Who Let the Steam Out

With the cooler weather, hot showers and baths seem to last a little longer. Don't let the moisture collect on your walls and ceiling.

Your bathroom fan is one of the most important items in your home. Not only does it remove odors, but it removes moisture. Moisture is the top cause of mold, mildew and drywall damage. If left unchecked, it can create all kinds of problems not only with a healthy home environment, but with the structural integrity of the home.

It is important that your fans are working correctly and that they exhaust to the outdoors. I have seen many fans that are vented into the attic or crawl space under the home. This creates moisture issues in these areas that will rapidly create issues of rotted wood and the formation of mold.

How do you know there may be something wrong with your fans? Signs to look and listen for include: slow start up of fan motor, a scraping or grinding sound, fan not starting at all. Most of these mean the fan needs to be replaced.

A simple test to check if your fan is working is to place a piece of tissue against the fans grill. When the fan is running the paper should stay put against the grill due to the fans suction.

Yellow Van Handyman can repair and rebuild older units and install new units.

Let Yellow VAN Handyman come in and check your exhaust fans to make sure they are working properly and vented correctly.

Check your homes plumbing

Check Out Your Home Plumbing System

This was taken from an insurance companies newsletter. It is word to the wise.

 

Plumbing problems can lead to sky-high water bills—not to mention major structural damage to your home. A small leak could waste tens of thousands of gallons of water each year and result in much larger headaches. Use these tips to help make regular DIY plumbing inspections all around your house.

I recently helped a homeowner with a major water leak that was costing them hundreds of dollars a month. Don't let this happen to you. Call Yellow VAN Handyman if you suspect a problem.

 

Inspect your pipes

Look for signs of dripping and corrosion in exposed pipes, such as supply lines for toilets and sinks, as well as lines leading to appliances such as dishwashers, refrigerator ice makers, and washing machines. Leaking fixtures may need replacement parts, such as a new O-ring or cartridge for a dripping faucet or a flapper for a leaky toilet.

Sneak up on leaks

Even if you don’t see dripping, you may still have a problem. Wall or cabinet stains, rusty water, cracked or warped flooring and a musty smell are all indicators of plumbing issues.

Focus on faulty plumbing

Shutoff valves and copper and brass fittings are the first places corrosion occurs. The likelihood of corrosion is greater if the metals are mismatched, as when galvanized pipes connect directly to copper lines. This should be repaired immediately. But if the pipes are corroded or rusted, have them replaced.

Monitor your meter

Water meters are great leakage detectors. Note the current level of water usage on your meter, and then suspend all water usage for 30 minutes, making sure all water-using appliances are turned off. Recheck the meter. If the triangular leak indicator is spinning or the dial hand has moved or the number has increased, you probably have a leak.

Remodeling Projects That May Pay Off

The following provided by State Farm Insurance

4 Remodeling Projects That May Pay Off

If you’re planning to remodel a home office and hoping to recoup your investment when you sell your home, you could be disappointed. According to the Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report 2011-2012 from Remodeling magazine you'll recover slightly less than 43 percent of your money for this project. But upgrade your exterior with fiber-cement siding and you might see a return of 78 percent in terms of increased home value. 

Yellow VAN Handyman can help with all your remodeling and updating needs.

For many homeowners, how an improvement affects a home's resale value is a critical factor in deciding whether the project goes forward. Here are four investments that paid off from this year's report:

Replacement projects: On average, replacing things like flooring, countertops, fixtures and cabinets returns 64 percent of the project costs upon sale, compared to large scale remodeling jobs, which return 57 percent. Replacements typically cost less and are appealing to buyers because they are important indicators of home maintenance.

New siding, windows and doors: These projects enhance curb appeal and have some of the biggest payoffs when you sell.

Remodeled attic space: Creating a bedroom in a previously unused area pays a 72.5 percent return on the investment, largely because the project adds living space without expanding a home's footprint.

Kitchen facelifts: These minor remodeling projects often include new cabinet doors, hardware, countertops and appliances—and typically return more than 72 percent of the investment.

One add-on that doesn't pay off well is a sunroom addition. While a pleasant sunroom may be your family's favorite relaxation spot, this project typically returns less than 46 percent of your investment.

In addition to payback rates, the report cites other considerations for homeowners who are planning a home improvement. For example, recognize that adding a room may provide you with more space but may result in increased household heating and cooling bills. Enlarging a bathroom at the expense of a bedroom may make perfect sense for your family, but be seen as a lost room by a buyer. Elaborate remodeling projects that are out of sync with the value of the surrounding homes may also be a negative in the eyes of potential buyers.

