steps you can take to prepare your home for spring and summer while increasing the comfort and safety of your home:

1. Swap batteries in fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors

Test batteries in your alarm systems, carbon monoxide detectors and fire alarms and replace them with new ones. Adding this to your spring-cleaning to-dos every year is a great way to make sure that those in your home are safe and healthy.

2.    Glance over your gutters

Check your gutters and downspouts to ensure there isn’t leaf matter, birch seeds or any other object that could cause an obstruction. Look at the drainage area near your downspout to ensure water is draining away from the home. Warmer months are the time to squeeze in repairs before the next freeze.

3.    Crawl into that crawlspace

Check your crawlspace for moisture. Moisture in a crawlspace can lead to structural damage and mold growth if not controlled. Check both the ground and foundation walls for any evidence of moisture seeping in. If your crawlspace has a sump pump already installed, verify it is in good working order. 

Bonus reading: How to check your sump pump and avoid spring melting problems.

4.     Make sure your wood pile is stored away from the house

This is true any season of the year.  If you’re stocking up on firewood, make sure to store it away from your house or other buildings. The last thing you want to do is invite wood-boring pests like carpenter ants into your house. Storing your wood someplace with good drainage and on blocks can help maintain airflow under the pile to reduce moisture which attracts insects.

5.     Turn your thermostats to summer settings when possible

Spring means warmer weather is on the way and if its comfortable you can start turning down your thermostat. Every degree you lower the thermostat can have savings on energy and cost; turning it down 5 degrees saves about 10%. 

6.     Adjust automatic timers for lights and or block heaters to take into account summer daylight and or temperature

With automatic timers, it’s easy to forget to update hours during the season’s change. After all, a part of the reason they are so great is that you can set them and not worry about it for several months; however, a spring and summer update on any timers you have can save money and provide comfort.

7.     Swap your fans to clockwise

As the midnight sun stretches out and it starts feeling more than comfortably warm, swap your ceiling fans to rotate clockwise to keep warm air circling up. Mark your calendar and remember to swap it back to counterclockwise in the fall to keep warm air in your living spaces!

8.     Check or Prepare an Emergency Kit

In Alaska, it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. Make sure you have a home emergency kit and check that it is up-to-date by replacing expired items, make sure you have essential prescriptions and medical supplies, and check that battery-powered items like flashlights still work.

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Looking for more resources? Alaska Housing Finance Corporation’s department of Research and Rural Development provides information, tips and tools to help homeowners better understand energy efficiency.