Welcome March!

It seems too soon to say spring is around the corner, but…..spring is around the corner.   Not only does March bring spring, it also brings  St Patrick’s day, Day light savings time.  Give your home some Irish luck going into the next season by following the below proactive home maintenance tips.

1)  Check faucets for drips and all your plumbing for leaks throughout the house.  Repairing these leaks will keep your water bills down and reduces the potential for major plumbing issues in the future.

2)  Day light savings time begins(March 10th). This is a good time to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

3)  Celebrate spring by cleaning the garage, hold a yard sale or organize a neighborhood yard sale.  Dispose of paint thinners, household cleaners and pesticides properly.  Check your local public works to see next hazardous materials pick up.

4)  Clean your refrigerator , inside and out.  Remove all trays and shelves, wash, and allow to dry thoroughly before replacing.  Remove old ice from ice tray.

5)  After heavy rains, inspect basement walls for signs of moisture.  If detected, get a portable dehumidifier.  If condition persists, consult a waterproofing contractor.

6)  Check to make sure your sump pump works properly by pouring water into the pump silo to raise the float and activate motor.

7)  Test the pressure and temperature relief valve on your water heater by opening it and allowing some water to flow out.  If little or no water flows out, or it does not shut off, replace it.  bad valves can cause explosions.

bad and good temperature and pressure relief valve

8)  Change your furnace filter, and change every 3 months or sooner.

If you need assistance with the above preventative home maintenance tips or have other home project needs, click the “contact” button to the right and let Screw Loose?LLC  take care of the rest. 

Thanks for your time, I hope this helps………..

Welcome February!

The month of love…………..Let’s show our homes some love with this months preventative home maintenance tips.

1)  Check all exhaust fans, both in kitchens and bathrooms.  Check for appropriate air movement before and after showers and run hood fan while cooking.  Clean fans as needed as dust and grease build up promotes moisture to not move and can damage parts of the fan over time.

2)  Remove drain traps under sinks and clean them thoroughly.  Clean pop up drain plugs.  Adjust drain plugs as needed and check for leaks under drain when drain is plugged

3)  Inspect grout and caulk around tubs, sinks and showers.  Chip out cracked grout and replace missing grout.  stained and mildewed caulk should be cleaned with trisodium phosphate or other household  cleaner. If it remains discolored it should be removed and replaced with fresh, mildew resistant caulk.

4)  Musty closet odors can be reduced or eliminated by removing the closets contents and washing walls with a diluted solution of chlorine bleach.  also, solid doors can be replaced with louvered doors for better air flow.  If the musty smell is from a true water source, disregard the above and find/stop the water source.

5)  To keep valves from sticking and check for leaks, turn all water valves off and on.  This includes outdoor faucets/valves(if they are still on this month), valves to toilets, bathroom and kitchen sinks, dishwasher, and washing machine.

Water Saving Tip:

6)  During extreme cold snaps, you may need to let a faucet drip to prevent frozen pipes.  When you do that, put a bucket under the faucet to catch the water.  Use this water to flush a toilet, or water your indoor plants.  Don’t let all those drips go to waste.

If you need assistance with any of the above tips, or have other home projects or repairs, click the “contact” button to the right and let Screw Loose take care of the rest.

Thanks for your time, I hope this helps…………..

HAPPY 2019!

I hope that The New Year has started out on the right foot.  Here are a few home maintenance tips that will help your home meet its New Years resolutions.

1)  Empty a gallon of water out of your water heater to remove sediment from the bottom.  A qualified service technician should evaluate your water heater every 5 years.

2)  Organize your home improvement files.  Review warranties and product manuals to ensure that you are providing the recommended maintenance for those items.  Get your calendar organized to track needed maintenance times.

3)  Full house drain flush.  fill up your sinks and tubs with hot water and let them all drain at the same time.  This helps keep the main line a bit cleaner.

4)  Make room by room inventory of everything in your home that you use.  In the event of fire, flood, or other disaster, this is important for filing an insurance claim.

5)  Don’t close vents to crawl space.  since we live in an area where pipes can freeze, insulate pipes and under the floor.  vents play an important role in controlling condensation beneath a house.

6)  Double-check insulation around exterior pipes that are exposed to freezing weather to be certain that water cannot seep under the insulation.

