Spring Home Maintenance Checklist for Central Texas

Why Spring Maintenance Matters More in Central Texas

Spring in Central Texas is not a gentle transition. By mid-March, temperatures can swing between the low 40s and the mid-80s within the same week. April brings severe storms with hail potential. May can feel like full summer with highs pushing into the 90s. Your home just came through winter (which, yes, can actually damage Austin homes) and now faces months of punishing heat and UV exposure.

A few hours of targeted maintenance in March, April, and May can prevent expensive emergency repairs in June through September. We have put together this checklist based on what we see go wrong every year in homes across Austin, from older neighborhoods in Tarrytown and Brentwood to newer builds in Pflugerville and Leander.

March: AC Prep and Exterior Cleaning

Air Conditioning Tune-Up

Your AC system has been sitting mostly idle since October. Before you need it running all day every day, schedule a professional HVAC tune-up. Here is what a proper spring service covers:

• Check refrigerant levels and test for leaks in the line set
• Clean the evaporator coil inside the air handler (a dirty coil reduces cooling capacity by 20 to 30 percent)
• Clean the condenser coil on the outdoor unit (this gets clogged with cottonwood fluff, pollen, and debris over winter)
• Test the capacitor, contactor, and electrical connections
• Check the condensate drain line and flush it with a vinegar solution (clogged drains are the number one cause of summer AC emergency calls in Austin)
• Inspect the blower motor and fan blade for wear
• Replace the air filter (and buy a pack of replacements to swap monthly through summer)

If your system is more than ten years old, this tune-up is also a diagnostic opportunity. A technician can identify components that are near failure so you can plan a replacement on your schedule rather than during a 105-degree week in August.

Pressure Washing

Winter rain, leaf debris, and mildew leave their mark on driveways, sidewalks, patios, and siding. March is the perfect time for pressure washing because temperatures are comfortable for outdoor work and the surfaces dry quickly.

• Driveways and sidewalks: remove algae, mold, and staining that creates slipping hazards
• Patio and deck surfaces: clean before the outdoor entertaining season
• Home exterior: wash siding, soffits, and fascia to remove pollen buildup and mildew
• Fence panels: clean wood or vinyl fences before applying stain or sealant

Pressure washing is also a chance to inspect surfaces up close. Cracked concrete, rotting deck boards, and damaged siding are easier to spot on a clean surface.

Change Smoke and CO Detector Batteries

This takes five minutes and could save your life. Replace batteries in all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. If your detectors are more than ten years old, replace the entire unit. Test each one after installing fresh batteries.

April: Storm Prep and Roof Inspection

Roof Inspection After Winter

April is prime time for roof inspection in Central Texas. You are checking for winter damage before the spring storm season intensifies. Walk your property and look up:

• Missing, cracked, or curling shingles (especially on south and west-facing slopes that take the most UV)
• Damaged or missing flashing around chimneys, vents, and pipe boots
• Sagging or bowing sections that could indicate decking damage
• Visible hail dents on metal flashing, vents, or gutters (evidence of unreported storm damage)

If you had any significant weather events over the winter, including that February ice storm or March hailstorm, get a professional assessment. Damage that looks minor from the ground can be significant up close.

Gutter Cleaning

Austin's live oaks dump leaves in March and April as they shed their old foliage and produce new growth. If you have oak trees near your home (and most Austin properties do), your gutters are full right now. Clogged gutters cause water to back up against the fascia, overflow onto the foundation, and create conditions for rot and mosquito breeding.

• Remove all debris from gutters and downspouts
• Check that downspouts discharge at least 4 feet from the foundation
• Inspect gutter brackets and hangers for looseness or corrosion
• Consider gutter guards if you spend every spring cleaning the same gutters

Test Your Sprinkler System

Before temperatures climb and your lawn needs regular watering, run every zone on your irrigation system. Walk the yard while each zone runs and look for:

• Broken or tilted sprinkler heads
• Heads that are spraying onto hardscape instead of turf or beds
• Zones that have low pressure or uneven coverage
• Leaks at heads, connections, or around the backflow preventer

Fix issues now when irrigation supply stores are fully stocked and plumbers are not slammed with summer emergency calls.

