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Fall Home Maintenance

This past Thursday, September 22, was the first official day of fall! Although the temperatures don’t feel very fall like, fall is definitely on the way. When most of us think of fall, we think of pumpkins, hot chocolate, plaid, colorful leaves, and Halloween! Did you know that you should also be thinking about home maintenance in the fall? Fall comes with its very own set of fall home maintenance tasks that shouldn’t be ignored! Fall gives way to winter and if you aren’t on top of your home maintenance, the harsh winter weather can be damaging to your home and property. Today we’re going to talk about some easy fall home maintenance tasks that you should make sure to get done this year!

Fall Home Maintenance-

Clean your gutters and your downspouts, and make sure your downspouts have plenty of room to drain.
Check all your outside doors for weather stripping. This can make all the difference with the inside temperature of your home and can save lots of money on your utility bills.
Check the grading around your house and walkways. This can keep your basement or your foundation dry in case of lots of rain or melting snow.
Pull weeds and hidden debris in and around your yard and flower beds.
Shut off the water taps and make sure all your outdoor taps are drained.
Trim your trees to make sure none of them are hanging over your home. If your tree branches ice over during the winter and become heavy, they could fall on your home.
Mulch any young or vulnerable plants and trees. This can help them survive the harsh winter temperatures.
Pack up all your outdoor furniture and decor. Winter temperatures and precipitation can be harsh on outdoor furniture.
Check all your outdoor lighting to make sure it works. Winter means colder temperatures and less daylight hours!
Make sure any outdoor trash cans or recycling receptacles are easily accessible. No one wants to trudge through ice, slush, or snow to take out the trash!

Following these 10 easy fall home maintenance tips can get you and your home set up for success throughout the upcoming fall and winter seasons. If your home’s plumbing needs maintenance or any repairs, or if you need an emergency plumber this fall, contact the professionals you can trust at Masterflo Plumbing. We’re available for any of your plumbing needs 24/7 at (678) 822-7095!

Annual Home Maintenance Checklist

Fall begins in just a couple short weeks. With slightly cooler temperatures coming, its a great time to get started on your annual home maintenance. Keeping up with your home maintenance before the winter months is a great way to make sure that you and your home make it through the winter months unscathed. If your home isn’t ready for winter, you could end up facing some costly repairs.

With temperatures remaining steady in the 90’s this summer, we all know it was hard to get motivated to do anything. Cooler temperatures are on the horizon, and we’ve got your annual home maintenance checklist ready to go! Owning a home comes with a lot of responsibilities, but we’ve made this easy for you! Just follow our checklist below!

Here are some key things to check off on your annual home maintenance checklist-

After you cut your grass the last time for the year, drain all the extra gasoline out of your lawn mower and make sure any extra gasoline is properly stored.
Roll up your hoses and store them indoors. Nice hoses can be expensive, and properly storing them indoors and out of the elements can add years to the lifespan of your garden hoses.
Insulate any outdoor faucets and winterize your sprinkler system. This one is easy to forget, but frozen pipes can be very destructive to your home and property! Check out more about frozen pipes here and here.
Have your chimney professionally cleaned and inspected before lighting it up for the year. Creosote can build up in the flue and cause a fire. Better safe than sorry!
Be sure to cut down any branches hanging over your roof. If the branches ice over during the winter, they may get too heavy and fall on your roof.
Clean your gutters and downspouts.
Check out the caulking and weather stripping around all doors and windows. This is an easy, cheap fix and can save you tons of money on your utility bills by making your home hold heat more efficiently during the fall and winter.
Have your HVAC unit checked out. If you wait till the first cold night to check it out and discover there’s a problem, you may have a hard time getting an HVAC technician to come out quickly as they’re sure to be busy.
Change your air filters. Old, clogged air filters can decrease the efficiency of your unity, which increases your utility bills. Also, its gross. Changing the air filter can help improve the quality of the air you’re breathing.
Drain your hot water heater. Sediment in your hot water heater can cause major problems. Read our post on draining your hot water heater!

Keeping up with yearly maintenance on your home is important and can go a long way in saving you money. Performing maintenance tasks can make your home run more efficiently, saving you money on utility bills, and can prevent you from needing major repairs throughout the winter or in the spring.

Follow our handy annual home maintenance checklist, and for help with plumbing maintenance or to get a head start on plumbing repairs, call the local professionals you can trust at Masterflo Plumbing. We’re here for you 24/7 at (678) 822-7095!

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Preventing Plumbing Emergencies

Plumbing emergencies can happen to anyone at any time. Plumbing emergencies can be catastrophic to your home, property, and wallet as a home owner. While plumbing emergencies are generally rare, they can happen at any time and are usually unpredictable. Because plumbing emergencies can potentially have such devastating consequences, its important to learn all about preventing plumbing emergencies.

