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Home Repair Tips

Spring/Summer Maintenance Tips

  • Dryer Vent: Poorly maintained dryer vents cause 15,000 fires annually. Manufacturers recommend cleaning your dryer vent every year. A clean dryer vent saves energy, is more economical to operate and can extend the life of your dryer. Handyman-Lite will inspect, clean and replace plastic or vinyl venting if necessary.
  • Washing Machine Water Hoses: Washing machine hose failures cause about $100 million in damage to homes in the United States. Because they are out of sight, they are forgotten and give little warning of impending disaster. It is recommended that you inspect hoses annually and replace your hoses every 3-5 years as part of a proactive maintenance program.
  • Refrigerator and Freezer: Vacuum coils under or behind refrigerators and freezers. Dirty condenser coils can affect the efficiency of your appliances.
  • Exhaust Hood and Air Filter Keeping this clean of cooking grease will help keep a stovetop fire from spreading.
  • Air Conditioning Units: Make sure the condensing unit located outside is clean of debris. Anything that slows down the movement of air across condenser coils affects the efficiency of the unit and in turn energy consumption. Change or clean furnace and air handler filters regularly. Filters should be replaced every few months. Some filters are reusable and are supposed to be taken out, washed with a hose and re-inserted. A dirty filter can lower the efficiency of the heating/cooling system and increase utilities.
  • Hot Water Heater: Every six months you should turn off the power source or gas and drain it completely until it is clear of sediment. Also inspect flue assembly (gas heater); check for leaks and corrosion.
  • Attic Fans: Check to make sure your attic and/or whole house fans are working properly. An attic fan can save energy, increase comfort and will even extend the life of your roof. If you don’t have one, consider having Handyman-Lite install one for you.
  • Electrical: Check all electrical outlets for loose-fitting plugs as they are an indication of a worn receptacle. Worn receptacles should be replaced as they cause overheating and fires. Also check electrical outlets and switches to be sure they work properly. If any switches, outlets or receptacles do not work, Handyman-Lite can determine the problem and fix it to avoid fires inside the walls of your home. Make sure the light bulbs are the correct wattage for the fixture as designated by the manufacturer. If too high a wattage, heat produced inside the fixture can lead to fire inside the fixture, ceiling or wall. Consider having Handyman-Lite install safety covers to help protect children from electrical shock.
  • Ground-fault-circuit-interrupter (GFCI or GFI) outlets: These should be tripped and reset once a month. If they do not trip or reset, have the outlet changed out by Handyman-Lite. GFI outlets are required around wet areas like bathrooms and kitchens to offer protection against shock.
  • Check Fire Extinguisher: Inspect gauge to make sure it is charged and ready in case of fire.
  • Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors: Change batteries and clean units, test to make sure they are operating properly. If you don't currently have carbon monoxide detector, consider having Handyman-Lite install one for you.
  • Caulking and Grout: Inspect caulking and grout around tubs, showers, and sinks. Have Handyman-Lite replace it if it is deteriorating.
  • Door Sills, Window Sills, and Thresholds: Fill cracks, caulk edges and repaint. Handyman-Lite can replace if necessary.
  • Screens for Windows and Doors: Handyman-Lite can repair, replace or adjust loose or damaged frames, hardware or screens.
  • Decks, Porches and Exterior Wood Structures: Check all decks, patios, porches, stairs and railings for loose members and deterioration, such as cracks, splintering, decay, and insect damage; treat wood, set nails and repair or replace rotted boards, as needed. Remove mold and mildew, fungus, tree sap, grease and bird droppings with the appropriate commercial deck cleaners (or homemade mixtures) and a stiff brushed broom. Clean mildew and fungus by mixing one cup of chlorine bleach per gallon of water, scrub, and rinse well. Sodium percarbonate works well to remove dirt, mildew and weathered gray residue from sunlight degradation. Handyman-Lite can repair, power wash and seal and/or stain your deck. In the event your deck is beyond repair, we’ll build you a new one!
  • Gutters and Downspouts: Clear/install/repair gutters and downspouts and make sure the runoff is directed away from your home so it doesn’t erode the soil around the foundation or run into your basement or crawl space.