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My Blog
Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2011 10:21 PM
Simple & Easy Home Maintenance Tips
There’s an old saying: An ounce of prevention is worth a
pound of cure. This is especially true in your home. Preventative
maintenance takes just a few minutes of time, but can keep your family safe and
minimize costly repairs in the future. If you want to avoid unpleasant situations like a flooded laundry room or
a thermostat that roasts or freezes everyone inside, check out these easy tips,
compiled as part of Professional Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractor Awareness Week:
Toilet:
- Is
your toilet leaking? To find out, add a small amount of red food coloring
to the tank, and then check the toilet bowl later. If the water has turned
red, water is seeping through from the tank, and you may need to change
some tank parts.
Washing Machine:
- Cracked
or defective/leaky washing machine hoses are one of the leading causes for Homeowners Insurance claims. Check
your hoses periodically for leaks, and replace plastic hoses every three
years.
- Make
sure that the drain hose is secured to the washing machine outlet box. If
not secured properly, the pressure could cause the hose to jump out of the
drain outlet when the pump activates, spilling tremendous volumes of water
onto your floor.
Refrigerator:
· The small water line that goes from your
refrigerator—called a capillary line—can easily become kinked. Plastic lines also become brittle from
use, which leads to leaks. Both situations can cause extensive damage to the
walls, floor, and cabinets around the refrigerator. Be sure to check and
periodically replace brittle lines and check metal lines for crimps or kinks.
Garbage Disposal:
- Run plenty of cold water when using your garbage disposal
- Do not
overload it or dispose of things like bones or corn husks.
- Be
sure your dishwasher does not drain into the disposal.
Pipes:
- Know
where your water cut-off valves are located, and know the difference
between the outside water cut-off and the inside water cut-off in case of
emergency.
- If
leaving your home for extended periods during winter months, set your
thermostat at approx. 60 degrees and leave your cabinet doors open inside.
As an added precaution, turn the water off. If the pipes do freeze, turn
the heat up, open all cabinet doors, and close your crawlspace vents.
- To
help prevent clogs, fit all your tubs and shower drains with a strainer
that catches hair and soap chips, and clean the strainer regularly. Be
sure that overflow holes on tubs and sinks are clear and open to prevent
water damage to floors and ceilings.
- Do not
rinse fats or cooking oils down the kitchen sink, as they can solidify in
the pipes and cause clogs.
- If you
have a pipe that is completely clogged, avoid using caustic liquid drain
openers (like Drano or Liquid Plumber). The caustic ingredients can get
trapped in your pipes and could cause serious damage. Some people try
environmentally safe drain maintenance additives, but these are more
effective as preventative maintenance and are not meant for use on
completely obstructed drains.
- If you
can’t snake it yourself, call a professional!
Water Heater:
- Always
shut off the power or gas before doing anything to your water heater.
- At
least once a year, drain water from the tank to remove sediment buildup.
- If
your water heater is gas, periodically inspect the water heater burner.
The flame under the heater should appear blue with yellow tips. If it’s
mostly yellow, or if it’s sooty under there, your flue may be clogged,
which is a dangerous situation.
- At
least once a year, have your water heater inspected by a service technician.
Air Conditioner:
- Check the condensate
hose to be sure it is not blocked with algae.
- Clean the outside condensing unit screen
of leaves.
- Listen for unusual noises and call a
professional when necessary.
Humidifiers :
- A neglected in-duct humidifier can
breed mildew and bacteria or add too much moisture to a house. After the
heating season ends, don't forget to pull the plug, shut the water valve
and drain the unit. If the unit has a water reservoir, drain and clean it
with white vinegar, a mix of one part chlorine bleach to eight parts water
or muriatic acid.
- Clean mist-type humidifiers
regularly to remove mineral deposits.
Thermostat:
- While thermostats rarely fail
outright, they can degrade over time as mechanical parts stick or lose
their calibration. Older units will send faulty signals if they've been
knocked out of level or have dirty switches. To recalibrate an older unit,
use a wrench to adjust the nut on the back of the mercury switch until it
turns the system on and, using a room thermometer, set it to the correct
temperature. Caulk the hole where the thermostat wire comes through the
wall, or a draft could trick it into thinking the room is warmer or colder
than it really is.
Furnace Filter:
- Most houses with forced-air
furnaces have a standard furnace filter made from loosely woven spun-glass
fibers designed to keep it and its ductwork clean. Unfortunately, they
don't improve indoor air quality. If you want better air quality, you need
to upgrade to a media filter, which sits in between the main return duct
and the blower cabinet. Made of a deeply pleated, paper-like material,
media filters are at least seven times better than a standard filter at
removing dust and other particles.
- Although media filters can last up
to two years, their tight weave can restrict a furnace's ability to blow
air through the house. To insure a steady, strong airflow through the
house, choose a filter that matches your blower's capacity.
When you are ready to hire a professional
contractor to take care of more serious home problems, visit www.ECHI-LLC.com. |
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