Spring Training for Your Home: The Essential Plainfield Maintenance Checklist

The snow is finally melting, the grass is turning green, and the Chicago-area winter is (hopefully) behind us. While you might be eager to get the patio furniture out, your house needs some attention first.

Illinois winters are brutal on buildings. The constant freeze-thaw cycles, heavy snow loads, and high winds take a toll on your home’s exterior. Now is the critical time to assess the damage before the spring rains turn minor issues into major leaks.

At Norman Home Inspections, we believe the best repair is prevention. Grab a coffee and take a walk around your property with this checklist in hand.

1. The “Binoculars” Roof Check

You don’t need to climb a ladder (and please be careful if you do!). Stand in your yard with a pair of binoculars and scan your rooflines.

• Missing Shingles: Winter winds can rip asphalt shingles right off. Look for dark patches or “tabs” lying in your yard.
• Lifted Flashings: Check the metal sheets around your chimney and vent pipes. Ice dams often warp these, pulling them away from the brick or siding.

2. The Gutter Tune-Up

Your gutters have been holding heavy ice and snow for months. That weight can pull the spikes right out of the fascia board.

• Alignment: Make sure the gutters are still sloped toward the downspouts. If they are sagging in the middle, water will pool and spill over.
• Extensions: Ensure your downspout extensions (the long pipes at the bottom) are re-attached and pointing at least 4-6 feet away from your foundation. This is the #1 way to prevent basement seepage.

3. AC Unit Preparation

Before you turn the AC on for the first hot day in May, go look at the condenser unit outside.

• Winter Jacket: If you covered it for the winter, take the cover off! Running the AC with the cover on will destroy the compressor.
• Debris: Clean out leaves, twigs, and especially “cottonwood” fuzz from the cooling fins. If the unit can’t breathe, it can’t cool your house efficiently.

4. Check the “Grade”

The soil around your foundation swells when it freezes and shrinks when it thaws. Over time, this creates a “negative grade,” where the dirt slopes toward your house rather than away from it.

Walk the perimeter. If you see low spots right next to the foundation wall, fill them in with topsoil to ensure rainwater runs away from your basement.

5. Concrete and Asphalt Cracks

Look at your driveway and sidewalks. Water inevitably gets into small cracks, freezes, expands, and turns them into large cracks (or potholes). Seal these cracks now with a high-quality masonry sealant to prevent them from getting worse next winter.

6. The Sump Pump “sanity Check”

We mention this often because it is vital: Test your sump pump. Pour a bucket of water in the pit and make sure it kicks on. The spring rains are coming, and you need to be ready.

Don’t Ignore the Warning Signs

If you spot something during your spring walk-through that looks suspicious—a crack in the foundation, a sagging roofline, or water stains in the attic—don’t guess.

We offer Maintenance Inspections for homeowners who aren’t selling but just want a professional “health check” on their biggest investment.

---