Summertime Home Maintenance

It’s important to put some extra care into your home as we transition into summer. From being energy efficient indoors with your air conditioning, to taking care of outside safety measures for your pool – keep the following things in mind to gear up for an enjoyable season.

Your air conditioning unit will be the hero of your hottest days. For homes with window or free-standing air-conditioning units, make sure to remove and clean their filters. If you haven’t done this before, here’s a quick how-to:

• Power down and unplug your window or stand-alone A/C unit
• Get a putty knife to separate the grill from the mesh filter screen
• Prepare warm, soapy water to wash both the grill and the screen
• If mold is evident, it’s wise to add a safe amount of bleach to the cleaning mixture (best to do this cleaning outside of your home rather than release mold spores inside)
• Allow the grill and screen to dry completely before reattaching them to the unit

Any homeowner running their A/C, whether it’s central A/C or a window unit, should take care of a few energy-saving tasks. The caulking and weather stripping around windows and doors is a major contributor to conserving cool air. If parts are not properly sealed, then fill gaps and replace old weather stripping with materials from a local home store. Ceiling fans can aid in air circulation when it’s cool enough to turn the A/C off. If you’re in the market for a new ceiling fan or stationary fan, go with a product with an ENERGY STAR sticker for optimum energy efficiency.

Fire season is expected to be strong during these summer months when the weather is hot and dry. To keep your home safe, take preventative measures to reduce chances of fire damage. Keep leaves and yard debris cleaned up and make a conscious effort to clean your gutters.

If you are fortunate enough to have a pool during these hot, sunny days, then make sure the access gate to your yard is secure. If children are around, you’ll really benefit from peace of mind if you have fencing along the pool’s perimeter with latches that are in working order.

If you encounter a home emergency or need a repair this summer, call SOS for referrals to contractors who will put as much care into your home as you do. Call 888-589-1868 or access our online service request form.

Have any tips to share with other homeowners? We’d love to hear them! Comment below or visit SOS on Facebook to tell us how you take care of your home during the summer months.

Unique Twists for Your Home Renovation

Home improvement projects are on an incredible rise this year. According to a houzz.com survey, these kinds of projects have increased by 12 percent compared to 2012, and seven percent fewer people are saying they have chosen to delay projects due to the economy (SOURCE: Forbes.com).

If you are part of the population looking to hire a certified contractor and join the home-renovation movement, it’s a great time to think outside the box. Here are some practical, unique, and outlandish suggestions to integrate into the scope of your next remodel:

• Cast iron sewer stack pipes (they reduce bathroom flushing noises )
• Lever doorknobs (much easier to open when your hands are full vs. round doorknobs)
• Soundproofing (especially for entertainment rooms and bedrooms)
• A central vacuum system
• Plumbing for a pot-filler faucet
• 3” PVC pipe inside a centrally-located wall that runs from the attic to the basement (for future projects that may require wires running through it such as behind a fireplace rock wall to hide your entertainment system wiring)
• Heated bathroom floors
• New-age outlets (from internal wall coiled extension cords to USB outlets)
• Secret passageways
• Pet-friendly features (peep holes, gates, odor-absorbing materials, etc.)
• Roofing sustainable for rainwater collection and solar panel installation
• Sunken entertainment area
• Backyard movie setup or interior home theater room

Contact SOS when you need referrals for your next minor project or major renovation for your home. Call 1.888.589.1868 or access our online referral form. 

We invite you to share your before and after home remodel/renovation project photos on our Facebook page: Show off your home project pics HERE.

Notify a Bad Contractor with a Breach of Contract Letter

If you've hired a bad contractor who has not lived up to the signed contract, you can notify them of a breach of contract and request that they remedy the parts of the job that have gotten off track.

Start with examining your contract. It’s important you find ways to prove the agreement between you and the contractor has been compromised. Document these indiscretions as best as possible, as this will be the basis of your case if things get really messy and you have to go to court. Make sure to be as specific as possible (include dates, times, specific events, etc.).

After you document the specific issues, write a formal letter detailing the breach of contract. This will be sent to the contracting company and will serve as a notice of your terms. These terms should request the violation(s) be resolved within a given amount of days. The typical amount of time is 10 days from the date of the letter.