Although preventing plumbing emergencies is impossible, there are some steps you can take that may help reduce your risk of finding yourself faced with a plumbing emergency. Plumbing emergencies can have many unwanted consequences. Depending on the nature of the emergency you may potentially face health hazards, the integrity of your home may be compromised, you may find some of your possessions have been damaged, and you may find yourself shelling out thousands of dollars to fix the problem.

If you’re a new home owner, this post is especially important for you! Learn about preventing plumbing emergencies and try to familiarize yourself with the plumbing in your home. For example, know where your hot water heater is and know where all the water shut off valves are.

Use drain covers in your kitchen to keep food and utensils from clogging your pipes or damaging your garbage disposal
Use drain covers in your showers to prevent hair from clogging your pipes
Avoid pouring grease or oil down your kitchen sink drain
If you believe you have a leak or a serious clog, call a plumber immediately
If you are aware that you have old pipes or fixtures, have them replaced and upgraded
Have an experienced plumber check your whole plumbing system for leaks (including pinhole leaks)
Keep up with regular home and plumbing maintenance
Have your hot water heater inspected every year
If you have problems with your hot water heater have them repaired as soon as possible
Winterize your plumbing if you live in an area with below freezing temperatures in the winter

While these tips can certainly help with preventing plumbing emergencies, there is never a guarantee! At Masterflo Plumbing we pride ourselves on being available to our customers. If you have a plumbing emergency, don’t hesitate to call us. We are available for plumbing emergencies throughout the metro Atlanta area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Call us now at (678) 822-7095 for all your plumbing needs!

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5 Summer Home Maintenance Tips

Summer is here, the kids are out of school, and here in north Georgia we’re seeing recording breaking high temperatures! Summer is a great time to get outside and get active with your family, but its also a great time to do a little home maintenance. No one likes adding to their to do list, but as a homeowner you can save yourself lots of money by doing a little preventive maintenance. Keeping up with regular home maintenance can also help keep your house safe for you and your family!

At Masterflo Plumbing we like to help you keep your life simple.

Today we’re bringing you 5 summer home maintenance tips–

Test your smoke detectors. You should test your smoke detectors at least twice a year! During the summer there are lots of cook outs! Grills and smokers can increase your risk of having a fire in or around your home. Make sure your smoke detectors are working so that you can keep your family safe.
Touch up the exterior paint on your home. This includes siding, doors, trim, and shutters. Now that its warm outside, its the perfect time to touch up the pain on the outside of your home. Touching up your home’s exterior paint each summer can keep you from dropping thousands of dollars on having the entire exterior of your home professionally repainted. Plus, once the touch ups are done, your home will look great for all those backyard cook outs!
Clean your air conditioner filter. This is an important tip that is often overlooked by most of us! During the summer when your air conditioner is working the hardest, you should try and clean the filter every couple of weeks. This will help your unit to run much more efficiently, saving you money on your power bill. You can clean the filter by using warm, soapy water or a vacuum cleaner. Some newer air conditioner units may have a self cleaning option.
Check your furnace filter. Changing your furnace filter is another great way to save money on your energy bill by keeping the appliance working as efficiently as possible. If the filter needs to be cleaned or replaced, turn off the power and locate the filter. You may need to unscrew and remove a couple of panels. If the filter has a cardboard frame, you’ll need to purchase a replacement. If the frame is not cardboard, you can clean it with warm, soapy water.
Check your hoses. This includes all the hoses to your dehumidifier, washing machine, dishwasher, ice maker, toilets, refrigerator, and any outdoor garden hoses. These hoses should all be visually inspected for any signs of cracks, leaks, or wear and tear. Generally, these hoses will need to be replaced every 3-5 years to prevent any major leaks.

Follow these 4 summer home maintenance tips for a safe, sunny summer! For any help with plumbing maintenance or emergency plumbing problems contact us at (678) 822-7095. We service all of metro Atlanta and north Georgia 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

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Interior Spring Home Maintenance Checklist

Spring is in full effect here in metro Atlanta, and we’ve had plenty of nice days to get outside. Although its tempting to blow off home maintenance for more leisurely activities, don’t forget that keeping up with your home maintenance can save you thousands of dollars in repair and replacement costs.

Wednesday we shared our exterior spring home maintenance checklist. Today, we’re sharing our simple interior spring home maintenance checklist:

Replace your HVAC filter to ensure that your AC unit is running as efficiently as possible.
Clean the grills on your air system ducts.
Make sure all your vents are open and there is nothing blocking them.
Check for any gaps around your windows and reseal them with caulk if necessary.
Check the locks on your windows to make sure they’re working properly. If they aren’t, make sure to replace them with new locks.
Test the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
Make sure you know where your fire extinguisher is and check to make sure the pressure valve is working.
Check all your interior plumbing for any signs of leaks.
Look in your attic for any signs of leaking from your roof.

