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Home Spring Maintenance Tips for AZ and NM Homeowners

Updated March 2025

As spring arrives in the Southwest, it’s the perfect time as homeowners in Arizona and New Mexico to prepare for the extreme summer conditions ahead. Phoenix saw a record-breaking 31 consecutive days above 110°F in 2023, making it more important than ever to get your home ready. With our regional challenges of intense sun, sporadic monsoons, and desert pests, having a proactive spring home maintenance checklist, especially one that includes home insulation, can help keep your home efficient, comfortable, and protected.

Arizona Spring Home Maintenance Tips

Pest Prevention

Scorpions and snakes become more active as temperatures rise, often seeking refuge indoors. To keep these unwanted house guests out:

  • Inspect your home’s exterior for gaps.
  • Seal cracks in your walls, doors and windows, and the foundation.
  • Replace worn door sweeps and weatherstripping.
  • Clear yard debris and woodpiles where pests may hide.
Exterior of an Arizona home

Cooling System Preparation

With over 90% of Arizona homes relying on air conditioning, prepping your cooling system and windows for the summer heat can save you energy and reduce costs. And ensuring your home has adequate insulation and air sealing will also lessen your AC unit’s workload saving you energy and money.

Evaporative Cooler Maintenance

Locals who choose to use an evaporative cooler to help lessen the summer heat can see up to 75% less electricity usage than with a standard AC unit. To maximize your cooler’s use and keep it well maintained, be sure to:

  • Clean out mineral sediment and replace worn cooler pads.
  • Flush the pan and remove calcium scale buildup.
  • Oil the motor (if needed) and test the pump and fan.

Window Seals and Caulking

  • Inspect for cracked caulk or degraded weatherstripping.
  • Re-caulk gaps around windows and replace brittle weatherstripping on doors and windows.
  • Properly sealed openings help reduce energy loss.

A/C Service and HVAC Prep

  • Schedule a professional annual tune-up.
  • Replace/clean your HVAC filters every 1-3 months.
  • Inspect ducts for leaks, as they can waste 20-30% of cooled air.

Clear debris from outdoor units and test your system early to ensure it’s ready for summer.

Exterior of an Arizona home

Exterior Maintenance

Keeping tabs on the outside of your home and property plays an important part in saving energy too.

Roof Inspection

  • Check for winter damage, sun-related wear, missing shingles, and cracked tiles.
  • If you have a flat roof, check it for pooling water or membrane blisters.
  • Address small repairs now to prevent costly leaks during summer storms.

Landscaping and Irrigation Updates

Up to 70% of your Arizona home water consumption is from outdoor water use. Cut back with these ideas:

  • Trim overgrown plants and tree limbs, especially those touching your house.
  • Inspect drip lines and sprinkler heads for leaks and ensure your timer is set for spring conditions.
  • Use xeriscaping to create a more drought resistant yard by adding barked beds and native plants instead of a traditional lawn.

New Mexico Spring Home Maintenance Tips

Structural Maintenance

Flat Roof Inspection

If you own an adobe style home with a flat roof, be sure to:

  • Check for pooling water, cracks, and peeling coatings.
  • Ensure scuppers, gutters, and downspouts are clear to prevent damage from summer storms.
Flat roof and pooling water

Stucco Wall Repair

Even though stucco is a durable material, continuous cold/hot cycles can cause small cracks that grow over time. This makes it important to patch hairline cracks, bulges, or chips with stucco repair compound or caulk and repaint damaged areas while the weather is warming and drying.

Water Management

Gutter Cleaning

Help protect your home’s eaves and foundation from intense downpours. Be sure to:

  • Clean out your gutters and downspouts, especially where you have large trees.
  • Remove leaves, seed pods, and sand buildup to prevent blockages.
  • Clear cottonwood seed fluff, which can clog gutters.

Rainwater Catchment Systems

One inch of rain from a 1,000 sq. ft. roof can collect 600 gallons of water! Don’t let this valuable resource just drain off your roof, collect it and use it. Follow these tips:

  • Install or prep rain barrels and cisterns to collect water for summer use.
  • Position your barrels under your gutter downspouts.
  • Ensure your screens/filters are in place to keep out leaves and mosquitoes.
  • Check that overflow routes direct water away from your home.

Xeriscaping

Additional Tips for Every Homeowner

Insulation Improvements

Having a well-insulated home is one of the best ways to conserve energy, save money, and stay comfortable year-round. With upgraded insulation and air-sealing you can cut your heating and cooling costs by about 15%. As you prepare your home for the warmer weather to come, don’t forget to check your home’s insulation.

Roof insulation layer illustration

Inspect and Upgrade Insulation

  • Check your attic’s insulation levels—visible joists indicate a need for more insulation.
  • The Department of Energy recommends certain R-values of insulation for homes in Arizona and New Mexico, based on their climate zone.
  • Federal tax credits can reimburse 30% of your insulation upgrade costs, up to $1,200.

Air Sealing and Energy Audits

  • Seal air leaks around your recessed lighting, attic penetrations, doors and windows, and fireplaces.
  • Consider a professional energy audit to identify inefficiencies.
  • Some utilities offer rebates or credits for home energy audits.
  • At Banker Insulation, we offer home energy audits to our Phoenix and Chandler  customers.

Comfort and Safety

  • Reverse ceiling fans to summer mode (counterclockwise) to improve cooling.
  • Ensure attic vents are clear—attic temperatures can soar in Southwest summers.
  • Install reflective window coverings or screens on west- and south-facing windows.
  • Dryer vents should be cleaned regularly to remove lint buildup and reduce fire risk.
  • Test your smoke and CO detectors, replacing batteries as needed.

Start Spring Off on the Right Foot

By following these home maintenance tips, you and other fellow Arizona or New Mexico homeowners can prevent costly repairs, improve energy efficiency, and stay comfortable all summer long. A well-maintained home not only enhances your comfort but also reduces your energy bills and prolongs the life of essential systems.

At Banker Insulation, we specialize in helping homeowners like you optimize their insulation and energy efficiency. From insulation installation to home energy audits, our team is ready to assist. Contact us today to get your spring off to a great start with an energy efficient home!

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