Clive Gillett, Author at APHW Windermere

Stove & Oven Maintenance for New Homeowners

Posted on December 20, 2018 | by Clive Gillett

When the season means more time in the kitchen, the last thing you need is for your stove or oven to quit on you. Semi-regular maintenance can go a long way toward ensuring they will work when you need them most.

Keep a Schedule

Your stovetop gets dirty, you clean it—that’s just a normal part of cooking. When it comes to your oven, though, out of sight could end up out of mind. Make sure to clean your oven at least two to three times a year; more often if you use it frequently.

Be Aware of Electrical Hazards

You may be tempted to remove and scrub behind the knobs on your stove but think twice before you do. There are electrodes behind them that can be damaged by harsh chemicals, heavy scrubbing, or excess water, causing short outs and possibly even electrocuting you.

The same goes for electric ranges with open heating coils, as well as the inner workings of your oven. Always follow this rule of thumb: Be careful cleaning around attachments!

Oven Cleaning Conundrums

Is it self-cleaning? What does that even mean? Here’s the short version: A self-cleaning oven has a cycle that will superheat the oven over a period of time to incinerate any food particles inside. If you choose to use this function, ensure you follow the manufacturer’s suggested procedure. After it is complete and fully cooled, wipe down the inside to remove any remaining residue.

There are some who recommend against using a self-cleaning feature, stating that it can cause excess wear and tear on the inner workings. If you choose to clean a self-cleaning oven manually, make sure you use a cleaner designed specifically for self-cleaning ovens, as the wrong cleaner can cause more harm than good.

It’s also a good idea to either unplug your oven prior to cleaning manually inside. This is to eliminate any risk of electrocution, particularly if you’re using excess water.

Replacement Recommendations

If you are replacing a gas stove, experts recommend replacing the gas line as well. This is because the movement of disconnecting and reconnecting parts can cause damage to older lines and may put you at risk of leaks. Labor fees vary by contractor, so be sure to ask about the possibility ahead of time.

In the end, a little elbow-grease will go a long way toward increasing the lifetime of your range. Keep it up, and have a happy holiday!

APHW Supports Child and Family Charities

APHW Supports Child & Family Charities with Auction Sponsorship, Donation

Posted on December 14, 2018 | by Clive Gillett

America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) sponsored the auctions at the Child and Family Charities (CFC) annual 2018 Red Nose Ruckus! fundraiser last Friday, December 7^th, helping to raise money for foster children, at-risk youth and families in the Mid-Michigan Area. Combined with the events of the evening and an additional APHW donation of $25,000, the total revenue of the fundraiser reached $225,000.

A Close Relationship

APHW has been involved with the charity since 2011, when company president Randy Caltrider met CFC Director of Development Demphna Krikorian at one of their fundraisers. “I had accepted a check from the Women’s Council of Realtors, and I spoke a little bit about the agency. Randy was so impressed that he actually matched that check that day,” Demphna said. “After that APHW has just been growing with their connection with us.”

That growth has included donations, volunteering, company-held events and more. “We literally have hundreds of kids that we get wish lists from during the holidays, and these last two years, they’ve been taking a list of 50 kids and fulfilling it,” Demphna said. She also added that APHW did a bike build event for foster children last year, has plans for another event this year, and has brought many people to CFC events who have supported the mission. “Just having those gaps in our funding filled has been invaluable to our mission and the children, youth and families we serve every year.”

Recognizing Their Support

CFC presented Randy and his wife Pam with the Extending Our Reach award at the event, recognizing that APHW’s donations have increased over the last few years and that they have become one of CFC’s largest supporters.

“It’s just incredible,” said CFC CEO Julie Thomasma. “There are many people who knowRandy and Pam as ideal neighbors and members of the community, as well asAmerica’s Preferred Home Warranty and their employees. They really care, and they have been amazing partners to us.”

Randy frequently talks about his faith as the motivation behind his giving, according to Julie. “He always talks about how he feels as though it’s important to pass on the blessings he and his company received. APHW and its leadership are such a wonderful testament to God’s work and what God would want,” she said. “We’ll wonder how we’re going to make something happen, and oftentimes America’s Preferred Home Warranty and its employees will come alongside us and make a donation or host a fundraiser to make it happen. We’re so blessed in that way.”

