Categories Home Maintenance, Recent Work

UpKeep Your Home This Spring

Home Maintenance - UpKeep

As the days grow longer and warmer, now is the time invest in the upkeep of your home!  From freshening up the exterior to tackling those indoor projects, here is your guide to upkeep your home for the season. 

  • Gutter Cleaning: Clearing the Path for Spring Showers: Although spring excites us for the warmer months, it also brings us April showers. Be sure your home is ready to take on the rain by clearing out debris from your gutters. Leaves, twigs, and more can accumulate over the winter months, which can cause clogging and potential roof damage. Your home will thank you!
  • Power and Window Washing: Revitalize Your Home’s Exterior: After a long winter, your home’s exterior may need some TLC. Say goodbye to dirt, grime, and mildew with a power washing session. From the siding to the front and back decks, give your home longevity by removing build-up and dirt. Ensure you also get your front and back decks to sit back, relax, and enjoy the warmer months. 
  • Window Washing: Letting the Light In: There is nothing like sparkling clean windows to welcome the sunshine into your home. With a thorough window washing, you can say goodbye to the layer of dirt and residue that builds up over time. This will not only improve your home’s appearance but also the natural light that enters through your windows. 
  • Cooling Units: Preparing for the Heat: The hot summer days arrive before we know it. Spring is the perfect time to prepare and inspect your cooling units for the season ahead. This includes changing filters, cleaning vents, and ensuring everything is properly working. By taking care of any maintenance early on, you will avoid potential breakdowns when temperatures rise. 
  • Spring Cleaning: Renewing Your Indoor Spaces: Last but certainly not least, embrace the tradition of spring cleaning. It is important to tackle those overlooked areas, from decluttering your closet to deep cleaning those neglected corners. This creates a fresh, inviting home setting the new season’s tone. 

Doing all this home maintenance alone may seem overwhelming, which us why we created UpKeep. UpKeep provides an array of home maintenance services for a year-round safe and clean home. You can always visit our website to see our services and packages. Happy Spring!

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Categories Blog, Home Maintenance

5 House Maintenance Tips for Summer

UpKeep

Your home is where you spend a significant portion of your life, and it is important to maintain it throughout the year. Proper maintenance of your home not only ensures its functionality and safety but also enhances its aesthetic appeal, making it look fresh and inviting. Additionally, it helps in retaining your home’s value. This month we’re sharing five tips on how you can prepare your house for summer!

  1. Power Wash the Outside of  Your House: Heat and humidity can make mold and mildew grow faster on your home’s exterior. To get rid of it, use a power washer with a mildew remover that works with your siding.

  2. Check your HVAC System: Each season brings its own set of maintenance tasks. For instance, during the springtime, it’s crucial to check your HVAC system and ensure that it is prepared for the upcoming summer. This includes changing the air filter monthly and making sure that the air conditioning unit is functioning properly, as it will be in high demand during the hot months ahead.

  3. Clean out Gutters: With the spring weather bringing in debris such as leaves, twigs, and dirt, you’ll want to clean out your gutters. It’s recommended to clean gutters at least twice a year to prevent issues like water damage, foundation damage, and pest infestation.

  4. Clean Windows and Screens: Are your windows and screens covered in pollen? Find some relief for your seasonal allergies with a good window washing. Make sure to get the interior and exterior of both the window and screen for a thorough cleanse.

  5. Repairs: It’s important to address any repairs as soon as possible to prevent them from becoming bigger issues down the road. Whether it’s a leaky faucet or a loose stair railing, take care of it promptly.

Don’t let Spring pass you by without spending some time on maintaining your home. Don’t have the time or expertise?  Contact our Upkeep team and we’ll provide a maintenance package that fits your needs.

Thanks for reading along,

Ed & The Mcdonald Contracting Team

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Categories Home Maintenance

Winter Home Prep

Winter is basically here and with so many responsibilities to juggle (hello, holiday shopping), the maintenance and upkeep of your home can easily end up at the bottom of your to-do list! Although sending that email or returning that online shopping order may seem time-sensitive, so is keeping up with your home maintenance.

Home maintenance is a broad topic. So many things may completely slip your mind and leave you with an unexpected home repair bill! Prevent those unexpected bills and check out these five home maintenance tasks…

  • Roof Repairs 

    • New England weather is hard to predict and even harder to prepare for! Ensure your roof is in perfect condition to protect your home from weather-related damage. Roof repairs range from fixing leaks and cleaning gutters to addressing a sagging structure. Although these repairs may seem small, a quick fix is far better than a large-scale repair.

  • Heating System Tune-Up

    • With the holiday season upon us and a big snowstorm likely on the horizon, homeowners must ensure their heating systems are in excellent working condition. A quick filter change, check on airflow, and evaluation of essential parts like the pumps, ensures that necessary minor repairs of your heating system are caught before they become significant repairs.

  • Smoke Alarm Check 

    • A task as simple as checking or replacing the batteries on your smoke alarms is necessary for home maintenance. Your home should always have working smoke alarms! In the unlikely event of an emergency, you will be thankful that you took the time to change the batteries!

  • Caulking Plumbing Fixtures

    • Although caulking plumbing fixtures may seem obsolete, taking the time to caulk around bathtubs, water pipes, and drains is a great way to prevent water damage. If water damage goes unchecked in your home, bills to fix the damage can be incredibly costly. By caulking around plumbing fixtures, water cannot seep into small cracks in your home. A small task now prevents a largely time-consuming one in the future!

  • Drain & Trap Cleaning

    • By cleaning your drains and traps, you are far less likely to experience clogged pipes and bad odors in the future. The cleaning will remove dirt, debris, and buildup to ensure a clean smell and pipes in like new condition. This maintenance task is a must to keep your home and the drains that support your plumbing in great condition.


Home maintenance can be time-consuming, but all of these tasks are necessary to prevent major home repairs and unexpected bills in the future. Not sure if you have the time or expertise to complete these tasks yourself? Check out McDonald Contracting and their Upkeep Maintenance Program! With fees starting as low as $150 per month, McDonald Contracting will make sure your home stays in excellent condition. Feel free to contact us to learn more.

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