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A sample list of some of what we can do for you:
Home repair involves the diagnosis and resolution of problems in a home, and is
related to home Maintenance to avoid such problems. Many types of repairs are
"Do it yourself" (DIY) projects, while others may be so complicated,
time-consuming or risky as to suggest the assistance of a qualified handyman,
property manager, contractor/builder, or other professionals. Repair is not
necessarily the same as home improvement, although many improvements can result
from repairs or maintenance. Often the costs of larger repairs will justify the
alternative of investment in full-scale improvements. It may make just as much
sense to upgrade a home system (with an improved one) as to repair it or incur
ever-more-frequent and expensive maintenance for an inefficient, obsolete or
dying system. For a DIY project, it is also useful to establish limits on how
much time and money you're willing to invest before deciding a repair (or list
of repairs) is overwhelming and discouraging, and less likely to ever be
completed.
Worn, consumed, dull, dirty, clogged
Repairs often mean simple replacement of worn or used components intended to be
periodically renewed by a homeowner, such as burnt out light bulbs, worn out
batteries, or overfilled vacuum cleaner bags. Another class of home repairs
relates to restoring something to a useful condition, such as sharpening tools
or utensils, replacing leaky faucet washers, cleaning out plumbing traps, rain
gutters. Because of the required precision, specialized tools, or hazards, some
of these are best left to experts such as a plumber. One emergency repair that
may be necessary in this area is overflowing toilets. Most of them have a
shutoff valve on a pipe beneath or behind them so that the water supply can be
removed while repairs are made, either by removing a clog or repairing a broken
mechanism.
Broken or damaged
Perhaps the most perplexing repairs facing a homeowner are broken or damaged
things. In today's era of built-in obsolescence for many products, it is often
more convenient to replace something rather than attempt to repair it. A
repairman is faced with the tasks of adequately identifying the problem, and
then finding the materials, supplies, tools and skills necessary to sufficiently
effect the repair. Some things, such as broken windows, appliances or furniture
can be carried to a repair shop. However, there are many such repairs that can
be learned easily enough such as dealing with holes in plaster and drywall,
cleaning stains, repairing cracked windows and their screens, or replacing a
broken electrical switch or outlet. Other repairs may have some urgency, such as
a broken water pipes, broken doors, latches or windows, or a leaky roof or water
tank, and this factor can certainly justify calling for professional help. A
home handyman may become adept at dealing with such immediate repairs, to avoid
further damage or loss, until a professional can be summoned.
Maintenance
Periodic maintenance also falls under the general class of home repairs. These
are inspections, adjustments, cleanings, or replacements that should be done
regularly to ensure proper functioning of all the systems in a house, and to
avoid costly emergencies. Examples include annual testing and adjustment of
alarm systems, central heating or cooling systems (electrodes, thermocouples,
and fuel filters), replacement of water treatment components or air-handling
filters, purging of heating radiators and water tanks, defrosting a freezer,
vacuuming refrigerator coils, refilling dry floor-drain traps with water,
cleaning out gutters, downspouts and drains, touching up worn house paint and
weather seals, and cleaning accumulated creosote out of chimney flues, which may
be best left to a chimney sweep.
Examples of less frequent home maintenance that should be regularly forecast and
budgeted include repainting or staining outdoor wood or metal, repointing
masonry, waterproofing masonry, cleaning out septic systems, replacing
sacrificial electrodes in water heaters, replacing old washing machine hoses
(preferably with stainless steel hoses less likely to burst and cause a flood),
and other home improvements such as replacement of obsolete or aging systems
with limited useful lifetimes (water heaters, wood stoves, pumps, and asphaltic
or wooden roof shingles and siding.
Good operations
Another related issue for avoiding costly repairs (or disasters) is the proper
operation of a home, including systems and appliances, in a way that prevents
damage or prolongs their usefulness. For example, at higher latitudes, even a
clean rain gutter can suddenly build up an ice dam in winter, forcing melt water
into unprotected roofing, resulting in leaks or even flooding inside walls or
rooms. This can be prevented by installing moisture barrier beneath the roofing
tiles. A wary homeowner should be alert to the conditions that can result in
larger problems and take remedial action before damage or injury occurs. It may
be easier to tack down a bit of worn carpet than repair a large patch damaged by
prolonged misuse. Another example is to seek out the source of unusual noises or
smells when mechanical, electrical or plumbing systems are operating --
sometimes they indicate incipient problems. One should avoid overloading or
otherwise misusing systems, and a recurring overload may indicate time for an
upgrade.
Water infiltration is one of the most insidious sources of home damage. Small
leaks can lead to water stains, and rotting wood. Soft, rotten wood is an
inviting target for termites and other wood-damaging insects. Left unattended, a
small leak can lead to significant structural damage, necessitating the
replacement of beams and framing.
With a useful selection of tools, typical materials and supplies on hand, and
some home repair information or experience, a homeowner or handyman should be
able to carry out a large number of DIY home repairs and identify those that
will need the specialized attention of others.
Remediation of Environmental Problems
When a home is sold, inspections are performed that may reveal environmental
hazards such as radon gas in the basement or water supply or friable asbestos
materials (both of which can cause lung cancer), peeling or disturbed lead paint
(a risk to children and pregnant women), inground heating oil tanks that may
contaminate ground water, or mold that can cause problems for those with asthma
or allergies. Typically the buyer or mortgage lender will require these
conditions to be repaired before allowing the purchase to close. An entire
industry of environmental remediation contractors has developed to help home
owners resolve these types of problems
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