How You Can Help

Visit the Child and Family Charities website to learn how you can contribute to this amazing charity, helping to strengthen and support foster children, at-risk youth and families throughout mid-Michigan. “We help around 7,500 children, youth and families every year, and we’re truly powered by the community,” Julie said. “Every little bit means a lot to us, and anything you can do to get involved goes a long way to help.”

Handling the Holidays: Part III of III

Posted on December 13, 2018 | by Clive Gillett

You’re down to the wire now, but don’t let it overwhelm you! It’s time to complete the last few steps before the big day. Use this final holiday-season checklist to get through it with your mind intact!

Dec. 16 – 22

Trim the Tree – This you’ll want to do early this week. It’ll be close enough to your event and/or Christmas to stay fresh and allow you to enjoy it.

Clean (the rest of your) House – By now you’ve finished wrapping presents and put up all the decorations, so all that’s left is to get all your living areas presentable. Put on your favorite holiday music, and rock out with that vacuum. Don’t forget to make sure you have the dishware necessary for your guest list!

Meal Prep – This is a two-day checkbox: The night before your event, you can save time by preparing the foods that will hold overnight, such as potato dishes or cold dishes. Take care of the rest of the meal starting early in the morning, and try to intermix prep for items that will take a while to cook with prep for items that don’t require the oven or stove, such as sides of cranberry sauce or salads.

Extra Suggestions to Incorporate

Wrap As You Go – Don’t wait until the last minute to wrap up the gifts. Save yourself yet another all-nighter (as well as a headache) and wrap your gifts as you bring them home.

Addresses to Go – Some stores will wrap and ship gifts directly for you, so make sure your contact list is with you and up to date with addresses, to potentially save yourself a trip to the post office!

Congratulations for making it through, and happy holidays from all of us at America’s Preferred Home Warranty! Want to plan for New Year’s too? Find some awesome ideas on our Pinterest page, or visit our Facebook post to leave your best NYE ideas in the comments!

Handling the Holidays: Part II of III

Posted on November 29, 2018 | by Clive Gillett

You’ve made it through Thanksgiving, and hopefully gotten a head start on the rest of the year! Here are a few more checklist items for you, to keep you on track.

Dec. 1 – 8

Gifts En Masse – You’ve got neighbors, coworkers, associates… so many people, so little money. This is where buying gifts in bulk, like holiday cookies or boxes of candles, can come in really handy! It shows you’re thinking of them, without breaking the bank. Throw a bow on top, and you’ve even saved yourself some extensive wrapping!

Menu Planning – This helps to organize what you have vs. what you need to get, as well as what can be cooked the night before vs. what needs to be made that day. Did you know most potato dishes can be made a day early?

Review Your Décor – Every year there’s something broken or missing hooks to go buy. Save yourself some grief and look through your decorations now, so when the time comes to put them up, you’re ready and don’t have a last-minute trip to make in the blinding snowstorm that inevitably happens.

Dec. 9 – 15

Clean (part of your) House – You’ve got a lot of house if you’re throwing a party, so you might as well break down the cleaning schedule into manageable tasks. Clean the less-used rooms in this go-around, such as guest rooms, to get started.

Distribute the Décor – Did you know that live greenery lasts longer outside than in? You can put it up earlier and it will still look beautiful at your holiday party. Don’t forget to doublecheck your electrical connections for safety! Go ahead and do your indoor decorations too, though you may want to put any indoor live greenery out closer to your event.

Finish Your Philanthropy – AKA, finish up your gift shopping and get the rest of those presents wrapped. You have enough to do with food and place settings the day of your event without having to worry about last minute wrapping, which just makes another mess to clean up. This also allows you to ship gifts early enough to arrive for Christmas, if you’re shipping them out.

Create a Playlist – Whether your event is a block party or a quiet holiday dinner with family, set the mood with the perfect playlist, so you can have it keyed up and ready to go the day of.

