Tag: homeowner

Maintenance Minutes: Clearing Vegetation Away from Your Home

July 25, 2022

Whether you’re preparing for an inspection or just doing your own outdoor beautification project, clearing vegetation away from your home’s exterior is crucial for both cosmetic and maintenance purposes. Excessive shrubbery around your property can cause clogged drains, damaged roofs, and trapped moisture pockets. These issues can cause problems to your home’s interior and could even lead to insect infestations. To prevent these problems and more, we’re sharing tips on the best method of landscaping maintenance for a healthier home. Choosing a TechniqueThe most common technique used to clear vegetation away from a home is the by hand method. This is the safest way to clear unwanted debris from your home. However, this technique is the most time consuming, so you’ll want to block out a half day just in case. For the purpose of clearing light branches and smaller shrubs away from your property, the clearing by hand method is your best bet, as it’s the most cost-effective, safest, and easiest method to manage. While clearing smaller plants and trees, you’ll want to make sure to follow a few handy tips. Tips for Clearing Trees, Plants, Shrubs, and Bushes While clearing vegetation, it’s important to remember a few essentials

How to Caulk Bathroom Surfaces

July 11, 2022

Re-caulking bathroom surfaces in your home is a relatively easy process if you have the right tools. If you’ve never been through the steps of this process, there are a few items you will want to have on hand before you begin. The main supplies that you will want to make sure to add to your toolbox include: a caulking gun, a utility knife or a plastic razor scraper, painter’s tape, a sponge, a multipurpose cleaner (preferably with bleach) and of course plenty of paper towels. The first step of this procedure will require that you remove the existing caulk and clean the residue and dirt from the area lining your bathtub, sink, and any other bathroom surfaces you hope to replace. Removing the existing caulk is a crucial step, as adding new caulking on top of the old may create bubbling that could be the cause of leaking bathroom appliances. Not to mention, the addition of new caulk over old is often unsanitary and unsightly–mildew and dirt often get caught in these narrow crevices. To remove the existing caulk, you will need to use your utility knife or plastic razor scraper to help loosen its hold. By using these

Pet-Friendly Plants to Incorporate into Your Space

July 5, 2022

If you’re a pet parent looking to become a plant parent, there are some things you should consider before selecting the perfect plant addition to your home. Many plants that are not poisonous to humans can be incredibly toxic to your furry friends. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), over 233,000 pets are accidentally poisoned each year from plants in their homes. Consequently, it’s essential to know which plants may cause harm to your pets to avoid any potential issues. In addition to learning which plants pose a threat, it’s good to be informed of which plants provide health benefits to you and your furry friends as well. First and foremost, let’s review which plant characteristics pose the greatest threat to animals. Characteristics of toxic plants include plants with: Plants with these traits are toxic to both dogs and cats, causing various health-related issues depending on the weight of the animal. The degree of toxicity varies in each situation depending on the type of contact your animal had with each plant. For instance, shrubbery can lead to as little as mild skin irritation in pets that have perhaps just brushed up against them.

Maintenance Minutes: How to Check for Window Leaks

June 13, 2022

The most common issues that you will encounter with your property’s windows are problems stemming from water intrusion, difficulty opening and closing windows, and air leaks. If proper repairs are made following the inspection provided by your NPI inspector, you may save a substantial amount of money in heating and cooling costs. If you suspect that you may have any of these issues with your windows, there are ways to check for these problems ahead of receiving the inspection of your property from NPI. Water Damage Checking for the presence of water damage around your windows is relatively easy using a few simple NPI tips. If you suspect water damage to the interior of your windows, first visually examine the condition of each window. You’ll want to take note of signs of a water leak such as peeling paint, mold buildup, and the discoloration of the area surrounding the window. If any of these are prevalent, you will want to further inspect the area around your windows by touching bordering sides with a dry hand. If you detect any moisture or dew drops that have formed on the windowsill, this is an indicator of a window leak. Difficulty Opening &

Maintenance Minutes: How to Change Your Furnace Filter

June 6, 2022

In this Maintenance Minute video, we are going to take a moment to learn how to change the filter on your furnace. The only equipment you will need is a new filter. The information on what size is needed for the new filter should be located on the side of the unit. For this project, there’s no assembly or tools required–anyone can change out an old filter. Plus, it’s a good life skill to know as there will come a time when you need to utilize this expertise. Reasons to Change Your Air FilterThere are a few major reasons why changing your air filter is so important. The first of which being that changing out the filter on your system keeps the HVAC working at an optimal level. Also, replacing the filter improves air quality by keeping the oxygen in your home clean. This is especially important for people with seasonal allergies. Last but not least, swapping out your old air filter for a new one helps to prevent damage to the entire HVAC system. How to Change Your FilterBefore you get started, you’ll want to turn off your furnace. This can be done in one of two ways. In

Getting Rid of Your Bad-Tasting Tap Water for Good

May 23, 2022

If you think you have bad-tasting or smelling water in your home, it may not be in your head. In some areas of the United States, tap water includes additives that you may have certain sensitivities or allergies to. While a few of these added chemicals serve a purpose, such as the addition of fluoride to help protect the enamel on your teeth, there is also unwanted waste that can sometimes end up in the water supply. Blended PipingAnother reason your current water system may be producing a bad taste or foul odor is the piping. For many newer homes, it can be an issue, as the piping leading to the tap is not a pure metal as was once used in older homes built prior to 1950. Today, it is standard practice to use piping that is a blend of metals and plastic such as polybutylene or polyethylene. This type of piping has the potential to cause an assortment of issues. These plastics can lead to problems, specifically for those with latex allergies. An additional issue with the usage of blended pipes is the addition of mold buildup. If mold builds up in the pipes it can not only