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Top Spring Maintenance Jobs For Homes In Front Royal
Bill Sholar • April 16, 2019
Well, it’s spring cleaning time again! Why do we choose spring as the cleaning time? I guess that’s when it’s finally comfortable enough to open up windows, air the house out, and do outdoor jobs in shorts. But that’s when we do it, anyway. Today let’s go over the spring maintenance jobs that are especially important for homes in the Front Royal area.
Clean air conditioner and refrigerator coils. The coils are the heat exchanging part that performs the essential cooling function of any AC system. Dust, rust, or anything else coating it diminishes its heat-transfer efficiency. Turn off the power to your outside unit, remove the casing, and go over it with high pressure air or a stiff brush. This would also be a good time to schedule a routine HVAC tune-up with a professional.
For the refrigerator, simply pull it out from the wall and run a vacuum cleaner hose over the coils. It should not be necessary to unplug it.
Clean Gutters. This is especially important if you had icicles. I mean, they look nice in winter, but they’re a sign of dam-like blockages that create pools, weighed down the whole gutter, and get in the way of the gutter doing its job, which is to keep as much water as possible away from your foundation. Long term structural issues will be expensive later.
Seal pest holes. Go around your home looking for holes by which pests might enter. Insect holes like those of the German cockroach and eastern subterranean termite will be close to the foundation, while some others may be on the exterior walls. An inexpensive can of spray foam will work well and be a sound investment here.
Clean roof. You might want to leave this job to the professionals, but someone should do it. The black streaks that show water retention contain algae that live on the limestone in the shingles, and these kinds of microbes thrive in high humidity areas like Front Royal when it gets hot. Check also for missing or loose shingles.
Re-caulk windows and doors. The caulk you had on before winter may have hardened and cracked. To keep moisture out and cool air in, check all caulked areas and re-caulk as necessary.
Clean dryer vent. Lint filling the vent limits how efficiently the dryer can work, since it needs free airflow. Reach in and clean out any lint buildup.
Check smoke and carbon dioxide detectors. This can be done any time of year, but it makes sense to do when you’re already checking up on so many other things.
Clean ceiling fans. You might not have used them in a couple of months and they may have accumulated a lot of dust.
De-salt pavement. If you had snow in the winter and used salt on your driveways and walkways, you should know that letting the salt sit there, dissolving in the rain and seeping into concrete (though not asphalt), causes long term damage. The Front Royal area doesn’t have this problem as badly as, say, Wisconsin, but it’s still a concern here.
Some of what we’ve talked about here is easy DIY work, but for things like roof and AC unit cleaning you might want to call in the professionals. Vesta Handyman, part of Vesta Property Management and now serving the public, can handle all your spring home maintenance needs, interior and exterior, of whatever size. Call us at 540-252-4696 or find us on our website.
You’re bound to run into rusted screws when you repair older things. All you need to fix the issue is the right tools and a little knowledge. Rust is just another form of glue; you first have to break the seal to ease the screw out. We have put together a couple of options to help you get the screws out. If you have issues or don’t want to deal with them, give the VESTA Handyman team a call. Option 1: Gentle “Persuasion” The best place to start is always with a gentle approach, and this method will help you avoid damaging or breaking off the screw heads. Swiftly apply several hammer blows directly to the head of the screw (the goal is to crack the rust) Apply a liber amount of WD-40 Rust Release (or any rust penetrant you prefer – Liquid Wrench, PB Blaster) around the screw head Allow about 15 minutes for the rust penetrant to seep in Smack the screw head again several times Try to unscrew the screw Note: If your screwdriver starts to slip out of or starts stripping the screw head, stop! Adding more force will strip your screw head and make it even more difficult to remove and impossible to re-use. Option 2: Add a New Groove It is essential to understand that Philips and star head screws can’t handle a lot of torque without stripping. If your screw head is stripped, try cutting a new notch into the head of the screw. Cut a straight slot into the head of the screw using a rotary tool and a cutting wheel (you should make sure you wear heavy leather gloves during this Ensure that the slot is wide enough for a tight fit with a large flat blade screwdriver Insert the flat tip screwdriver into the new slot and try to unscrew the screw Option 3: Add some Heat This method can be dangerous, so take serious precautions. Heating the screw will cause it to expand; this helps to crack the rust. You can cause damage, so you need to be extra careful to ensure that you do not cause a fire or melt any internal plastic parts. First – ensure you remove all traces of the rust penetrant you used in option 1 Have a fire extinguisher right next to you Wear heavy-duty leather gloves Slowly apply heat to the screw head (using the tip of the flame from a butane lighter) Heat the screw head only until you start to see steam or smoke – if it starts to turn cherry red, STOP! Immediately cool the screw head with water Try removing the screw head with a screwdriver Take note – if the screw starts to turn and then binds, apply some rust penetrant to the screw head and turn the screw in and out several times to spread the penetrant down the threads. When the screw head is free from rust, and it is well lubricated, the screw should come out easily. Option 4: Call the Experts If all else fails or you don’t want to risk any damage, call VESTA Handyman . We are here to help you with any household issues or chores.
