Routine inspections & maintenance

Tips on maintaining your home will help you avoid costly repairs while keeping your investment - and the occupants - safe and secure. As a homeowner, you are responsible for the care of your home. Here are a few tips to helps and keep your home enjoyable for years to come.

Inspect Your Home for Infestations. Insects, birds, rodents and other living organisms can cause great damage to your home in short order. At least once a month, walk the grounds of your home and look for trailing insects, insect mounds or damaged materials on the exterior of your home.

1. Insects can erode the foundation of your home and cost thousands of dollars to repair. Nesting bird, rodents or other living organisms can also damage your home and create unsafe conditions. These pests can bring disease or disturb wiring in walls or attics that can cause fire.

Don't Ignore Rust, Rot or Mold Damage. Age and exposure to the elements can cause rust and rot. Keep metal and wood surfaces clean, painted and sealed to prevent damage.

1. A rusty pipe can leak or burst causing thousands of dollars in damage. Rotting materials such as roof tiles, exposed wood or trim can be signs of water damage or pest infestation. Materials exposed to moisture can also begin to mold which can spread quickly throughout your home. If left untreated, these problems can also result in expenses more costly than the original repair.

Hot Water Heater Maintenance

Discolored water in your home can originate from the water distribution system or your home. If you do notice a discoloration in freshly drawn hot water in your sink or bathtub, try refilling the sink or tub with about three inches of cold water. If the cold water is clear, you need to flush your hot water tank. Follow these easy step-by-step instructions for flushing a gas or electric hot water heater. Many manufacturers suggest flushing hot water tanks at least once a year. We recommend doing this due to the iron content of your groundwater supplies which may reduce/dispose unhealthy water sediments . Following this recommendation will not only decrease the possibility of discolored water, it will also extend the life of your hot water tank and potentially reduce your energy costs.

Flushing The Hot Water Tank . If there is discolored water coming from your hot water taps but your cold water taps are clear, you may need to flush out your hot water tank. If so, these instructions will generally apply to hot water tanks properly installed within the last 10-15 years. If you have any problems following these instructions or do not feel comfortable doing this process, you should contact a plumber to help you in flushing your hot water tank.

Flushing an Electric Hot Water Tank

1. Turn OFF the electric power to the hot water tank. CAUTION: Power must be OFF before draining the hot water tank. The tank will be damaged if there is no water in it and the power is ON.
2. Connect a hose to the drain valve (B) and direct it to a floor drain or outside the house.
3. Open the drain valve and flush the tank for about five minutes. CAUTION: At first, the water will be very hot.
4. Shut off the cold water inlet (C).
5. Open several hot water taps in the house to let air into the line in order to completely drain the tank.
6. Turn the cold water inlet back on (C).
7. Carefully close the drain valve (B) as much as possible without forcing this valve shut. Due to age and possible rust in the valve, it may be difficult to shut it drip tight. Open the hot water supply valve to fill the tank, purging air through the open hot water taps.
8. Open the drain valve again and flush until the water is running clear.
9. Carefully shut the drain valve (B) and the hot water taps in the house.
10. Turn the power back ON.

Flushing a Gas Hot Water Tank

1. Turn the gas valve knob (A) to the pilot position. CAUTION: The valve must be in the pilot position before draining the hot water tank.
2. Connect a garden hose to the drain valve (B). Note: Direct the hose to a floor drain or outside the house.
3. Open the drain valve (B) and flush the tank for about 5 minutes. CAUTION: At first, the water will be very hot.
4. Close the drain valve (B).
5. Shut off water at the cold water inlet (C).
6. Fully open a hot water tap in the house to relieve tank pressure and to completely drain the tank.
7. Re-open the drain valve (B) and drain the tank. Note: This may take 30 minutes to 1 hour.
8. Turn cold water tap on and off about 5 times for 1 minute to flush the sediment from the tank. Note: Continue doing this until the water is running clear.
9. Close the drain valve (B) as much as possible without forcing the valve shut. (It may be difficult to ompletely close the valve due to age and possible rust in the valve.)
10. Turn cold water inlet (C) on fully to refill the tank. Note: Make sure the hot water tap is still open.
11. When the tank is full there will be a steady stream flowing from the open tap.
12. Shut the water off at the hot water tap.
13. Turn the gas valve knob (A) back to the On position.
14. Disconnect the garden hose.
15. Make sure that the drain valve (B) is completely turned Off. Note: If your valve drips after you have turned it off, you can install a cap, available at hardware stores.