Don’t miss Part III of this series, coming soon, and you can also find some awesome holiday ideas on our Pinterest page. Have more useful tips? Comment on our Facebook page!

Handling the Holidays: Part I of III

Posted on November 15, 2018 | by Clive Gillett

The holidays are crazy. Whether you’re shopping for a family of fifteen or preparing meals for the block, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle of what-all needs to get done. So, what can you do about it? Organize!

We know, writing everything down to ‘check off’ is a chore you don’t exactly want to add to your list of things to do. So, here’s a pre-assembled list for you. Enjoy!

Nov. 18 – 24

Thanks-Getting – This week is largely focused on preparation for Thanksgiving, so your first task is to organize what foods you plan to prepare, create a shopping list, and get those foods.

Keep the Kids Happy – If you have ever had children attending your dinner before, you know they don’t typically sit quietly and eat the entire time the adults are chatting away. Organize an activity or two for when they ‘finish’ that can keep them occupied (at least until they come back for seconds).

Food Prep – Set up any foods that can be pre-made the day/night before, and organize your cooking schedule the day of to alternate between things that will take up space in/on your range and things that don’t require one, such as the salad or cranberry sauce.

Ask for Help – If folks start showing up early, don’t be afraid to ask for assistance! There is no rulebook anywhere that says you have to do it all yourself, so save yourself the stress of trying to prepare a meal and be a host at the same time, and just ask them to help out in the kitchen. They’ll probably be more than happy to oblige!

Nov. 25 – 30

Holiday Greeting Cards – Get cards and stamps (or even e-cards) out of the way early, to avoid a last-minute “Oops, I forgot Grandma!” situation. Write down a list of your family and friends so you don’t forget anyone.

Start Gift Shopping – Seriously, the earlier you start, the less stressful it is, and it helps you avoid an all-nighter. To save time and frustration, write down who you are buying presents for, and a specific list of items. This will also help you prevent overspending on impulse gifts. Shopping for an hour or so after work on weekdays/nights will get you in when the stores aren’t as crowded, too.

Check back soon for Parts II and III, and for other holiday ideas, check out our Pinterest page!

APHW Employee & Veteran Husband Volunteer for Veterans Day

Posted on November 12, 2018 | by Clive Gillett

There are more than 20 U.S. veteran suicides every day. Every day. This statistic disproportionally affects older veterans, such as those who served in the Vietnam War, who found they weren’t welcome back home.

“We were spit on, yelled at, cursed… most of us took off our uniforms and never spoke of our service again,” said Mike Jambor, a U.S. Army veteran and husband to America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) Area Sales Manager Team Leader Kathy Jambor. Veterans like Mike came home before there was help for people with PTSD. “It was very clear to me that Mike was majorly impacted by his service when he returned,” Kathy said. “Returning to civilian life was really challenging for him.”

Times Have Changed

Fast forward 20 years, and these two have found their place together—not just as part of society but as members of Band of Runners, a non-profit organization which helps veterans and their surviving family members heal through trail running.

“When we got the opportunity to enhance the lives of our returning veterans through physical and social activity, we jumped in with both feet,” Mike said.

Veteran’s Day Weekend

Kathy and Mike signed up as volunteers for the Band of Runners Annual Veterans Day Weekend Trail Running Camp, with high hopes of making a difference.

“Think of how isolating it would have been for those who came home with combat-related stress or injuries, plus the impact that had on their families,” Mike said. “The purpose of the trail camp is to introduce veterans—and surviving family members who have suffered the loss of a soldier—to the therapeutic benefits of trail running and the trail running community. It’s so welcoming and supportive, and if we save one person by connecting them to their community, those positive ripples go out forever.”

“It’s amazing what happens at these camps,” Kathy said. “It’s just a whole different level of connecting with people.”

Both Mike and Kathy have gained immeasurably from these experiences in volunteering. “Veterans are such a valuable asset to our communities and, by extension, our country,” Mike said. “These people understand service, loyalty, integrity, teamwork… we owe them an assist back into the larger community after their service.”

