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Monthly Home Maintenance Checklist

December 17, 2013 by Tyler Golberg

Monthly maintenance checklist for any houseAs the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Use this monthly home maintenance checklist to stay ahead of problems around the house.

Sink Aerator and Drain Cleaning

Mineral buildup from hard water will plug up an aerator in a faucet over time. If the flow looks irregular, this is most likely the problem. Remove the end cap of the faucet, pull out the aerator, and clean it with a nylon brush. Use water and vinegar to help remove the buildup.

While cleaning the faucets, dump a couple cups vinegar down each sink and tub drain. The vinegar will help to break down any buildup in the pipes to help prevent drain clogs. Drop a half cup of baking soda down the drain first for slow draining sinks or tubs. The vinegar will react with the baking soda and create a more powerful effect. Use a pot of boiling water to flush the mixture and other debris through. The same steps can be used to fix a clog.

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Filed Under: Home Maintenance and Repair Tagged With: baking soda, drain clog, faucet, filter, furnace, GFCI, sink, vinegar, water heater

3 House Problems That Could Blow Up In Your Face (literally)

May 30, 2013 by Tyler Golberg

Problems around the House

There is no doubt that home maintenance is important. It can keep a house in good shape, reduce the chances of a problem, and make it a safe place to live. But what about when things do go wrong? What’s the worst that could happen?

Water Heater Explosion

Although it is very uncommon, it is possible for enough pressure to build up inside the tank of a water heater and create an explosion. And this is not a small explosion by any means. This burst of pressure is so big that Myth Busters did an episode on its power. It literally blew through the ceiling and the roof of a “test” house after reaching 336 psi (pounds per square inch). For this unit it equated to 85,000 pounds!

So why did it fail? First you need to have a control failure where the temperature and pressure keep building. Then you need a faulty Temperature Pressure Relief (TPR) valve. When the pressure becomes more than the tank can handle, boom!

This sort of disaster should never happen. The biggest key is to test the TPR valve as a party of your monthly home maintenance checklist.

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Filed Under: Home Inspection Tagged With: dryer, water heater

Water Heater Maintenance Checklist

November 15, 2012 by Tyler Golberg

Routine Maintenance Checklist

Water heaters, like all appliances, require routine maintenance to prolong the life of the unit and improve operating efficiency. The four tasks required for water heater maintenance are the TPR valve test, cathodic anode check, sediment draining, and burner cleaning. The TPR valve should tested monthly as a matter of safety. The cathodic anode inspection and sediment draining is a result of mineral deposits from hard water. The burner cleaning is needed to remove buildup of combustion debris on gas burners and mineral deposits on electric heating elements, depending on your home’s water heater.

TPR Valve

The TPR (Temperature Pressure Relief) valve activates when the pressure inside reaches dangerously high levels. If this safety feature fails, the tank could explode. Typically the TPR valve fails because salt, rust, and corrosion freezes the valve. Water heater maintenance is essential to reduce corrosion and improve operating efficiencyTesting the valve as a part of monthly home maintenance will not only serve as a check but also keep it from sticking.

To check the TPR valve look at the top of the tank for a lever labelled “test.” Press the lever a couple times to see if water rushes out the drainpipe. If no water drains or it is just a slow trickle, replace the TPR valve.

Cathodic Anode Rod

The cathodic anode rod helps to neutralize minerals entering the tank. This chemical reaction reduces the deterioration of the inside of the water tank from rust. Since the purpose of the rod is to react with minerals it will slowly deteriorate away and need to be replaced eventually.

To inspect the rod you will need to remove it from the tank. Turn off the power as a safety precaution. Look for a hex nut on the top of the tank. Spin it out using a wrench. The nut will be attached to the rod and come out as one piece. If the rod is highly deteriorated, a replacement can be found for $15-20.

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Filed Under: Home Maintenance and Repair Tagged With: routine maintenance, water heater

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

October 11, 2012 by Tyler Golberg

Essential Tasks for Every Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

Prepare your house for the changing temperatures of winter. The schedule below will ensure your home is ready for the subzero temperatures by taking a look at the heating systems, water systems, and energy efficiency. Depending on your house and region, some tasks may have a greater value. Some may not not be applicable at all. Try to focus on what is relevant to you.

Chimney Sweep and Fireplace Inspection

fireplace inspection and chimney sweep as a part of your fall home maintenance checklistAn absolute must is a fireplace inspection and a chimney sweep, if applicable. Over time creosote builds up on the interior of the chimney from smoke. It happens to be a highly flammable byproduct and can start a chimney fire with an ignition source. A lot of small chimney fires occur without the homeowner even realizing!

Gas burning fireplaces burn much cleaner and should only require an inspection each year. But, a wood burning fireplace needs to be inspected and cleaned each year. Check the flashing around the chimney if you perform the sweep from the roof (i.e. top-down method). The brick and mortar should be inspected for cracks, too

At the fireplace do a quick inspection and cleaning. Visually check for cracks and smoke marks. Cracks should be repaired by a professional. Smoke marks could indicate blockage in the chimney (e.g. bird’s nest). Remove smoke marks with a homemade cleaning solution of vinegar and water.

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Filed Under: Home Maintenance and Repair Tagged With: air filter, chimney sweep, door weatherstripping, fireplace maintenance, furnace, pool winterization, sprinkler system winterization, water heater, window seal

How to Know When to Replace Your Water Heater

October 1, 2012 by Tyler Golberg

Nothing’s better than a long hot shower or steamy water to get your dishes and clothes clean.  When these amenities are taken away it can put quite a strain on your everyday routine.  That’s why it’s important to replace your water heater before it fails. If you don’t you’ll be facing more than cold showers. Water damage may be imminent.

The first sign your water heater needs to be replaced is if water is escaping. If your water heater is leaking there may be some hope to salvage it, but if you block the leak and the issues continue it’s time for a replacement. If you don’t replace your water heater when it leaks your home could suffer water damage.

water heater maintenance and inspection checklistWhen your faucets give you very little to no hot water at all, it’s likely your water heater has broken. If the water coming out of your faucets is unpredictable, changing from hot to cold temperatures unexpectedly, it’s another sign your water heater needs to be replaced. Sometimes, if the weather is cold, these problems may just be a problem with the setting on your water heater.  If you change this setting and continue to see no difference, it is time to exchange your water heater for a new one.

When your water becomes rusty or smelly it’s another mark of a broken water heater.  This is a result of minerals and debris collecting at the bottom of the tank. At least a couple times a year you drain the water heater sediment to prevent problems.

Once the heater can no longer maintain these buildups the effects will start to appear in your water, making it smelly and rusty. This water will definitely start to affect your lifestyle.  This water will make it virtually impossible to clean your clothes, dishes, and even yourself.

If you hear a rattle, or any noise for that matter, coming from your water heater you may need a replacement. If you fail to do so, once again you could be faced with water damage to your home.  These sounds are warning signs that your water heater is about to leak. It will cost you much more in the long run to fix the water damage that could occur if you don’t replace your water heater when it shows you these signs.

If nothing at all appears to be wrong with your water heater there is still one last consideration to take into account, which is age. A water heater will usually start to break after about 10 to 15 years. If you’d rather be safe than sorry, you should consider getting a new water heater at this time.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Replace your water heater before any major problems occur.  If you look for any damages, listen for any noises and feel for any temperature changes you’ll be able to tell when to replace your water heater. If you replace it soon enough you’ll be saving yourself a headache, an empty wallet and a cold shower.
Learn more about water heaters here.

Filed Under: Home Maintenance and Repair Tagged With: inspection, water heater

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