May: Weatherproofing and Pest Prevention

Weatherstripping and Caulk Check

Before the summer heat hits, seal the gaps that let hot air in and cool air out. Walk the perimeter of your home and check:

• Weatherstripping around all exterior doors (press a piece of paper between the door and frame; if it slides freely, the seal is worn)
• Caulk around window frames, especially on south and west exposures where UV breaks down sealant faster
• Caulk at the junction of siding and trim, around outdoor faucets, and where cable or utility lines enter the home
• Garage door seal along the bottom edge

Air sealing is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce summer cooling loads. Those small gaps add up to significant air infiltration, and your AC has to work harder to compensate.

Outdoor Faucets and Hose Bibs

If we had a hard freeze over the winter (and Austin gets at least one most years), check your outdoor faucets for freeze damage. Turn each one on fully and watch for leaks at the handle, the body, or the wall behind it. A slow drip from a cracked hose bib can cause hidden water damage inside the wall cavity.

Termite Awareness (Swarm Season Is March Through May)

Central Texas termite swarm season runs from March through May. Subterranean termites are the primary species in our area, and they swarm on warm days after rain. Signs to watch for:

• Small winged insects emerging from the ground near your foundation, in your garage, or around tree stumps
• Discarded wings near windowsills, doorways, or light fixtures (swarmers shed wings after mating)
• Mud tubes running up foundation walls, piers, or plumbing penetrations
• Soft or hollow-sounding wood in structural members, door frames, or window sills

If you see any of these signs, do not ignore them. Termite damage in Austin homes is real and progressive. A professional pest inspection now can save you from structural repairs later. We can connect you with trusted pest control partners who know Central Texas termite behavior.

Allergen Management for Your Home

The Pollen Calendar Shift

Austin allergy sufferers know the seasons. Cedar pollen (mountain cedar, technically Ashe juniper) winds down in late February and March. But oak pollen ramps up hard in March and peaks through April. Mold spore counts rise as temperatures warm and humidity increases. Grass pollen follows in late spring.

Your home's HVAC system is your primary defense against airborne allergens indoors. Beyond changing filters monthly, consider these upgrades:

• Upgrade to MERV 11 or MERV 13 filters (they catch smaller particles than the basic MERV 8 filters most homes use)
• Have your ductwork inspected for leaks that could pull unfiltered attic air into your living space
• Keep windows closed on high-pollen days, even when the weather is pleasant
• Run bathroom exhaust fans during and after showers to reduce indoor humidity and mold growth

For homeowners in areas surrounded by live oaks and cedar, like Lakeway, Bee Cave, Dripping Springs, and Westlake, the pollen load can be intense. Keeping your HVAC system clean and your home sealed makes a noticeable difference in indoor air quality.

The Spring Maintenance Payoff

Every item on this checklist takes a small amount of time and effort compared to the emergency repair it prevents. A clogged condensate drain in March becomes a flooded utility closet in July. An uncleaned gutter in April becomes foundation erosion by September. An ignored termite swarm in May becomes structural damage you discover when you try to sell.

Exterior Paint and Siding Check

Austin's UV exposure is intense, and south-facing and west-facing walls take the hardest hit. Walk the exterior and look for paint that is chalking (leaves a white residue on your hand when you touch it), peeling, or blistering. Check wood trim around windows and doors for soft spots that indicate rot. Fiber cement siding holds up well, but the caulk joints between boards degrade and need refreshing every few years.

If your home has wood siding, the spring check is especially important. Moisture from winter rain can penetrate cracked paint and start the rot cycle. Catching it early means a spot repair and repaint rather than full board replacement.

Garage Door Maintenance

Your garage door is the largest moving component on your home and one of the most neglected. Spring maintenance takes 20 minutes:

• Lubricate the hinges, rollers, and track with a silicone-based spray (not WD-40, which attracts dust)
• Test the auto-reverse safety feature by placing a board on the ground under the door and pressing the close button. The door should reverse when it contacts the board.
• Inspect the weatherstrip along the bottom for cracks or gaps
• Check the springs and cables visually for fraying or wear (do not attempt to adjust or replace springs yourself, as they are under extreme tension)

We offer spring maintenance packages that bundle AC tune-up, pressure washing, gutter cleaning, and a basic home exterior inspection into a single visit. If you would rather have a crew knock out the entire checklist in one day than piece it together yourself over three months, give us a call. We serve homeowners throughout Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Kyle, Buda, and the surrounding communities.