February 2026 Newsletter

March 20th, 2026. The first day of spring. It may be snowy, icy, cold, and wet outside right now, but spring is less than a month away! What better way to remind ourselves that warmer weather and sunnier days are heading our way, than to dedicate an entire newsletter to getting ready for spring?! Take a moment to sit down, relax, and read all about preparing for the next season to arrive. Sure, there's plenty to do, but you're not alone! Give us a call if you need help with any of these spring prep tasks or anything else that may need some attention around your home. Home Repair and Care: "We do the little things that never seem to get done", and more!

Let's Get Ready for Spring!

If you look outside right now, it's probably hard - VERY hard - to believe Spring will ever arrive. It's pretty much a winter wonderland outside but, in just a few short weeks, the snow will be gone and spring will officially be here. It's then that the "itch" to clean up from winter and get ready for spring will take over. To help you get started, we've got a list of some much needed outdoor home maintenance tasks that are important to take care of this time of year. Let's get started!

Inspect Exterior Wood Surfaces

• Check your wood deck, fences, railings, and other wood surfaces for rot, wobbly posts and rails, etc. Make repairs, as needed. (You should also address any loose railings inside your home!)
• Check fences for signs of any damage, and address any issues. Snow blowers, and high winds from the winter season, often cause damage.
• Look for any signs of termite infiltration.
• Stain and/or reseal wood fences, decks, railings, and other wood structures every year or two.

Inspect Masonry, Concrete, Asphalt, etc.

• Evaluate pathways, driveways, and sidewalks for any cracks, holes, etc. that could become a tripping hazard, and repair. The freeze and thaw cycles that occur during winter are notorious for wreaking havoc on these areas!
• Look for and take care of any damaged, cracked concrete areas where railings, lamp posts, etc. have been secured.

Service Your Central Air Conditioner

• Change the filters at least once every season.
• Remove any debris from around the exterior unit.
• Make an appointment for a professional to come in for the annual servicing of your unit SOON. The closer you get to summer, the harder it is to get a timely appointment.

Inspect Windows & Doors

• Clean out the little drainage holes on the bottom of the exterior window frame (weep holes). Use the spray from a garden hose, or the force of a wire hanger or compressed air, to remove any debris.
• Repair any holes or tears found in screens. Even the smallest hole can let insects in!
• If needed, repair any cracked glass on windows and doors, paint, add fresh weather stripping.

Take Care of Gutters & Downspouts

• Inspect gutters and downspouts for any disconnected areas, damage, holes, etc., and address any issues found. Winter weather can really do a number on your gutter system.
• Plan to have your gutters and downspouts cleaned, to prevent any damage from occurring to your home.

Inspect Outdoor Plumbing, Sprinklers, etc.

• Address any broken, damaged, or malfunctioning sprinkler/irrigation heads.
• Be sure any heads spray AWAY from the house and off of street/sidewalk areas.
• Check hoses and hose spigots, and take care of any damage and/or leaks found.

Do an Overall Inspection of Your Property

• Any downed, damaged, or dying trees should be cared for or removed.
• Clean up any fallen branches, leaf piles, refuse, and other yard debris.
• For some more inspiration on cleaning up your yard, CLICK HERE! for a "Spring Gardening Checklist" by Better Homes and Gardens.

Power-Wash Away Dinginess!

HRC uses a more effective, less damaging "soft-wash" process to clean not only your home, but other areas as well, including decks, walkways, patios, and more. Our power-washing season will be starting soon!

Mailbox in Need of Help?

If your mailbox is located at your road, there's a good chance it has been the victim of a snow plow or bad weather at some point in time. If that's the case this year, or if it has simply seen better days, consider replacing your old mailbox with a new one! We install a wide variety of beautiful mailboxes. Give HRC a call to find out more!

Service Your Lawn Mower

People don't always remember this very important task until it's too late. Lawn mowers need regular maintenance, including changing of the oil and spark plug, cleaning or replacement of the filter, and more! Be sure to have your mower serviced before this season's first mowing, and regularly thereafter.