It's important to note the contract you signed may have language that describes what happens if either party breaches the contract. If so, be sure to note this in your letter. Conclude with a statement about pursuing appropriate legal action if the issues are not remedied within your proposed time frame.

• Be professional, not emotional
• Avoid foul language
• Use a formal letterhead
• Date the letter 
• Make a copy for your records
• Do not threaten suing or filing a lawsuit, as you may get legal ramifications if you threaten these things without actual intention of doing so
• Include a copy of the original contract and if you reference certain parts of it in your letter be sure to cite where (e.g. “On page two, paragraph five…”)
• Mail the letter via certified mail at the post office and request a delivery confirmation. Keep it in your files once you are notified it has been delivered
• Log on to the California State Contractor’s Website to file a formal complaint against the contractor 
• Be wary of bashing the contractor on social media websites, as libel can pose more unwanted, messy problems

(NOTE: Consult with an attorney regarding specific state contract laws)

If this has happened to you, make sure to hire a reputable contractor the next time around, and review the contract carefully before proceeding. Call Specialized Outsource Solutions at 1.888.589.1868 for referrals to qualified contractors. 

If you've had a bad experience with a contractor, please share your story on our Facebook site so others may benefit from your advice.

10 Plumbing Tips Every Homeowner Should Know

It is important for you and everyone in your home to know a few plumbing basics. They can save you time and money down the road, as water damage repairs can be quite costly. Here are the top ten plumbing checks every homeowner should know:

1. Plumbing emergencies may require quick thinking and fast action. Everyone in your home should know where the main shut-off valve for the water is, just in case.

2. Learn how to read your water meter. When no one else is home and you know there is no water running, check your meter to ensure none of the dials are moving. If they are, then you may likely have a water leak somewhere.
(Insider Info: Toilets and faucets are the most likely culprits of these kinds of leaks, which are known to add a few hundred dollars a year to your water bill.)

3. Check for toilet leaks by inserting a few drops of food coloring in the tank. About 20 minutes later, check the toilet bowl for any presence of color. If you do see some color in the toilet bowl, there may be seepage around the flapper valve inside the toilet tank. It is an easy fix as long as you know there is a problem.

4. Try to drain a few gallons of water from your hot water heater tank twice a year. This ensures the valve works and also allows sediment accumulating at the bottom of the tank to clear out, maximizing heating efficiency.

(Insider Info: If you have the funds, invest in a tankless water heater and watch your utility bills lower because no energy is spent keeping gallons and gallons of water hot in a storage tank. A tankless water heater heats water on demand, when you need it.)

5.  When your toilet looks like it might overflow, remove the tank lid and press down on the flush valve, which plugs the hole at the bottom of the tank. This prevents the toilet from overflowing while you determine the source of the clog causing the problem. You may also turn off the water supply line located in the wall behind your toilet.

6. Keep all water and drain valves operational by opening and closing them at least twice a year. If you do not do this, a valve may freeze up over time. If you are caught in a plumbing dilemma and cannot turn the valve off, you could be facing serious problems.

7. Learn where these three stop valves are in your home. This allows you to turn off water at the problem source rather than inconvenience an entire household by turning off the main water shut-off valve to the house.

• Faucets (beneath kitchen cabinets)
• Refrigerator lines (in the wall behind the refrigerator)
• Toilets (in the wall behind the toilet)

8. Keep a plunger around for clogged sinks and toilets as they are effective tools for clearing clogged plumbing lines.

9. Invest in a few replacement parts such as a toilet kit and rubber gaskets for those simple plumbing fixes around the home.

10. Avoid chemical drain cleaners for removing clogs. Instead, use a plunger or invest in a plumbing tool called an auger (a.k.a. "snake”) for those tough obstructions in plumbing pipes.

NOTE: If you encounter a plumbing problem you cannot resolve, or an emergency arises, always hire a qualified contractor to address the issue. 

In need of a reputable company to address water damage due to a plumbing-related leak or water damage inside your home? Rely on Specialized Outsource Solutions for 24-hour emergency services. Call 1-888-589-1858 and we’ll direct you to the right plumber for the job.