Air Condition Cooling System

Air conditioners provide cooling comfort on even the warmest of days, but they can be quite expensive to install and operate. A well-maintained air conditioning system will run more efficiently and last for many years to come. Central air conditioners should be professionally inspected and adjusted before the beginning of every cooling season. Here are some tips to help you maintain you air conditioning system.

1. Check for Refrigeration Leaks : You should contact a trained professional who can fix any leak that might exist, test the repair and then charge your system with the required amount of refrigerant.
2. Check and Replace Air Filters :Clogged and dirty air filters can dramatically reduce your system's overall efficiency, so it is crucial to keep them clean.
3. Prevent Electrical Control Failure :Wire and terminal corrosion can make your air compression or fan controls wear prematurely, so you'll need to get them checked from time to time.

Electrical System Please visit - ESFI (Electrical Safety Foundation International) @ Elec Safety Workbook.pdf

Plumbing Maintenance.

The principles are simple — pressure and valves — but if they fail, the household may be faced with a soggy mess. When this happens, act quickly to avert major problems.

1. When it comes to plumbing be alert to signs of impending plumbing failures: Leaking faucets, clogged drains, damp cabinets, rocking toilets or dripping refrigerators all signal problems that need prompt attention.
2. Preventing Clogged Drains: Once a week, treat your sink and bathtub drains to this quick, safe and environmentally-friendly cleaning process. Make up a mixture of 1 cup of salt, 1 cup of baking soda, and 1/4 cup cream of tartar. Pour equal amounts into your various drains and follow it with 2 cups of boiling water for each drain.
3. Spread Showers Throughout the Day: At least 10 minute intervals between showers is optimal to maintain hot water and proper pressure. You may also want to turn up the water heater during the cold season as well; to prevent burns, do not put it above 125 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. In hard-winter climates, freezing pipes can create a sudden household emergency. Frozen water expands, cracking pipes; when the area thaws, the cracks vent a flood. Plumbing help can be hard to find in a weather crisis, so try these tips:
5. Prevent frozen pipes before they start. Best defense: insulation. Insulate exposed pipes in a crawl space or in the garage with easy-to-install plastic insulation. It's a peel-and-stick solution. Before winter comes, remove exterior hoses, and apply insulating caps to outdoor fixtures, as a frozen exterior spigot can damage interior pipes. Households with automatic sprinkler systems can clear standing water with compressed air; when cold weather strikes, go into action. Open the cabinets beneath sinks and bathroom fixtures; warmer household air will help prevent the pipes inside from freezing. Opening taps to a bare trickle keeps water flowing and avoids a frozen blockage.

Basic Septic Tank Maintenance Tips.

The most basic maintenance, draining the septic tank, should happen every four years. This prevents the buildup of sludge and grease and keeps the tank from leaking into your drain field. This is a simple procedure, done by professional.

Basic maintenance includes not overloading your system. Do not use dishwashers or clothes washers at the same time people are showering. Avoid using your garbage disposal and don't dump coffee grounds down the drain. The more debris that goes into your septic tank, the less room it will have, and the sooner you will need to pump it. Fats and oils poured down the drain will congeal in the tank and clog the pipes. Also, here are some general suggestions and recommendations for the proper use and care of your septic tank system:

1. Use bleach sparingly.
2. Keep grease, fat, and food wastes out of your septic system as much as possible.
3. Use toilet bowl cleaners and acid-based sewer line cleaning chemicals only in moderation.
4. Dispose of paint thinners and other chemicals properly. Do not put them in your septic system.
5. Use only biodegradable products such as toilet paper, laundry detergents and Cleaners in your home.
6. Garbage disposals are not recommended on septic systems. If you have one, remember to not put anything in the disposal that is not edible or biodegradable.
7. Professionals recommend the use of bacterial enzyme conditioners to improve your systems functioning.
8. Have your septic system serviced and cleaned regularly (every two to four years)
9. Use bleach sparingly.

Protect Your Home from Storm Damage. Storms are inevitable - but, you can protect your home from needless storm damage by taking a few simple precautions.

Keep large trees pruned and healthy. Trim large limbs away from your building structures and don't allow them to overhang rooflines. This can also cause gutters to become full of leaves and debris not allowing rain to properly drain away from your homes roof and foundation.

If a storm is coming your way, remove or store large items from your property such as garbage cans, patio furniture or other items that could be carried in strong wind gusts.

Remember, as a homeowner, you are responsible for the care of your home. Keeping it in good order with routine inspections and proper maintenance will protect you and keep your investment in tact for years to come.

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