Winterize Your Home and Prevent Frozen Pipes

Every year I'm called to someones home where the hose bib was left un-protected from the cold and the water pipe freezes and burst open causing all kinds of damage. A burst pipe means costly repairs and potential structural damage. Yellow VAN Handyman can help with these repairs, but it is best to avoid the mess and expense. Pipes located outdoors are subject to freezing once outdoor temperatures fall below 20 degrees.  


Prevention is the key to avoiding burst pipes during the winter. Hose bibs, and other outdoor plumbing fixtures are found on most houses. Winterizing your home's hose bibs is an annual maintenance task that should be completed before the freezing temperatures roll in.


Yellow VAN Handyman can help winterize your home. If you want to do this yourself, here are a few steps to follow:


1) Disconnect any hoses from the hose bibs. Drain the water from the hoses. Store the hoses inside during the winter to prevent damage.
2) Turn off any valve inside your home or crawl space that supplies water just to the outdoor faucets. If you don't have a dedicated valve for the faucets, skip to Step 4.
3) Turn the handles to open the hose bibs. Let the water in the pipes drain. Leave the faucets open throughout the winter to release the pressure caused by the freezing of any remaining water inside the pipes.
4) Place insulating covers over all your hose bibs. Even "Frost Proof" hose bibs should be insulated and covered. I have seen many of these so called "freeze proof" hose bibs freeze and burst even though they are suposed to be "Frost Proof". 


Taking a few minutes to make sure your exterior plumbing fixtures are protected from the winter cold will save you hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars in damages and repair cost.

Hot Water Tanks

This is the time of year that hot water heaters start to fail. After being on low demand for most of the last few warmer months, they are now put into overdrive. The cold weather causes the units to work harder to produce hot water. This is when people will see their unit fail.

Look for signs of water around the water connections on the top of the tank as well as in the drip pan or on the ground. Look for rust where the pipe connections are as this will be a sign that failure is about to happen.

When a hot water tank burst, it can cause thousands of dollars in damage and repairs.

Yellow VAN Handyman can help you with installing or inspecting your existing unit, usually in an expedited fashion. There are companies out there that specialize in "same day installation" but they also specialize in draining your bank account for what they charge.

Yellow VAN Handyman can give you a free estimate before the job. We install gas and electric units and can also haul away your old tank.

Don't wait until your feet are wet, take care of a potential disaster before it's to late. Yellow VAN Handyman can help.

Prevent ice damage

The problem: Experts estimate that each winter 250,000* homes experience damage due to frozen pipes. 

Frozen pipes cause a huge amount of damage each year and these disasters are largely preventable. By taking a few simple precautions, you can help save yourself the mess, money, and aggravation frozen pipes cause.

Yellow VAN Handyman can help you with a few simple tips.

First look for places where cold air can get in. Then:

• Add insulation to pipes located on exterior walls and in crawl spaces and attics.
• Disconnect garden hoses so water won’t freeze in the faucet or pipe.
• Clean gutters and downspouts to direct winter precipitation away from foundations. Note: Cleaning gutters does not prevent ice dams.

Don't let the cold ruin your winter. Have Yellow VAN Handyman help you to keep the cold out.


*Figures provided by State Farm Insurance.

Beware of what's inside that wall.

Just came from a house where an un-named company was installing an alarm system throughout. After a couple of days the homeowner was hearing the sound of water dripping. They could not see anything , but heard the drip. After a few more days the homeowner noticed that the base molding at the bottom of one wall was starting to separate from the wall. It was getting wet and was swelling. Looking up the wall a little further they noticed that the drywall was starting to discolor and was soft to the touch.

This is where your Yellow VAN Handyman comes into play. Cutting out the bad section of drywall revealed the main drain pipe for the two upstairs bathrooms. The drain line had been accidentally drilled into by the alarm companies technician. Since it was a drain line, it only leaked when someone used the sink or shower upstairs. The tech had no idea what he did.

After the drain pipe was repaired, Yellow VAN Handyman replaced the drywall, taped the joints and applied quick drying drywall compound. Sanding, texturing and painting then commenced. The end result was invisible to the naked eye and most importantly, the homeowner. From start to finish I was there three hours. Oh, I also repaired the bad piece of base molding at the foot of the wall.

If you have an unfortunate accident at your house, contact Yellow VAN Handyman to help you with repairing your most valued possession, your home.