Tag: Homeowner Tips

1. Call an HVAC Professional If you have a home warranty, you won’t have to worry about spending very much money on any repairs that your home might need, including repairs to your HVAC system. Your HVAC system is one of the very first things that you’ll want to have inspected before the winter season since you’ll be using it so much. Check to make sure that the ductwork is clean and that your furnace is in good working order. 2. Maintain Your Fireplace Homeowners who use their fireplace during the winter should have it cleaned by a professional. If your home warranty extends to your fireplace and covers maintenance, have your fireplace thoroughly cleaned and make sure that the damper opens and closes properly. If you have a brick chimney, make sure that mortar and brick are in good condition. It’s also a good idea to see that you have plenty of firewood chopped up and ready to be thrown into the fire so that your home will always be toasty warm. Since animals and critters will also want to keep warm during the winter, it’s also a good idea to buy a screen for the top of your fireplace in order to make sure that they won’t set up shop inside of your fireplace. 3. Check Your Roof A roof in need of repair can cost you money in heating bills. Specifically, you’ll want to make sure your roof shingles are in good condition and that you don’t have any leaks on your roof. Leaks can lead to a number of complications, including mold and a compromised home structure. Just as you can get a home warranty, you can also get a warranty for your roof to cover repairs. Make sure that the gutters are cleaned while you’re taking care of any roof repairs that you might need. 4. Get your Garden and Lawn Care Equipment Ready While you’re putting away your garden and lawn care equipment, it’s a good idea to drain the gas and oil out of your weed eater, lawn mower and tiller. Drain your garden hoses before storing them to make sure that water can’t freeze and refreeze, which can really compromise the integrity of hoses. 5. Clear the Foundation of Your Home Even during the winter season any vegetation that’s near your home can grow if conditions are right. Your home warranty probably won’t cover any damage that’s done to the foundation of your home from any roots that might find their way inside the lower structure of your home. As you’re taking care of growing plants, make sure that you check your foundation for any other signs of damage that might need to be addressed. 6. Check Your Carbon Monoxide and Fire Detectors Winter is a prime season for home fires. Install carbon monoxide and fire detectors in your home near your furnace and each level of your home if you don’t already have them. Make sure that your detectors work and that you change out the batteries during the fall. Should you have a fire in your home, remember that a home warranty isn’t the same as having a home insurance policy, which means that some of your belongings will be covered under your insurance plan that aren’t covered by your warranty. Take out time to winterize your home as you’re enjoying the changing leaves and the steadily dropping temperatures.]]>

After many people pay huge utility bills all summer to keep their homes cool from the sweltering heat, they may be relieved to see some savings during the winter. By following some simple guidelines, you can save money on your winter utility bills. First, if you do not already have one, consider purchasing a programmable thermostat. It makes saving on utility bills much easier because you can set the desired temperature for different times of day and forget about it. There is no need to continually change the thermostat, it will do it on its own. Energy.gov has some great tips for what temperature you should keep your home during the winter, “You can easily save energy in the winter by setting the thermostat to 68°F while you’re awake and setting it lower while you’re asleep or away from home. By turning your thermostat back 10° to 15° for 8 hours, you can save 5% to 15% a year on your heating bill — a savings of as much as 1% for each degree if the setback period is eight hours long. The percentage of savings from setback is greater for buildings in milder climates than for those in more severe climates.” If you are away from home all day at work or your kids are at school, set the temperature much cooler, perhaps around 56° as no one will be home anyway. You can always program your thermostat to warm your home back up to 68° about an hour before you get home so it is nice and cozy when you get home. As your body adapt to the cooler temperatures, keeping your thermostat to 68° will quickly feel very comfortable. Also, if you do tend to get a chill in the early morning or late evening hours, you can always employ some more traditional methods of staying warm. Break out the warm blankets, comfortable slippers or socks and a nice, toasty cup of hot chocolate or tea. You can always throw an extra blanket on the bed and you will feel very warm, all while saving money because you are not keeping the heat running all night long. By employing these simple methods and properly programming your thermostat during the winter, you can save money and still enjoy a cozy fall and winter.]]>

