Tag: Maintenance

Man fixing roof while onlooker comments from below, "Not what I meant by Ventilation, honey."

There are Holes in Your Roof!

Posted on | by Clive Gillett

Man fixing roof while onlooker comments from below, "Not what I meant by Ventilation, honey."Okay, okay, the TECHNICAL term might be ‘ventilation.’ But there are multiple reasons why you should take a look at your roof anyway (or have a professional do it) before the snow starts flying:

  • Clogged gutters can cause ice dams and water damage
  • Shaded areas may have streaking (fungus, moss, mildew, or algae growth)
  • Overhanging branches could damage shingles
  • Insufficient ventilation may lead to dry rot

And that’s just the tip of the shingle (ha ha).

Your roof is literally THE most important part of your home: It protects everything else. Give it some TLC with these 10 Roofing Maintenance Tips for Lasting Roofline Results.*

*America’s Preferred Home Warranty is not affiliated with and has not collaborated with Great Day Improvements LLC in any capacity.

Garage Door Opener Maintenance

Open & Shut: Garage Door Opener Maintenance

Posted on | by Clive Gillett

Garage Door Opener MaintenanceOur two-car garage did not include garage door openers when we first moved in. After one horrendous winter without them—pull up the icy driveway, get out without slipping, go into the side door of the garage, unlock and open the garage door from the inside, get back into the car, pull forward, then face the cold once more to shut and lock the garage door—it was clear that automated garage door openers would be in our immediate future.

Whether you had them upon moving in or added them later, regular use will eventually wear down parts and equipment like any other machine. Occasional maintenance (much easier to perform during warmer weather) will keep their convenience at your fingertips longer—and hopefully out of those winter blasts.

Each task listed in the Top 10 Preventive Maintenance Tips for Garage Door Owners by Garaga.com* takes mere minutes to complete, and can save you a lot of headache in the future. Worth it? Just ask our frozen former selves.

*America’s Preferred Home Warranty is not affiliated with and has not collaborated with Garaga.com in any capacity.

Humidifier Maintenance

Getting Zapped in Winter? Maintain Your Humidifier Now

Posted on | by Clive Gillett

Humidifier MaintenanceEvery winter in the Midwest, I’m utterly shocked—by static electricity. While this clues me in to go look at my furnace humidifier, you can avoid these sparking revelations with a little upkeep before, during, and after heating season—especially in the Spring. Your semi-glowing pets will thank you.

Your furnace-mounted humidifier maintains your home’s humidity at a comfortable level. There are two common styles of humidifier: Reservoir and Flow-through.

  • The reservoir style has a tank with standing water. A sponge-like pad moves through it and circles up into the furnace heat. While this is a less expensive option, bacteria can build up in the water and it will require more frequent cleanings.
  • A flow-through humidifier has a constant drip of water to supply the humidity in the air. This more expensive option prevents the bacteria build-up and requires less maintenance.

As with any appliance, normal use will cause wear and tear over time. Cleaning and maintaining your humidifier are the best ways to ensure it will last and be effective for as long as possible. Check out these tips* to help you get the most out of yours!

Have tips of your own? Comment on the story on our Facebook page!

*America’s Preferred Home Warranty is not affiliated with and has not collaborated with Mr. Hardware in any capacity.

Garbage Disposal Maintenance Tips

A Disposal Proposal: Maintaining Your Daily Grind

Posted on | by Clive Gillett

Garbage Disposal Maintenance TipsIt’s so easy to just scrape that extra little bit down the drain and let your garbage disposal handle it, right? Ah, but what you don’t know can hurt you—or at least the grinder below. Here are some tips to ensure you get the most out of your garbage disposal, and hopefully prevent it from grinding to a halt.

If It Crunches or Expands, Just Say No

  • If it’s too hard for you to chew and digest, it’s too hard to go down the drain. Seeds, bones, and other hard objects can dull your blades or get lodged in the mechanism, causing the motor to overheat.
  • Little bits of bread are okay on occasion, but unless you’d like to create a spongey blockage in your disposal and the pipes beyond, avoid excess amounts. The same goes for pasta, potato skins, and rice.

Is It Fatty or Stringy?

  • When you cook greasy foods or use oils, it’s tempting to pour those extra fats down the drain. Don’t do it! They will solidify and clog up both your disposal and your pipes, leading to major headaches down the road. Just set fatty substances aside in a container to solidify, then throw them away.
  • Stringy foods (such as asparagus or celery) can wrap around the blades and cause the mechanism to jam. These are much better either thrown away or used in a compost pile.

Is It Actual Garbage?

Just say no. Contrary to its name, the garbage disposal is not designed to handle inedible matter like plastic or paper, aka, actual garbage. Just imagine the disaster it would be for your pipes!

Clean It Up

It’s a good idea to refresh your garbage disposal regularly, at least on a weekly basis. There are several popular methods you can choose from:

  • Fill the drain with ice and some rock salt and turn on the disposal while running cool water through it. It will sound terrible, but it will actually clean the blades of any leftover residue. The combination may result in a slush that appears to clog the pipe for a moment, but once the ice melts it will all just run right down the drain.
  • Add lemon wedges to the disposal and run warm water (not hot) while it grinds them up. The acid in the lemon will help clean the blades while leaving your sink citrusy fresh!
  • Make vinegar ice cubes to run through the disposal weekly.

Is it clogged?

Whatever you do, DO NOT run hot water to remove a clog—especially if it involves a fatty substance. You’ll just end up causing the fats to re-solidify and further jam the mechanism. Also avoid commercial drain cleaners. If cool water won’t clear the blockage, your best bet is to turn off the power to the unit, open it up (see your user manual for details), and use a pair of pliers to remove the clog. NEVER stick your hand in there to do it—we’d prefer you keep all of your fingers intact.

Now that you know how to keep up your daily grind, we hope you can enjoy it for many years to come!

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Oven Maintenance

Stove & Oven Maintenance for New Homeowners

Posted on | by Clive Gillett

Oven MaintenanceWhen 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!

America's Preferred Home Warranty, Jetted Tub Maintenance

How to Maintain Your Jetted Tub

Posted on | by Clive Gillett
America's Preferred Home Warranty, Jetted Tub MaintenanceEverybody loves to soak in a hot bath, especially if it happens to be in a jetted tub. Those extra goodies, though—they come with a little extra maintenance.
To help keep those jets running in good condition, you’ll want to perform these steps at least once every four months with rare use, or monthly with frequent use.
  1. Fill the tub with hot water to a few inches above the jets and add about 2 cups of vinegar.
  2. Run the jets on high for 10 to 15 minutes to cycle the solution through.
  3. Turn off the jets and empty the tub.
  4. Fill it again to the same level as before (only hot water this time) and run the jets on high for another 10 to 15 minutes.
  5. Turn off the jets and empty the tub.
  6. Sprinkle a healthy amount of baking soda over everything, let it sit for a few minutes, and then use a damp cloth to scrub everything down. Use a toothbrush to gently brush any remaining build-up from the nozzles. Don’t forget to remove the air-intake cover and give it a good soapy brushing, too, then rinse it and replace the cover.
  7. Rinse everything thoroughly and enjoy your nice clean jetted tub!

Ah, the bubbly life. Enjoy your newly maintained jetted tub!

Call 888.351.3681 to get a home warranty today, or visit APHW.COM for more information!

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