For help with any plumbing maintenance or repairs call the local professionals you can trust at Masterflo Plumbing! (678) 822-7095

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How Often Should I…?

How often do you find yourself wondering if something around your home needs to be replaced or how long its going to last? Similar to the groceries in your refrigerator and pantry, many items around your home have a “shelf life” or expiration date. In order to save yourself thousands of dollars in unnecessary replacement costs, make sure you are keeping up with all of your routine home maintenance. If you are up to date on all of your home maintenance, you can prolong the shelf life of many things around your home.

If you find yourself asking how often you should replace certain things around your home, read on to find out the average life span of things around your home.

Bedroom Items

Windows and window frames should be replaced every 20-30 years
Mattresses should be replaced every 8-15 years
Interior paint should be freshened up every 7-10 years
Real wood flooring should be replaced every 20-30 years
Screen doors should be replaced every 10-20 years

Bathroom Items

Bath tubs should be replaced every 15-20 years
Toilets should be replaced every 15-20 years
Linoleum or vinyl flooring should be replaced every 15-20 years
Grout should be refreshed every 3-5 years
Cabinets should be replaced every 20-30 years
Sinks should be replaced every 15-20 years
Faucets should be replaced every 15-20 years

Kitchen Items

Microwaves should be replaced every 5-10 years
Gas ovens should be replaced every 15-25 years
Dryers should be replaced every 10-20 years
Dishwashers should be replaced every 10-15 years
Refrigerators should be replaced every 10-20 years
Washing machines should be replaced every 10-20 years
Garbage disposals should be replaced every 5-15 years

Living Room Items

Carpet should be replaced every 10-15 years
Air conditioning units should be replaced every 15-20 years
Smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years
Carbon monoxide detectors should be replaced every 10 years

Outdoor Items

Driveways should be replaced every 20-30 years
Exterior paint should be refreshed every 5-7 years
Wooden decks should be replaced every 20 years

For help with any plumbing maintenance, repairs, or replacements, contact Masterflo Plumbing today at (678) 822-7095!

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5 Things To Do At Daylight Saving Time

Daylight Saving Time is this weekend! Earlier this week, we ran through a quick history of DST. Today, we’re going to go over 5 things to do when you set your clocks forward each spring. Remember, keeping up with your home’s maintenance will ensure that your home is working efficiently and can prevent major maintenance issues.

Replace the batteries in your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector. Don’t forget, these are life saving devices that are installed in your home, but they will only work if they are properly maintained!
Schedule a professional furnace inspection. This will ensure that your furnace is working as efficiently as possible, and that there are no major safety issues with it.
Have your chimney professionally cleaned. This is especially important if you use your fireplace regularly. When soot and other debris builds up inside your chimney, you could be facing a major fire hazard.
Replace the filters in your heater and air conditioner. This should be done several times a year in order to ensure maximum efficiency from these units, but at the very least change them out when you set your clocks forward.
Drain your hot water heater. This can prevent sediment buildup and can help prevent other hot water heater issues. For other plumbing maintenance services you should call your local professional plumber.

Keeping up with your annual home maintenance can cut down on your utility bills, as well as save you money in costly repairs. Don’t forget to set your clocks forward one hour before you go to bed this Saturday, March 11, 2016! For any plumbing maintenance issues, contact us at (678) 822-7095!

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6 Spring Home Maintenance Tips

Its finally March which means that spring is just around the corner! We’ve made it through most of the harsh winter weather and can finally start looking forward to warmer temperatures, sunshine, and lots of time outdoors. Before it gets too hot outside, there are some maintenance items that you should take care of around your home. Remember, your home is just like your car- the better you maintain it, the more efficiently it will run.

Here are 6 spring home maintenance tips to keep your house running smoothly-

Check your gutters. Spring is notorious for bringing lots of rain. If your gutters are full and the rainwater can’t drain properly, you risk damage to your siding or to your lawn.
Check the caulking around your windows and re-caulk them if necessary. This is an important step to do in the fall before winter comes, but its also an important maintenance item that should be done in the spring as well. A tight seal around your windows can keep cool air in during the summer, lowering your utility bill.
Check the soil around the base of your home. Make sure the soil around the base of your home is built up so that rain water runs away from your home. If necessary, add extra soil to the base of your home. Allowing rainwater to pool around your home’s foundation can compromise the structural integrity of your home.
Check your air conditioning unit. Make sure your AC unit is clean or have a professional come out for a routine maintenance visit. Keeping your AC unit maintained will help prevent you from needing a whole new unit.
Check your attic! Winter is prime time for rodents such as mice, rats, and squirrels to look for warm shelter. Unfortunately, this can sometimes be your attic. Look through your attic for signs of chewing or holes. You should also look for any signs of mold that may have come from melting snow or rain during the winter.
Check your roof. You can do a preliminary check of your roof on your own. If you see anything concerning such as loose shingles or warped spots, call a professional roofer.