Are your sinks draining a little slower than normal? This is a good indication that you your sink trap may be clogged or getting clogged. Also known as a “P-trap,” a sink trap is the curved length of pipe that is located below the drain. If you follow the drainpipe up from the bottom of the drain to the wall, this bend will be roughly in the middle, underneath the sink. The purpose of this bend is to retain enough water in the pipes to prevent sewer odors from rising into your home through the drain. The shape of the trap will also catche small objects if they accidently slip down the drain (like a ring or a small toy). Over time, things like hair, dirt and other debris can build up in the bend causing your sink to drain slower. Fortunately, cleaning out your sink trap is a relatively easy task and something you can try before calling a plumber to help you out. Before you get started, you will want to gather the following items: A bucket – water will start to drip as soon as you loosen the trap, put this under the drain to catch that water so it doesn’t make a mess A wrench or channel lock – this is the best tool to loosen the nuts on the sink trap A bottle brush (or some type of cleaning brush) – this helps get the gunk out Towels – you will want this handy to ensure you don’t make a miss and can quickly clean up anything that may spill out Now that you have your tools it is time to get started: The first step is placing your bucket under the sink trap – this will catch any water or other items that may be in there Next unscrew the slip joint nuts – sing a wrench or channel locks, begin loosening the slip joint nuts on either side of the sink trap. Once you have loosened it up, you should be able to finish unscrewing it with your hands Remove the trap – make sure you keep track of the o-rings from both sides of the fittings Using the bottle brush – stick it in there to start removing the hair and gunk that has settled in the trap Once you are sure you have removed all of the gunk and any potential objects that were in there you can start putting it back together: Start reassembling the sink trap – ensure that there is an o-ring on each of the male ends of the pipe fitting Slide the sink track back in place – one it is in place use your hands to start to retighten the nuts Once you have it pretty tight with your hands – use your wrench or channel lock to give the nuts one last turn to ensure it is tight (be careful not to over tighten it though) Now you can test the drain and make sure there are no leaks and that the water is draining better than before. If you are still having slow draining issues, the potential clog or issue is further down the pipe and you should call in someone to help you out.
October is Fire Prevention Month, it is meant to raise safety awareness ensure you are aware and protected. Fires are unpredictable and are one of the leading causes of injuries and death. What can you do to help protect your family and your home? Check your smoke doctors and carbon monoxide detectors: Ensure you have them installed on all levels of your house and each bedroom Check them monthly to ensure they are working properly (press the test button to ensure that you can hear the noise) Change the batteries every six months (a good plan is to change them around day-light savings time, this is a good routine to be on) Even hardwire smoke detectors have batteries that need to be changed Evaluate your homes’ wiring: If you live in an older home have an electrician check the wiring and your main panel to ensure everything is current and up to code Have an Evacuation Plan: Ensure that you have an evacuation plan for your house and that all family members know what it is Practice it so that young children know what to do and where to go to get out of the house safely and quickly in case of a fire Ensure you have fire ladders for upper floors Ensure your fire extinguishers are current and in good working order (also make sure they are in an accessible place to grab quickly when you need them) Tips to keeping your home and family safe: Keep matches, lighters and other ignitable items out of reach of children and in a secure location Ensure you teach children proper precautions when it comes to fireplaces, stoves, and ovens Stay in the kitchen when you have the stove on, or are frying or broiling foods Keep stove tops clear of flammable items If you smoke, ensure you have the proper container to extinguish them in (porches and desks are very flammable) Keep your grill a safe distance from the house (siding is very flammable) Renters Insurance – why is it important? It protects not only your stuff, but you personally(accidents happen and having liability protection helps when you are responsible for something due to accidents or negligence) If a fire does occur in your home ensure that you GET OUT and STAY OUT. Call for help and never go back inside for anything. Let the professionals help you and ensure that you and your family are safe!