Veterans Crisis Line

If you or someone you know is a Veteran in crisis, call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1.800.273.8255 or text 838255. Volunteers are available 24/7 for a confidential conversation by phone or text.

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Furnace Technician Trains APHW CSRs

Posted on November 1, 2018 | by Clive Gillett

When your contractor tries to explain what caused your furnace to fail, what does it sound like? Technical jargon? Straight-up gibberish?

Try as they might, some things just can’t be easily translated into layperson. The good news, though, is that your America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) customer service representatives (CSR) will have a pretty good idea what your furnace technician is describing—APHW brought one in last week to train them in person.

“APHW wanted to make their CSRs more familiar with what they hear about on the phone,” said Andy Miller, a service manager for Lammers Heating & Air Conditioning in Jackson, Michigan, adding that this knowledge will help streamline the claim process for customers. “It simplifies everything. Now when we say something like ‘igniter,’ they can visualize it and move things along faster.”

Andy came with more than 14 years of experience in the field. He reviewed all the inner workings of standard (and not-so-standard) household furnaces with the CSRs, encouraging them to ask questions along the way. He also covered common malfunctions and proper furnace maintenance.

Lammers Heating & Air Conditioning has worked through APHW’s claim process with their own customers many times before, and Andy was quick to express appreciation for the company. “I feel like they’re above par, because they train their employees, the claim process is streamlined, and because their billing and payments are prompt.”

He was also encouraged by the attentiveness of the classes he taught. “They asked a lot of good questions that I wasn’t even expecting,” Andy said. “They were very responsive.”

Andy wanted to thank APHW for asking him to visit and educate their CSRs. “Thank you for the opportunity,” he said. “I’m glad I could help them work more easily with contractors and smooth out the process.”

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A Homeowner’s Guide to Smoke Detectors

Posted on October 30, 2018 | by Clive Gillett

Homeowners love to hate (and share stories about) that annoying chirp smoke detectors emit when the batteries get low. We know these alarms can and do save lives, so we all enjoy the joke—until it isn’t funny anymore. Will your smoke detector be able to help when the need arises?

One truly disturbing study found that three out of every five home fire deaths happen in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.¹ Ensure your smoke detector works by properly maintaining it with these tips—and avoid becoming part of this statistic.

Dual Duty & Destinations

Did you know there are combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors? Save some ceiling space by installing one life-saving device that detects both. Install at least one on every floor of your home, preferably adding one to each bedroom or guest room as well.

Give it Room to Breath

You already know that a smoke detector will go off when it detects smoke. This may be obvious, but less so is the fact that corners where walls and/or ceilings come together create air pockets which can press smoke away, preventing your alarm from sensing it.

Install your smoke detectors at least 4 inches away from any cornered area. The best location is in the center of flat ceilings, or at least 4 inches from the cross section of a peaked one. If you must place your detector on a wall, make sure it is at least 4 inches from the ceiling to avoid the air pocket.

Maintenance Moments

Just remember this sequence: 1-2-10. Test your smoke detectors every month (1), change the batteries twice a year (2)—even if they aren’t chirping—and replace the detectors every 10 years.

A handy rule of thumb is to change the batteries when Daylight Saving Time rolls around, so it’s easy to remember when you changed them last. This is also a good time to vacuum away any excess dust that has built up, which can hinder detection.

Lastly, if you’re painting the wall or ceiling your detector is installed on, DO NOT paint the detector with it—the paint will block its sensors and render it useless.

Be safe, and don’t forget to Fall Back for Daylight Saving Time on November 4 this year!

Was this useful information for you? Check out our blog for more homeowner tips & tricks!

^{1. National Fire Protection Association; Based on a study conducted from 2009-2013; www.nfpa.org}

What is a Home Warranty? Let’s Talk.

Posted on October 24, 2018 | by Clive Gillett

The first thing you need to know is the difference between a home warranty and homeowners insurance.

Homeowners insurance is essentially hazard insurance. This covers damages to your property as a result of external forces (i.e., flooding, fire, etc.)

