Spring is a season of change and renewal. As such, it provides an excellent opportunity to clean out and shape up your home. Even if you aren’t a general contractor, there are a number of home maintenance tasks that you can see to before it gets too hot to do any real work; let’s take a look at three things you should take of in the spirit of spring.

1. Clean your furnace. Furnaces work hard during the winter, so they deserve to be pampered after the frigid season has ended. Clean out the filter system, blower, and motor of your furnace; if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself (or confident in your knowledge of the unit), call a general contractor to help you out. You may discover that your furnace is older than you thought (or less efficient than you hoped as) and decide to replace it entirely — with newer models achieving around 97% efficiency, the upgrade would certainly be worthwhile.
2. Inspect the basement and attic. Water damage can wreak havoc on a home, from basement flooding to the growth of mold. Be sure to check both your basement and your attic for any signs of leaks or other problems; April is always an especially rainy month, so you’ll want to nip any issue in the bud as soon as possible.
3. Check on your outdoor AC unit. You’ll only have a brief window of time where you’ll need neither your furnace or your air conditioner, so it’s smart to make sure your AC unit is ready to go when the time comes. Remove debris surrounding the cooling unit, and change the filters. It’s also a good idea to contact an HVAC service to inspect it; if you neglect this task, you run the risk of experiencing an AC breakdown in the height of the summer when general contractors are fully booked.

They say the home is where the heart is; the best way to take care of yourself is to take care of the place you spend most of your time. Upon the completion of this list, you’ll find yourself sliding into summer with a smile on your face.