7)  Prevent frozen pipes by opening your cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate near your pipes.  This is a must if your pipes are running along and exterior wall and you are unsure of the amount of insulation you have.

8)  Inspect all cabinet, and furniture for loose hardware, noisy, or sticky hinges.

9)  Check all interior and exterior doors for loose, sticky, or noisy hardware, lubricate as needed, tighten all knobs and locks.

10)  Check your Garbage disposal for leaks and function.  The holidays can be very abusive on this appliance.

Did You know?:  January is the deadliest month for CO poisoning.  Defend against this by 1)not using portable generators within the home, 2) have gas water heaters and other fuel burning appliances checked professionally 1X/year, and 3) install CO detector outside each sleeping area, within 15 feet of the entry.

If you need assistance with the above preventative home maintenance projects, or have any other new Year home projects, click the “Contact” tab above and let Screw Loose? LLC take care of the rest.

Thanks for your time, I hope this helps……….

December is here!

The holidays are in full swing and people are beginning preparations to their homes for the next round of visitors.  Below are some hints and tips to get you and your home through another month of the holiday season.

1)  Check/Replace disposable furnace filters monthly during the heating season, or clean reusable filters bimonthly.  have a professional tune up your furnace annually and get your ducts cleaned every 5-6 years.  This will reduce heating costs and have you breathing cleaner air.

2)  Check the operation of all “ground- fault circuit interrupter” outlets throughout house.  Do this by pushing “test” button.  The “reset” button should pop out, indicating proper function.  Push “reset” button back in.  You will find these outlets near any source of water, including outdoors.

3)  Review the family fire escape plan with every household member

4)  Unpack and test all electrical holiday decorations.  Repair or discard those that are not functioning properly.

5)  Watch for sales on tools before and after the holidays.

If you need holiday preparations, or have a current project to get done before visitors arrive, click the “contact” button to the right and let Screw Loose? LLC take care of the rest.

Happy Holidays!  I hope this helps………………..

Welcome November!

I hope everyone has gotten over the sugar high from Halloween and are going to see the dentist.  Now is the month when we start to prepare our home for family, who are coming to join us to celebrate Thanksgiving.  It is also a month when we can start being proactive on the inside of our homes as the yard work is wrapping up for the next few months.  Use the extra hour you gained this month to ensure your house is running efficiently through the following steps.

1)  Clean lint from entire clothes dryer vent system, from exterior vent cap.  Have your dryer exhaust ducts inspected annually, especially for longer exhaust runs.

2)  Set your clocks back November 4th at 2 AM.

3)  Inspect automatic garage door opener and lubricate according to manufacturers directions. Make sure all screws are tightened and secured.

4)  Check for leaks around washing machine.  Inspect supply hoses as they will have the highest incidence of leaking.

5)  Clean dishwasher, trash compactor and counter top appliances.

6)  Change the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, or change over to the 10 year battery free detectors.

If you need any assistance doing any of the home maintenance mentioned above, or have other project needs around your home, click the contact button to the right and let Screw Loose?  LLC take care of the rest.

Thanks for your time, I hope this helps………..

Hello October!

This is the month of monsters, ghosts and probably a bunch of kids running around with sugar frenzy.  Don’t let your home become spooked in October, using the following tips to prevent bigger issues from arising around your home this month and months to follow.

1) Clean out roof gutters and down spouts.  This might be done toward the end of the month after all the leaves have fallen. Ensure downspouts and extensions are taking water away from the foundation.

2) Detach all hoses in case of freezing temperatures

3) Remove all paints, caulks and liquid materials from garages and garden sheds, unless they are heated.

4)  Inspect weather stripping around windows and doors, repair and replace as necessary

5)  Check thermostats and set to winter schedule, good time to change the batteries, if applicable

6)  Check gauges on home fire extinguishers, ensuring full charge, replace if necessary.

7)  Blow out sprinkler systems ( this can wait till late in the month , unless the cold is settling in).  better to be safe than sorry………..

blown PVB due to bad winterization

If you would like to tackle some of the projects above, click the “contact” tab to the right and let Screw Loose? LLC take care of the rest.

Thanks for your time, I hope this helps………………

Hello September!

If you live in Colorado, you know winter could be rapidly approaching, or not….Fall could last a month, or summer could push fall right into winter.  Your home should not pay for these inconsistent patterns.   The following are this months priorities.