Your home is one of the biggest investments you will ever make. Each year, as seasons change and we put away our swimsuits and pull out our sweaters, we need to do some basic maintenance to prepare our homes for cooler temperatures. By following these basic tips you can rest assured your home is in tip top shape for the fall. The first thing you will want to do to prepare your home for fall is do a quick survey of the exterior of your home and yard. Check for any obvious damage that may need to be repaired before it is too cold to do so. If you home has gutters or downspouts you will want to clear any debris such as leaves or dirt and also do a quick check of your roof to make sure everything looks good. Next, you will want to move inside to prepare for fall. Now is a great time to replace filters in your air conditioning unit as it will keep your home more energy efficient. Now is also the time to drain your water heater and check to make sure there is no rust or sediment buildup. Flush out the water heater so that it will work properly all winter long. After checking upon your water heater you will want to check your home for any leaks or cracks. During the winter you want to keep warm air in and cold air out but there are cracks your home may not be doing this. Finding and promptly fixing any leaks by applying caulk or weather stripping will help your home to be more energy efficient. The cost of heating a home during fall and winter can be expensive so it is very important to ensure your home is as energy efficient as possible. It is a time to do all the little maintenance things that so often go forgotten as well. Before entering the holiday season when home fires go up exponentially, it is a great idea to test and change batteries in your smoke detector. Speaking of fire now is the time to prepare your fireplace for the cooler months. You may consider hiring a professional chimney sweep or, at a minimum, make sure any old ashes have been discarded and start stocking up on firewood. These basic home maintenance tips can help you prepare your home for fall, improve energy efficiency and make your home a more enjoyable space to live. It is important to stay ahead of the game, with home maintenance so that you can avoid costly repairs later on. One other way to prepare your home and protect yourself and your wallet is to have a home warranty. A home warranty will give you peace of mind that you are protected at all times.]]>

As a homeowner, you have a lot of home maintenance issues that need to be dealt with that you probably never had to worry about as a renter. One of those things is pest control and knowing whether you need to do it, how often, and how much. Many homeowners understand that it needs to be done, but are sometimes unsure of how often to spray for pests and how much they should use. A good rule of thumb is that if you don’t know, don’t do it. There are pest control professionals that can answer those questions for you so that you don’t end up with a dangerous situation on your hands. The following are a few guidelines that might help you to determine how often to spray for pests. The first guideline of pest control home maintenance is to understand what pests you are dealing with. For example, if you have an ant infestation, one application should do the trick. If you notice more ants a few years later, you can reapply that pest control at that time. However, if you are dealing with a more aggressive pest, such as termites, you might have to get just as aggressive and apply various and frequent treatments until they are completely gone. One important thing to remember is that if the pest is destroying your home or your family, the best thing to do is get it taken care of immediately, no matter what it is. The next guideline of pest control home maintenance is to really understand your environment. Typically, warmer climates call for more frequent pest control services. The area you live in could determine the amount of treatments you get as well. For example, if you are surrounded by the woods, or are near water, you may have more pests than if you live in the middle of the city. That would probably be a good indication that you will need more frequent pest control treatments. Another home maintenance guideline that will help you determine how often to have your home sprayed for pests is how much the little pests really bother you. Of course, if there is a real infestation, very frequent treatments should be applied. On the other hand, bimonthly or quarterly pest control treatments might be sufficient if you only see an occasional spider or ant. If that occasional bug really bothers you, you could increase treatments to monthly instead. As you can see, proper home maintenance is manageable with the right knowledge about pest control applications. Knowing how often to apply treatments and how many to have done could be tricky to decide, but by knowing what pests you’re dealing with, understanding your environment, and honestly gauging what you can handle, you will have a better idea of how often you should spray for pests. If you have considered each of the guidelines and are still unsure, you may want to speak to someone who sprays for pests professionally and get their opinion on your situation. One thing to remember, however, is that when the pests are gone, you will be glad you got it all figured out.]]>