Keeping up with your home’s maintenance can save you money on utility bills and in future repairs. Follow Masterflo Plumbing’s 6 spring home maintenance tips to keep your home in great shape! For any plumbing maintenance issues don’t forget to contact the trusted professionals at Masterflo Plumbing!

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Kitchen Appliance Maintenance

Earlier this week we talked about some easy yearly home maintenance tips. Today we’re going to focus in on kitchen appliance maintenance! Before spring comes and the warm, sunny days are here to stay, get caught up on your home maintenance items indoors! Once spring comes, you’ll be able to enjoy the outdoors and be able to rest assured that your home is in excellent condition and is running in top shape.

Refrigerator

Check the gasket on your refrigerator to ensure that it is sealing properly. Place a dollar bill between the gasket and the door. Once the door is closed, you should be able to pull the dollar bill out, but there should be tension.
Check the interior shelves for cracks or to see if they are ill fitting. If they are cracked or shaky, replace them to avoid a collapse inside your fridge.
Clean the back panel of your refrigerator and the coils.

Dishwasher

Check the door gasket for any water leaks while a cycle is running.
Make sure to rinse large scraps of food off your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher to prevent clogs and smells.
Load your dishwasher carefully with larger items around the exterior of the dishwasher so that you don’t block the spray arm.
Put knives with the blade down. For other utensils, put the handles down for maximum cleaning.
Check the spray arm to make sure there are no clogs in the tiny holes.

Stove and Oven

Clean your drip pans periodically to prevent food buildup from causing a fire. If your drip pans are extra dirty, you can replace them.
Clean the interior of your oven to prevent food buildup on the bottom of your oven.
You can use a mixture of baking soda and water to clean your drip pans, as well as the inside of your oven.

These easy kitchen appliance maintenance tips can keep your kitchen running more efficiently and can greatly extend the life of your kitchen appliances. When performing your kitchen appliance maintenance tasks, if you notice a leak or any other plumbing issues, make sure to call the trusted experts at Masterflo Plumbing! (678) 822-7095! Our professional plumbers have the skills and experience necessary to get the job done right the first time!

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10 Yearly Home Maintenance Tips

We all know that our cars need regular maintenance to keep running smoothly and efficiently, and our homes do, too. If you do some regular maintenance items each year, you can help prevent damage and stave off costly repairs. You’ll also keep your home running in tip top shape. Your home provides comfort, safety, and security for your family. Keeping it running well should be a top priority for you.

Here are 10 (easy) yearly home maintenance tips:

Replace your furnace filters. This should be done 3-4 times each year to help reduce dust and allergens in your home and keep your furnace running more efficiently.
Clean the condenser coils behind your refrigerator. This should be done once a year. It can be done easily with a vacuum cleaner. Not only will it keep your fridge running efficiently, it can also reduce your risk of a fire hazard.
Replace the batteries in your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector yearly. This is an easy tip and is vital to the safety of you and your family.
Check your water heater for leaks, cracks, or rust. Many problems with your hot water heater can be repaired if they are detected early enough. If left to fester, you will have to replace your entire unit.
Check your furnace for any signs of wear or rust. Furnaces can also be repaired if problems are detected early enough at a fraction of the cost of replacing your entire unit.
Clean your oven. Most ovens are self cleaning. Cleaning your oven can help eliminate obnoxious odors while you cook and can lower your risk of a fire hazard.
Check your toilets and faucets for signs of a leak. Leaks can cause major damage to the integrity of your home and your home’s foundation if they are not caught and repaired.
Clean your gutters. Depending on the amount of surrounding foliage and the area in which you live, this should be done at least once a year and as many as 4-5 times per year!
Have your chimney professionally cleaned. This is particularly important if you plan to use your fireplace during the winter. Using your fireplace can be a huge fire hazard if your flue has not been cleaned out.
Check your flashlight for batteries. Even if you don’t see any major natural disasters that affect the power where you live, power outages are common and can occur anywhere. Don’t get caught in the dark!

Remember to follow these 10 year home maintenance tips to keep your home safe and running efficiently for you and your family. For help with any plumbing maintenance around your home, don’t forget to call the trusted professionals at Masterflo Plumbing. Contact us at (678) 822-7095 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

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