Change your furnace filter,   This should be done at least every 3 months.

Below are some other proactive home maintenance tips that should be done during the month of September.

1)  Prune shrubs and trees, especially if they are intruding on your homes roof and exterior walls.  This is especially crucial if those early snow storms roll in before the leaves have fallen from the trees.

2)  Paint those interior rooms you have been putting off because of the heat.  do it now before it is too cold to leave the windows open.

3) Check heating systems including filters, pilot lights and burners, having system serviced and reviewed by a qualified professional.

4)  Remove window air conditioners and if they are not removable, cover them with plastic or cover for winter protection.

5)  Check for proper soil grading away from your house.  This will ensure no water seeps through foundation cracks.

6)  Look for end of season sales on yard and lawn equipment.  There is a lot more yard work to do before the heart of winter.

7)  If you have them, start assessing your storm windows and repair as needed.

If you would like to tackle some of the projects above, click the “contact” tab to the right and let Screw Loose? LLC take care of the rest.

Thanks for your time, I hope this helps………………………………..

August already!?

Here are a few things to do this month to keep your house running smoothly as the summer months wind down.  Beat the heat by doing some interior projects and maintenance to your home.

1)  Inspect your deck, both surface and underneath.  Clean all debris from surface with a hose, or blower as they can cause decay and mildew.

2)  Clean the condenser coils on the back or under your refrigerator.

3)  Check faucets for leaks and replace washers or repair the faucet as necessary.

4)  Clean under range hood.  remove and replace range hood filters

5)  Fix “water hammer”  noises in plumbing system by draining the system.  Open uppermost faucet(farthest from meter) and lowest faucet(closest to meter), allowing water to flow to the lower sink, restoring air to air chambers.  close lowest faucet and refill system.

6)  Plan interior remodeling projects and get estimates.

If you need assist with the above tips or have any other home project needs, click the “contact” button to the right and let Screw Loose? LLC take care of the rest.

Thanks for your time, I hope this helps……….

Hello July!

Happy 4th of July!

As we head into the “dog days” of summer, sometimes the heat, intense sun and severe weather can damage our properties as much as the winter months.  Here are some tips to help your house make it through the heat of the summer.

1)  Check all exterior walls for peeling or cracked paint.  Typically, paint on South and west facing wall deteriorate faster and requires more frequent maintenance.

2)  Inspect brick or masonry for cracks or missing mortar, repair with fresh mortar, or concrete caulk.

3)  Inspect roofing material for cracks and loose or missing shingles, repairing as necessary.  check for leak evidence if you are able to access attic and view roof from underneath.

4)  Inspect the operation of automatic light timers and motion detector systems, especially if you are going to be on a vacation.

5)  Prune trees and shrubs away from house so they do not make contact with roof or siding.

6)  Clean and repair cracks in driveways using an epoxy patching material.  use asphalt patch in driveways and repeat this every other year.

If you need any assistance with the above tips or would like a home consult for any other home project needs, click the “contact” tab on the right and let Screw Loose? LLC take care of the rest.

Thanks for your time, I hope this helps……….

Happy Father’s Day!

Happy Flag Day!

Welcome June!  This month kids are out of school and summer begins. Your home will have a lot more traffic in the upcoming months.   Below are some home maintenance tips to use this month to help your house survive through the summer months ahead.

1)  Remove weeds growing in cracks of patios, sidewalks and driveways.  seal cracks in driveways with appropriate elastic concrete sealer.

2)  Clean, stain/paint and seal decks

3)  Inspect and clean chimneys.  Doing this before fall gives you plenty of time to do repairs if needed after the sweep.

4)  Wash the exterior of your house with garden hose or pressure washer.  Beware of the pressure when you have siding as water can get forced under the siding causing potential for mold and mildew

5)  Caulk exterior joints of windows and doors.

6)  Clean lint from entire clothes dryer system, from dryer to exterior vent cap.

7)  Inspect and repair, or repaint/stain all patio and deck furniture

8)  Clean or replace carpets

9)  Change your furnace filter, especially if you use central A/C

If you need any assistance with the above tips or would like a home consult for any other home project needs, click the “contact” tab on the right and let Screw Loose? LLC take care of the rest.

Thanks for your time, I hope this helps……….