Spring seems worlds away right now but, before you know it, it will be here. Whether you are unable to tackle any or all of these maintenance tasks yourself, or you simply don't want to do them yourself, we can help you get some or all of them done. Feel free to give HRC a call. Helping our customers is what we are all about!

Take Inventory of Your Garden Tools!

Don't let the snow on the ground deter you from getting ready for spring! Right now, you can take a look around your garage and/or shed to see what you may need to replace or add to your inventory of garden tools. There are so many different kinds of garden tools available to purchase, but do you really need to own them ALL? We've put together a pretty good list to help you decide what tools are essential for being a part of your collection.

Shovels

• Trowel: A mini shovel good for digging and scooping soil, weeding, and planting.
• Spade Shovel: Its straight edge is great for edging, digging holes, moving soil and planting.
• Round-Point Shovel: Great for digging through hard soil.

Garden Rakes & Forks

• Rakes are used for raking leaves, grass, etc.
• Forks are used for aerating soil and turning over compost.

Pruners

• For cutting branches, hedges, stems and flowers. Hand pruners are made for smaller branches/jobs, larger pruners are made for larger branches/jobs.

Garden Gloves

• Leather, nylon, spandex, or polyurethane-coated gloves offer the best protection against thorns, sharp branches, chemicals, and other hazards.

Wheelbarrow

• For transportation of soil, mulch, rocks, and other debris. Steel wheelbarrows are best for heavy-duty yardwork.

Other

• Lawn Mower: Push or riding varieties, based on the size of your lawn.
• Weed-Wacker/String Trimmer: Great for trimming around fences, trees, garden beds, etc.
• Leaf Blower: For cleaning up leaves, grass clippings, and other debris.

Beat the spring rush by stocking your garage/shed with the garden tools that you need, now! While it's tempting to grab the tools with the cheapest price, spending a little extra to purchase higher quality varieties, and maintaining them throughout their use, will offer a longer life span and save you money in the long run.

We've Got Some Milestones to Share!

2026 marks Home Repair and Care's 20th anniversary!!! We have been in business for TWENTY years! Time certainly does fly, and what a great journey it has been. We are so thankful for all of the amazing customers we have met over these years, and we look forward to all the amazing NEW customers we will meet in the future!

2026 is also another year of the Hunterdon Happening List and, if we win again this year, it will be our 10th win in a row! Help us make it happen by voting for Home Repair and Care, under the "2026 Home: Handyman or Home Repair" category. Voting ends this Saturday. CLICK HERE if you'd like to vote for Home Repair and Care as your favorite handyman, and thank you for your support!

Get to Know Us Better!

3/7/26: Somerset County (NJ) Electronic Waste Recycling Event, Hillsborough, 8am-2pm. For more information on this event, CLICK HERE!

3/14/26: Hunterdon County (NJ) Electronic Recycling Event, Flemington, 9am-1pm. For more information on this event, CLICK HERE!

3/21/26: Hunterdon County (NJ) Household Hazardous Waste Event, Flemington, Time TBD. For more information on this event, CLICK HERE!

3/21/26: Mercer County (NJ) Household Hazardous Waste & E-Waste Recycling Event, Lawrence Twp., 8am-2pm. For more information on this event, CLICK HERE!

4/4/26: Bucks County (PA) Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event, Newtown, 8:30am-2pm. For more information on this event, CLICK HERE!

4/4/26: Somerset County (NJ) Electronic Waste Recycling Event, Hillsborough, 8am-2pm. For more information on this event, CLICK HERE!

4/11/26: Somerset County (NJ) Document Shredding Event, Hillsborough, 9am-1pm. For more information on this CLICK HERE!

4/18/26: Hunterdon County (NJ) Document Shredding Event, Flemington, 8am-11:30am. For more information on this CLICK HERE!

Bucks County (PA) Electronics Disposal Information. The following is a list of locations for electronics disposal. NOTE: A fee will be charged at these sites. Contact individual locations for further details. For a list of

locations, CLICK HERE!

Don't forget, we also post tips, reminders and project updates on our social media!

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