5 quick warm-weather fixes for your home

(NC) As the weather gets warmer, small updates can help get your home in great shape for you to enjoy the outdoors all season. Here’s a checklist of easy weekend projects to help get you get from do to done.

Fix damaged screens
A torn or damaged window screen is unsightly, unsafe and allows insects and other pests into your home. This beginner-level project requires a roll of replacement screen, screen spline (the rubber that holds the screen into the frame), spline roller, a screwdriver and a utility knife. You can find tutorials on how to do it properly online.

Repair and seal your driveway
Potholes in your asphalt driveway can cause unnecessary damage to your vehicle’s tires and suspension, and they’re a tripping hazard. Sealing an asphalt driveway can help it last longer and increase the curb appeal of your home. It’s best to start this project on a day that’s above 10 degrees Celsius with no rain in the forecast. Check your local hardware store, like Home Depot, for advice on the best materials to use for your driveway.

Adjust your ceiling fan
A ceiling fan doesn’t change the temperature of your room because it doesn’t cool or heat air like a traditional air conditioner or heater. It can, however, create a cooling or warming effect by moving air around your room. In the summer, it should spin counterclockwise to create a cooling breeze. In winter, spinning the blades clockwise helps circulate the warm air throughout a room without creating a breeze. By helping you stay cooler or warmer, your ceiling fan can augment your existing HVAC system, allowing it to work less and, in turn, lower your energy bills.

Clean your windows
Clean windows help your home look sharp, both inside and out, and, most importantly, give you a crystal-clear view of the outdoors. For this project, you’ll need glass cleaner, a pail, some cleaning cloths or sponges and a squeegee. Diluting a small amount of ammonia with some rubbing alcohol or vinegar in water makes an effective grease-cleaning solution, and warm water and cornstarch or dish soap also create a great general window cleaner.

Give your outdoor tools a tune-up
To tune up your lawn mower, start by changing the oil, air filter and spark plug. Next, clean the top and undercarriage, removing dirt and grass clippings. Be sure to detach the spark-plug wire before working around the cutting blade. Sharpen the mower blade and replace it if it has large nicks or gouges. It’s a good idea to keep an extra blade on hand so you always cut with a sharp edge. A sharp-edged blade, along with a well cared-for engine, will keep your mower humming with ease. Lastly, fill the fuel tank. Note, a cold mower can be hard to start in early spring. Warm it up by placing it in the sun for an hour or two before turning it on.