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Top 10 Fall Maintenance Tips

10/7/2019

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Final Walk Through Check List - Residential

7/17/2019

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It's a good idea to do a final walk through of the house you are moving out of and or the house you are selling. With your busy schedule and life demands it can be easy to forget a room.

Download this PDF to your phone or tablet to help guide you through the process. 
final-walk-through-checklist2.pdf
File Size: 98 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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HVAC insulation on the Suction Line

7/17/2019

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Picture

[Air Conditioning Suction Line]
Weathering, UV rays and/or bad installation can compromise insulation on an AC unit. It’s a good practice to inspect it every year and replace as needed making sure it’s always doing its job. Animals, pest, & birds are another known issue that can cause damage. There is pest proofing available if this is an issue. I highly recommend that commercial insulation wrapping be including in the bid process for replacements and or new rooftop units along the coastline. 

📌 What is a suction line? - 
The suction line (the larger copper pipe on the outdoor unit) helps to supply cool refrigerant back to the compressor in the outdoor unit. The section line is usually cold to the touch. If it is warm this could be a sign that it is low on refrigerant & you may need to schedule a preventative maintenance or call a licensed HVAC contractor. It is also important to note that only the suction line should be insulated. 

📌 

​It's purpose - 
In refrigeration and air-conditioning applications, insulation needs to be able to protect against condensation. Moisture control is critical to thermal efficiency. If moisture intrudes the insulating material surrounding cold-water piping, thermal efficiency is lost. Foam insulation, unlike fiberglass, is a closed-cell structure that acts as a built-in vapor retarder (jacket) preventing moisture intrusion. Another very important reason to insulate the suction line, which is sometimes overlooked, is to limit the amount of heat added to the refrigerant as it travels back to the compressor. This additional heat will cause the system to reject unnecessary heat without any benefit. In addition, if too much heat is added it may cause the compressor to run too hot.
​
📌Why is it important to you? 
If the system’s suction pipe has damaged insulation, this could cause a loss of required cooling for the outdoor unit which could damage your system and may also cause you to lose energy as well. A well-insulated suction line can help save money by reducing both energy consumption & equipment breakdowns. The insulation helps to prevent condensation. The condensation drip can cause water damage to the material under it and/or cause a slip/trip hazard.

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Bike Storage and Rack Installation

6/27/2019

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Do you love to bike but have no idea how to store it?! If you live in a City or Metro area, space may be limited. The solution I found cost less than $20 and saves a ton of space.
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Easy & inexpensive way to store your bike! If you purchased a townhouse or condo in a metro area you may not have a garage or additional storage. I have been looking at different solutions for months. Pinned a dozen different ideas on Pinterest, visited my local bike shop in North West Denver but the solutions were too bulky. Then I went to Amazon to see what I could find. I'll drop the links for the materials below. This solution with tax is approx $20. You can also spray paint it to match your wall color to blend or any color you choose. Go crazy! The wheels do scuff up the wall a bit. I'll be installing a thin piece of naturally stained trim to protect the wall.

📌 Bike Hanger/Rack, $10.99
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HNNJZFW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_53tfDb7ASR8DV

📌 Self Drilling Plastic 50lb Drywall Anchors, $7.89
 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FCZ8I3I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_c7tfDbEPF80VC

📌 Zinc Self Drilling 50lb Drywall Anchors, $9.79 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CVT1N4M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Z9tfDb5DPQA1J
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Why Checking the shower/bathtub pan is important.

6/17/2019

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[Why Checking the Shower/Bath Pan is important]
Water is the root of all evil to a building structure. Will the shower pan hold water without it leaking?! I'm glad you asked! I have just the tool that tests just that. I don't just turn the water on, I also test the load.

Here is an example in this video of a failed pan in a rental unit and the damages it caused. The entire bathroom had to be remodeled, including the subfloor replacement. The tenant never reported a leak. Remember to inspect, what you expect. If you have a rental property or you hire a property management group ask if an annual inspection is included and the detail of that inspection. Give me a call and I'll inspect it for you or answer any questions you may have.

​Myself and one of my closest friends did the majority of the demo. I was the Project Manager and was the first point of contact for any questions. I was advised that the upstairs neighbor wasn't very keen on the remodel noise. I went and introduced myself to her, explained the process/timeline and gave her a Fandango gift card so she could escape the noise. Putting the customer and people first.
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What it looks like when we test the static water pressure.

6/17/2019

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[Static Water Pressure] Why does this matter to me as a residential property owner? If the water pressure is too low while you're taking a shower it might be awhile before you get that shampoo out of your eye. If it's too high it could feel like pins and needles and have a potential adverse effect on your plumbing fixtures. It's good information to know before you purchase a property and are standing in that shower. Might also notice in the video the hose bib has a leak. Testing the water pressure of the house is part of every Inspection as stated in the standards of practice. The min water pressure required until 2018 was 40PSI and 80PSI max. As of 2019 the updated requirement is that the pressure be adequate for demand.
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What a dirty Air Filter looks like and how to change it.

6/17/2019

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[Quick Filter Change Video] While we are on the subject of Air Conditioning, make sure to change your filters. It's a good practice to change them every three months and to keep a couple extra on hand. Depending on the area you're in you may be able to go longer than three months or in some cases less. This unit was in the clients attic. There should be a disconnect located at the unit to power it off. The unit should also have a safety meaning if you open that filter door while it's powered on, it should trip the safety and the unit will turn off. It's a best practice to turn the unit off prior to opening any panel doors. Scroll through the photos and you'll see the dust build up on the return air grill located inside the house.
📌 Inspect what you expect- If you have a preventative maintenance service done by an HVAC technician make sure they change and date those filters. Ask them to leave the dirty filters onsite for you to throw away.
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📌 Setup a reminder in your phone. Hey Siri/Ok Google, "Set reminder every three months to change the air conditioning filter". 
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Website Under Construction

6/17/2019

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We are currently diligently working on finalizing the website and anticipate that it will be fully operational by mid/end of July. If you have any questions please use the contacts page or comment below and we will be happy to assist you. 
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    Elisa Ramier

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