Many of us consider our homes an escape from the outside world, a place to relax. Unfortunately, all to often our fortress of solitude gets interrupted by sounds of the outside world; traffic, construction, neighbors, you name it. There are several things you can do that can add soundproofing to your house to help keep these noises out and keep the zen relaxation in. As a bonus, soundproofing your house can also add value to your home when you are ready to sell or rent it. Fix any holes or cracks in your walls. Inspect your walls and pay close attention to the areas around window frames, ventilation grates, and electrical sockets. If you find any holes or cracks, repair them with caulk. Seal your doors. Installing weathering strips to your door frames not only helps to stop heat loss but can also help to hamper noise traveling throughout your home. Replace your internal doors. If the doors inside your home are hollow, you may consider replacing them with solid doors. This will reduce the amount of sound which is able to pass through. Replace or repair your windows . This is an expensive option, depending on how many windows you replace. However, upgrading your windows to double or triple-paned with PVC frames can dramatically reduce noise pollution. If you prefer natural materials, having your wooden windows and frames repaired can also help reduce the clamor and racket coming from outside. Fix squeaky floors. Hardwood floors look great and can add a lot of character to a room, but if one or more of the floorboards are loose, it can cause a never-ending squeaky nightmare. Insulate your walls and ceiling. Installing insulation product, such as ceiling panels, mass-loaded-vinyl, neoprene rubber, viscoelastic foam, and fiberglass behind walls and ceiling panels can drastically lessen the amount of noise coming in, or out, of your home. So, there we have it, your guide to soundproofing your house. As we discovered, you can effectively soundproof your home in a number of ways, ranging from insulating with noise-absorbing materials to simply putting a rug down and rearranging your furniture. While you can achieve success with any one of these methods, for best results we advise you to use a few of the suggestions and apply them at the same time.
If you’re getting ready to sell your home, you’ll probably have to do some repair work on it before putting it on the market. That will cost money of course, and you’ll want to save as much as possible, because who wants to go way into the red before even looking for buyers? Knowing which repairs are really necessary and which are not is essential to saving money on this process. But many sellers make repairs they themselves would want if they were buyers, and those might not be what their actual buyers want. Some factors that weigh in what repairs are necessary include: Location Season of the year Market conditions Condition of other houses on the market Remember that while some people want “fixer-uppers,” they will expect you to discount not only the price of the repairs, but a little more for the inconvenience. But if you take the cost and inconvenience on yourself, you can often start with a higher asking price. Before going on to other strategies, here are some repairs you should consider the bare minimum: Fix leaky faucets Fix or replace broken appliances and HVAC system Patch holes or cracks in walls and ceiling Replace broken windowpanes Fix any major problems with roof Fix any code violations that would make it fail an inspection In general, upgrades have a better return on investment than maintenance. Merely replacing old appliances with new-but-still-conventional ones doesn’t change much, but installing energy-efficient appliances adds value. New additions, especially involving recent technology, lend that “wow” factor. Remember to tour other houses in your area, preferably with your agent. They are your competition, so note their amenities and try to be at least in the same league as them. Floors Hardwood is the fashion today, so if you have a hardwood with carpet on top of it, it might be worthwhile to pull the carpet up and refinish the hardwood. If you have a plywood subfloor under your carpet, hardwood is still an option if you can handle the expense, but if you have to stick with carpet, make it a neutral color. Walls and ceilings In terms of cost vs. noticeable improvement, a fresh coat of paint is by far the most cost effective cosmetic step. The experts today recommend a neutral off-white color, but not white. Better remove your wallpaper. All wallpaper is one person’s choice and other people probably won’t like it. Before showing your house, steam it off the walls with a wallpaper steamer and paint the walls a neutral color. Wood paneling has mostly gone out of style, even the real stuff, so ask your realtor for a recommendation, or take note of what is in other houses on the local market. Most likely you will want to prime it and paint it – you guessed it – a neutral color. Textured ceilings have also gone out of style and some contain asbestos. Have it scraped off and repaint if necessary (guess what kind of color?). And as mentioned above, remember to patch cracks and holes. Kitchen Kitchen remodels might be pricey, but they typically have a great return on investment. The most expensive things in them are the appliances and cabinets. Cabinets can make or break a sale, so be sure they look great. For the appliances, don’t put in anything that people won’t pay extra for. In areas like Front Royal, people usually have simpler tastes than in, say, McLean, so shelling out for a master-chef quality stove or such might not be smart. Whatever you do, make sure the faucets look good and don’t leak. Bath Bathroom improvements general also get good ROI, especially for fairly simply things like new light fixtures. Replace anything that you can’t get grime or sedimentary buildup off of. Bathroom paint colors don’t have to match the house, so paint them a light color to make the interior look bigger. Exterior A new roof is a hassle and a big expense, but if your house needs one, you’re better off getting it done yourself. Repair-minded buyers, as we said, want a hassle-discount as well as a cost-discount. And anyone who doesn’t like doing repairs will give your house a hard pass if the roof is bad. Patch sidewalk or driveway cracks, fix fences, painting them if necessary, and maybe put in a flower garden. First impressions, remember. Basically… Highly noticeable maintenance issues are a turn-off for most buyers, while updated HVAC< plumbing, and appliances are all plusses. It should be obvious what the big problems are, but consult your realtor to be sure you’re not sinking money into something a buyer won’t care about. If you think you might need to make some repairs and you want to hear what local experts think are the best ones to make, talk to Vesta Handyman 540-252-4696 or find us on our website.
