Articles and tips for home maintenance, of interest to homeowners.
This information can clarify and help answer some questions about maintenance of asphalt pavement.
This information can clarify and help answer some questions about cleaning gutters.
Protect the investment you have made in your pool by staying on top of common problems.
Keep your pool clean and enjoy the rewards of diving into the cool water this summer.
Q: I am in need of someone to do sheetrock repair, new countertops, and painting inside my home, but do not know where to start. Is there a particular place to start and do I contact a contractor or a handyman?
If not maintained well, exposed wood trim can deteriorate, warp, and may need extensive sanding before repainting or worst case, complete replacement.
Here are some maintenance tips to help reduce your need for wood stove repairs.
Even the highest quality screen available will deteriorate over time. When it eventually becomes necessary to replace or repair window screens, call a professional with the tools and experience to do the job properly.
Q: How can I clean and do routine maintenance on my air conditioning unit?
Spring is a generally mild season. It's also the ideal time to budget a bit of that savings for an air conditioning tune-up. Done now, it can prevent many small problems from becoming big, expensive problems later.
Here is a checklist of things to check to keep your house and yard in good shape.
Regular cleaning is the way to minimize any repairs needed to an outdoor acrylic sports court surface. It's a good idea to keep the court clean at all times to minimize the amount of dirt ground into the surface by foot traffic.
Here's a checklist of maintenance items to make sure your house and yard are in good shape for winter.
A home maintenance contract is a service agreement or insurance that protects the working items and systems in the home. It provides protection through repairs or replacement of a home's major systems, appliances and more, should an item break down due to normal wear and tear-regardless of that item's age. It gives homeowners assurance that they will not be ambushed with outrageous bills to repair or replace protected items.
Here are some items around the house that should be checked every month.
While snow can be pretty and make children's wishes come true, it can also be a messy hassle for homeowners. Depending on where you live and how much snow you are used to getting, your needs for hiring snow removal might vary. If your area typically gets a lot of snow or even if your area gets a few heavy snowfalls per year, start considering your options now.
As the weather grows colder, homeowners should look ahead to the stormy winter months. There are many things we can and should do to protect our families and homes from the ravages of winter. Good planning can also help to reduce maintenance and utility costs.
Get inspired by the nice weather and the promise of summer. Prepare your home for spring by using the following checklist.
Late fall is an ideal time to take stock of your home and make sure everything is ready for winter's onslaught. If you act now, there are still some nice days left to get things in order.
Basic sauna problems: If your sauna's heater unit isn't working at all, test it first, but if it is still malfunctioning, you'll probably need to have it replaced. When the water in your unit is too hot or too cold, it's probably a malfunctioning thermostat.
If you live where it snows frequently, once in a while or even a couple times a winter, you know that getting rid of the fluffy white stuff can suddenly turn the beauty into a burdensome chore. However, there are some methods that can alleviate this hassle so you might be able to enjoy the winter wonderland around you.
Snow removal is necessary for safety, convenience and to protect property. The weight of snow on decks and roofs is a big concern. Snow removal can also be a huge hassle, particularly when an unexpected blizzard strikes and snow removal services are at a premium. You can avoid hassles by contracting in advance with a snow removal service to clear the way when you need it most.
Spring is finally coming! It's the perfect time to give your home a checkup. Every home needs some maintenance each year, and many folks also do an improvement project each year. As you look ahead to the best months for repair and remodeling, some planning can save you both money and time.
As cold weather approaches, it is important to take a few preventative measures to protect your home through the chilly months. Here is a checklist to help you prepare.
Q: How do I winterize a vacant house? Should I drain the hot water heater? Should I put anti freeze down the toilet? The water is turned off. What else should I do? Should the heat be left on just above freezing?
Q: Our water heater is only giving us cold water. My husband has worked with the pipes under the house and even tried using a hair dryer. What else should we do?
This homeowner's guide to fireplaces and chimneys covers safety issues, inspection and cleaning, and the simple maintenance required to ensure years of safe enjoyment of your fireplace, wood stove, and chimney.
Q: I live in New York and three years ago I painted the front door and the paint has started peeling. What could cause this?
Have the long months of winter taken a toll on your wood deck? Is it dirty, mildew-stained and wearing a coat of gray?
This guide will help you understand the need for deck maintenance as well as explain the process:
Easy deck maintenance tips:
Problem: Dangerous or crumbling concrete steps.
Washing machines have either a painted steel or porcelain-coated steel cabinet. It's perfectly safe to use a little dish detergent and a damp rag to clean all of its surfaces. If the surface is porcelain, you can even use a small amount of non-abrasive cleanser for stubborn stains.
While appliances make our lives easier, they can also pose significant risks if not maintained properly. Use this guide to take a quick inventory of the health and safety of the appliances in your home:
While major appliances make our lives easier, they also pose significant risks if not maintained properly. This guide explains how you can best protect your family and property from some of the most common hazards.