A home warranty, on the other hand, is not insurance but a service contract. It offers coverage for failures of your major systems and appliances due to normal wear and tear.

A home warranty is not a replacement for homeowners’ insurance, and neither is homeowners’ insurance a replacement for a home warranty—but they can work well together.

Now, why would you want a home warranty?

The answer is to potentially save you money in the long run. It can help in terms of budgeting for those times when a home’s system fails and lessen the financial burden of repair or replacement of a covered failure.

When you buy a home, there is a high likelihood that a major system or appliance will fail in the first year of home ownership. This could cost thousands in repair or replacement costs. A home warranty lessens the burden of the cost of large, unexpected repairs required when any covered systems fail due to normal wear and tear.

As with all contracts, it is vitally important that you thoroughly read and understand the details of your home warranty.

Home warranty companies generally cover most major systems and appliances. However, there are differences in base and optional coverages. Therefore it is crucial to read the contract and its terms and conditions.

Better education creates better understanding of your coverage and can help you avoid unmet expectations. If there is ever something you don’t understand, ask—there is always a customer service representative more than willing to answer your questions.

America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) has three main differentials that set us apart from other home warranty companies: Control, Security, and Easy Claims.

Homeowners are in control with America’s Preferred Home Warranty because they choose their own licensed contractor. This offers homeowners a third-party review of their failed item, as well as someone with zero contractual obligation to us—these contractors work with and for the homeowner.

APHW gives homeowners security. If a homeowner adds our warranty when listing their home for sale, they receive coverage toward repairs or replacements of covered items for the duration of the listing (no expiration date), and our ListSecure® program provides them up to 2 years of post-sale legal protection should a legal dispute occur after the sale of the listing. Payment is not due until closing, and once it is paid, the home buyer receives a Supreme Home Warranty for 1 year.

Our 3-step, easy claims process provides 24/7/365 person-to-person service.

Whenever you need us, we are here to help. All of us at America’s Preferred Home Warranty are looking forward to working with you! Please contact us at 1-800-648-5006 or visit www.APHW.com for more information.

Need-to-Know Furnace Maintenance for New Homeowners

Posted on October 18, 2018 | by Clive Gillett

Turn up the heat! Well, check your furnace first—but then turn up the heat!

When outside temperatures start to drop, it’s important to ensure you’re covering the basics of furnace maintenance. This will help you in a number of ways, including extending the life of your furnace—that is one expensive system to replace!

Have You Got That ‘Filter’ Feelin’?

Imagine wearing a cotton surgical mask. Much like that mask is filtering your breath as you exhale, the filter in your furnace is there to prevent dust and debris from being pulled into your furnace (and back into the air you’re breathing). That debris builds up over time, making your furnace work harder to pull air through it, which increases your electric bill and wears down the system itself. Changing the filters every other month, maybe even monthly if you have pets or children, allows the air to flow easily and helps keep your machine running smoothly.

Cleaning & Professional Inspections

Think of it this way: The less dust there is on your furnace, the less there is to clog your filter. Dusting the outside of your furnace is a must on a fairly regular basis (at least once every few months). In a lot of cases, this can be done with a can of compressed air or a damp cloth. That said, hire a professional HVAC contractor to conduct a tune up (and clean inside your furnace) in the spring and fall. A professional inspection can make a big difference, as licensed contractors are much more likely to catch an issue before it becomes a real (and more expensive) problem.

Look & Listen

The color of your pilot light indicates whether it’s burning at the correct ratio. Check on it occasionally to verify it’s burning at a steady blue. Any other color could be dangerous (an excess of carbon monoxide, for example), and you may want to consider hiring a licensed contractor to inspect it. Listen to your furnace as well. You are around it the most, and you know what sounds it typically makes. If it makes sounds you’re not used to, give that licensed contractor a call.

Another way to maximize your furnace’s efficiency is to clean your main living area vents from time to time. Take off and clean the covers, and vacuum inside the vents. Remember, any dust in there is dust you’re regularly breathing in.

Happy heating season! Check out our blog at https://aphw.com/blog/ for more household tips and tricks!