With the winter snows finally melting away and the temperature steadily rising, it may be time to start on all kinds of new projects and maintenance on your home. Certain parts of your home need seasonal maintenance, and now that winter is over, it’s time to get started on it. If you own a pool, you now might want to think about getting it ready for the summer. Pools can take quite a bit of maintenance; so getting a jump on taking care of it now should allow you to enjoy it all summer long. If you haven’t done so, you might even want to consider getting your pool covered with a home warranty. Here are some common maintenance items you may face with your pool and the advantages to having your pool covered under your home warranty. If your pool has been covered all winter long, it’s now time to peel that cover back. Not all homeowners drain their pool in the winter, but if you decided to drain it, you will still need to turn everything on and make sure it’s running okay. When you turn your pool on to test it out, you are making sure that is runs quiet and that there are no leaks. You’ll want to check around the actual pump for leaks. Getting to cracks and leaks early can save you a lot of time and money. It’s much easier to take care of leaks when they are still small, so inspect your pool very carefully. Another thing that you will want to do is test the total dissolved solids level (TDS) of your pool water. This is testing for things like calcium to make sure that the level is not too high; as such mineral buildup can interfere with your pool working properly. The risk of such buildup is higher in areas that have hard water. If your TDS level is too high, you may need to drain your pool and fill it with fresh water. As stated above, you don’t necessarily have to drain your pool every year. At the same time, you will want to drain it every three years or so, and don’t wait longer than five years between pool drainings. It is advisable to hire a professional to drain your pool for you. While it is drained, the professional may be able to clean your pool for you as well. This will help you to keep on top of hard-water stains in and around your pool. You should also monitor your pool’s chlorine levels to make sure that it stays at an acceptable level, and shock it if necessary to help prevent bacteria and algae growth. A huge part of getting your pool ready for the summer is to inspect all of its equipment, safety features, and wiring. You’ll want to make sure the diving board is in good working order and that any railings are firm in place. Make sure any slides or ladders are also secure and all light bulbs are working. You may be able to get help from an electrician if you are concerned about your pool’s wiring. Getting your pool ready for summer can be a lot of work, so getting it covered under your home warranty is a great idea. There are a lot of things that can quickly go wrong with a pool from year to year, and if it’s not covered under a warranty you are often left footing the bill. Even insurance might require you to meet a deductible before helping you out with needed repairs or replacement. Home warranty coverage could help you with the costs of certain maintenance, repairs, or equipment replacement. If you are purchasing a home with a pool, consider putting the pool under your home warranty. If you run into any issues, you will really be glad you did.]]>

Purchasing your very own home is an exciting thing. It’s probably something that you have been looking forward to for your entire life. As a homeowner, you will quickly find that there are a lot of things around your home that need maintenance. No matter when your home was built, it is important to keep up on maintenance and be aware when something is going wrong. If something does go wrong, hopefully you have a good home warranty in place to help you take care of it. Wiring problems are one area of home maintenance where things can go wrong whether or not you had your home wired professionally, recently, or a long time ago. It’s true that your home likely had to pass some sort of inspection when it was built, but that doesn’t make it immune to problems down the road. Here are some common electrical wiring problems you could find around your home and how your home warranty can cover them.

Sometimes the power goes off and there seems to be no apparent reason. You look all over for the source, but can’t seem to identify what would cause the power in your home to go off. Once you check the circuit breakers, you may discover that the breakers have been tripped. There can be various reasons why the breakers in your home would trip. Sometimes the breakers are wired incorrectly, there is a poor connection with the breaker, or there is some issue with the outlet connected to the breaker.

Overloading can be another wiring problem that can cause issues in your home. Overload is when you have too many things going on at once, such as having too many lamps plugged into your wall or extension cords running through your home. This can cause different items and components to heat up and could cause a fire—or trip your breakers, as mentioned above.

High wattage bulbs are another common problem. Some homeowners disregard the wattage limit on a given light fixture and put in bulbs that carry a lot more wattage than necessary. This could cause your bulbs to burn out faster, but it also makes the light base extremely hot—which could also put you at risk for a fire in your home.

No matter how many issues the wiring in your home has, you should still find your electricity bill is staying around normal. If you notice your bill is extremely high, you might want to find out how much your home is actually using and whether or not your meter needs fixing. When your wiring is affecting your bills, it can be advisable to get help identifying the problem as quickly as possible.

Home warranties can be useful in situations where your home is having wiring issues. Although a warranty is not exactly like an insurance policy, it can still protect you and your possessions. With a home warranty in place, you may be able to get someone to come out and fix your wiring problems free of cost to you, for instance. If the wiring problems affected certain appliances in your home that are covered under your home warranty, you may also be able to get those replaced at no cost to you. When you purchase your home warranty, you should make sure you know what it does and does not cover. Having a home warranty that covers electrical wiring can be extremely useful, however, as wiring problems are bound to occur eventually no matter how old or new your home may be.

