March, April and May
Spring checklist for inside the house
Windows open again, which makes spring the easiest season to work on bathrooms. Fresh air helps grout sealer and new caulk cure, and a winter of closed rooms has usually left the clearest signs of where moisture has been sitting.
The spring list
- Run the drop test on shower grout and reseal any lines that darken quickly.
- Check every tub and shower caulk bead and replace sections that lift or show dark spots.
- Pull the washing machine out a few inches and look at both hoses and the floor behind it.
- Open each sink cabinet, feel the floor and the supply lines, and wipe out anything that has collected.
- Put a fresh filter in the furnace or air handler before the first warm week.
- Clean the lint screen housing and the dryer duct behind the dryer.
- Vacuum the bathroom exhaust fan grille and check that the fan clears the mirror within about 20 minutes.
What to look for
| Where | Warning sign | Usual next step |
|---|---|---|
| Shower grout | Color change after the drop test | Reseal or regrout |
| Washer hoses | Date older than about five years, bulges | Replace both hoses |
| Dryer duct | Crushed foil duct, heavy lint | Straighten or replace, clean the run |
Why the dryer is on a water list
A dryer duct is not about water, but it lives in the same corner as the washer and gets checked on the same afternoon. Lint that builds up in the duct slows drying, pushes warm damp air back into the laundry room and is a known fire risk. A rigid or semi-rigid metal duct with as few bends as possible dries faster than a crushed foil one.
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