It’s Spring in Seattle and your home has a to-do list

Spring is Seattle’s reset button for your home – and it’s not optional

After months of relentless rain, wind, and moisture, your house has taken a beating. Gutters are clogged. Moss is creeping up your roof. Water might be pooling against your foundation. Wood is swollen and cracked. And the longer you wait, the more expensive the fix becomes.

The good news? Spring is the perfect time to catch these problems before they turn into real damage. A few hours of inspection and maintenance now can save you thousands in foundation repairs, water intrusion, or rot later.

Check out what you need to look at—and why .

 

1. Exterior & Roof  

  • Walk your roof line (or hire someone to) and look for lifted, cracked, or missing shingles after the winter wind and rain. Seattle’s moss growth is real — treat any visible moss before it lifts shingles.

  • Clean your gutters thoroughly. After fall/winter leaf drop and debris, they’re likely clogged. Clogged gutters are one of the top causes of water intrusion and foundation issues in Seattle homes.

  • Check all downspouts are directing water at least 6 feet away from the foundation.

2. Foundation & drainage

  • Walk the perimeter of your home after a heavy rain and watch where water flows. It should move away from the house, not pool against it. This is especially important if you have a crawl space.

  • Peek in your crawl space (or have someone do it) and check for standing water, moisture on the vapor barrier, or new mold/mildew smells. A wet first winter can reveal drainage issues.

3. Deck & Exterior Wood

  • Inspect any decking, fencing, or wood siding for warping, rot, or cracked caulking after months of moisture exposure. Spring is the right time to reseal or restain before summer.

4. HVAC & Air Quality

  • Replace your furnace filter — it’s been working hard all winter.

  • If you have a heat pump (common in newer Seattle homes), have it serviced before you switch to cooling mode.

5.Windows & Doors

  • Check caulking and weatherstripping around all windows and exterior doors. Winter moisture can degrade seals, and resealing in spring is easy and inexpensive.
  • Look for any fogging between double-pane windows — that’s a sign the seal has failed and the window is losing its insulating value.

6. Plumbing

  • If you have any outdoor hose bibs, make sure they’re functioning properly now that freezing risk is behind you.
  • Check under sinks and around your water heater for any slow drips or moisture that developed over winter.

7.Yard & Landscaping

  • Trim back any trees or large shrubs that grew toward the house over the rainy season. Overhanging branches trap moisture on your roof and can cause moss and rot.
  • Check that window wells (if you have a basement) are clear of debris and draining properly.

 One Seattle-specific note: if your home was built before 1978 and you’re planning any spring renovation work, be mindful of lead paint and asbestos — both still show up in older Seattle-area homes. Have materials tested before any demo work.