Owning a home is very exciting, but it also brings with it a lot of responsibility. There are many different common wiring problems you can run into with your home, from tripping breakers to unexplained electricity bills and more. Getting home warranty coverage over the wiring in your home can be very beneficial, especially if you have no idea why you are having such wiring problems. Before purchasing your home warranty make sure you understand exactly what it covers. This way when problems arise, you can rest assured that your warranty will back you up.

Once you’ve bought your home, there’s still work for you to do. And that doesn’t include buying furniture and getting your new house decorated. Protect your new investment with a home warranty and take away some of the worry that comes with owning a home. How to Get a Home Warranty Whenever you make an offer for a home, you have the option of requesting that the home warranty be taken care of by the seller; either that or you can pay for the warranty by yourself. If the seller decides to cover half of the warranty, then it might not last for as long as you’d like for it to, so make sure that you look over the details of the warranty before agreeing to it. Once you close escrow, your new home is covered under the warranty. You’ll be given a plan number to call if you ever have a repair that needs to be taken care of. The repair technician will be one contracted by the company that issued the warranty, and all you’ll have to pay is the trade call fee. What is Covered by a Home Warranty? Incidences covered by a home warranty include garage door openers, duct work, electrical systems, water heaters, exhaust fans, garbage disposals and stoves. Since not all home warranties cover air conditioners, you’ll want to check yours to see if it is or if it isn’t covered. If it is, it’s a good idea to make sure that you have maintenance performed on your air conditioning unit twice a year in order to prevent breakdowns and to keep small problems from becoming big problems. For an extra cost, you can add roof leak repairs, swimming pool equipment and septic systems to your home warranty. Who Should Get a Home Warranty? It doesn’t matter if you’re buying a home for the first time or if you’ve owned four houses in the past, you should still get a home warranty. If it’s your first time buying a home, you don’t know what all goes into keeping a home in working order, so you’ll need every advantage and assist that you can get to keep from wasting money and to keep from having a horrible first time buyer’s experience. If you’ve owned a home before, then you have a better idea of some of the more common repairs that homes need. You also have a better idea of how much they cost, therefore you already know what an advantage it is to have a home warranty. While you might hate having to pay extra for your home to get a home warranty, you’ll certainly be glad you did once you start seeing how much it would otherwise cost you for household repairs.]]>

Most consumers that contract a home warranty in Chandler have some familiarity with terms of service contracts and other insurance. This is good because it gives a general idea on these different instruments for risk management. On the other hand, a home warranty differs from all of these other protections in key ways. If you make assumptions that home warranties work exactly the same as other insurances then you may miss out on some benefits, and not understand why others may not be covered. The first thing to understand is that a home warranty in Chandler is different from the car warranty you may have on your vehicle, either from the dealership for from a third party provider. A car warranty only comes into effect if a vehicle part has failed due to unforeseen circumstance, acts of God as it were. It will not cover part that naturally wears out over time. A home warranty does cover parts that wear. In essence, they cover any part repair as long as that part is included in the contract. Many types of home repair and major appliances are generally covered. Another thing to understand is that a home warranty in Chandler will only repair a part that has been broken, not a part that is about to break. Take the example of banging pipes. Noisy pipes are generally an indicator of problems in the water pressure system, but at which component. If a plumber is sent and cannot pinpoint a failing part, then the homeowner may leave the $50 service charge to you. On the other hand, if the pressure problem is due to a regulator that is not set properly, then you will probably have to pay for that call as well. However, if the regulator is defective and needs to be replaced, then the home warranty provider will honor the claim. This is an important point. The provider does not fix noisy pipes (symptoms) only broken parts. This example is important because if the pressure problems persist, a pipe could burst causing extensive damage. Much of this damage could be the responsibility of the warranty provider. In other words, if they had taken preventative measures with the symptoms, they could have avoided having to underwrite a much larger expense. Regardless, they will not do that. Ultimately, the responsibility for taking the risk of the service call lies with the homeowner. A third component of your home warranty in Chandler is how to deal with denying claims due to existing conditions. This could happen if you own a water heater (with an average lifetime of ten years) and purchase your home warranty just after you have owned the heater for ten years, and just before it decides to give up the ghost. Honoring this claim is tricky because it breaks the risk model of the warranty provider. They are insuring for reasonable wear and tear, and expect to receive premiums during the times appliances are wearing out. Denying this claim could well be reasonable. As you work with a home warranty company, you should understand what they are insuring and decide whether their pattern of honoring or denying claims is reasonable. By understanding the coverage terms, you will know exactly what you are contracting. Homeowners that do complete their homework generally find that the coverage for a home warranty in Chandler is worth the money indeed.]]>

Whether you are living in a home or have a vacation home that you live in for a portion of the year, there is basic plumbing maintenance that needs to happen. It is very important that when the temperatures start to turn cold, you prepare your plumbing for the change. During the winter, extreme temperatures can lead to problems for many homeowners. It is a good idea to have a home warranty to protect you and your home should a problem arise. A good home warranty will be available around the clock for you and can help you get your repairs done quickly and easily. It will give you the peace of mind that you are covered in case of an emergency. By winterizing your plumbing you can protect your home and hopefully avoid such an emergency altogether. The last thing you want on a cold winter night is to discover that a pipe has burst because you did not properly winterize your plumbing. There are some simple steps you can take to winterize your plumbing and spend time enjoying the holidays with your family rather than dealing with untimely and costly plumbing problems. First, you will want to begin with a simple visual inspection of your plumbing, particularly your external plumbing. If you see any cracked or missing caulk around the external plumbing, you will want to fill and fix any holes as this is an easy way for the cold air to get into the pipes. Additionally, for external pipes, you will want to make sure the pipes are wrapped or insulated in some way. You can get foam to wrap around the pipes, there is also insulating tape available and in a pinch you can always wrap your pipes with insulating towels or rags. You should also disconnect your hose during the winter months. Any water in a garden hose can easily freeze and cause major problems in your pipes. On the inside of your home, you should keep temperatures relatively warm. The internal warmth of your home will help regulate the temperature of your plumbing. If the weather drops very low, for example, below 30 degrees or more, you may want to go around your home and run all the faucets and flush the toilets to keep water moving and help prevent freezing. Lastly, you may consider winterizing your water heater by insulating it. While your water heater will more than likely not be at risk of bursting, it will help your water run more efficiently and help you save money on your energy bills. Depending on your location and how cold it gets, you may need to do all or only some of these things. The important thing is to routinely inspect your plumbing and be aware of what is going on in your home. If you have made the wise decision to invest in a home warranty you also have the added peace of mind that, should a problem arise, you will have someone on your side in an emergency. By properly winterizing your plumbing you will more than likely prevent any major problems and save yourself time and money.]]>

Nobody wants to be cold during the winter months. We crank up the heat and bundle up in our warm and cozy homes. Unfortunately, many insects and rodents can have the same idea as us. They will seek out the warmth and comfort of our homes, especially if we do not keep up with routine maintenance that would prevent them from entering. We often do so much to decorate our homes to make them beautiful during the holiday season but are we masking lurking problems and welcoming pests into our homes? The most important part of winter pest control is prevention. You can save yourself time and frustration by preventing these pests from entering your home in the first place. There are many insects that are dormant during the cold winter months but we cannot forget the ones that seek out warmth and shelter. Some pests to be aware of that could enter your home are ants, cockroaches, and rodents. Being vigilant about year round pest control can keep nasty critters out of your house and away from your family. First, you will want to check the perimeter of your home on a regular basis. Things you should be on the lookout for include the conditions of your walls and roof, should you see any holes or cracks where insects could enter you will want to have them sealed immediately. Also, if you see any scratches, marks, or droppings you may have rodents nearby or already in your home. Chimneys and stove pipes should be covered by protective screens to prevent rodent entry. If you have a fireplace and store firewood it can retain a lot of moisture and invite insects. You will need to store all firewood as far away from your home as possible. By maintaining the exterior of your home you are taking the first step to protecting your home from unwanted visitors during the winter months. Next, you will want to protect the interior of your home. Now is a great time to declutter and maintain general cleanliness. Clutter is like an invitation to rodents and bugs to take up residence in your home. Also, food should be stored in airtight containers. Cleaning out your cabinets will also help prevent creatures from scavenging around in your home. Storing items in cardboard boxes is not a great idea because insects like to hide in cardboard. Instead, in your basement or garage, store items in plastic containers. Should you hear any sounds or scratching in your ceiling or walls it is best to call professionals to help you remove any unwanted visitors from your home. You should also keep up with your routine pest control such as pesticide during the winter months to help ensure protection of your home. When you have decorated your home and made it a beautiful and comfortable place for your family during the winter months the last thing you want are insects and rodents to make an appearance! Routinely maintaining your home will prevent major infestations from occurring and help keep your home beautiful this winter.]]>