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When springtime begins to warm and brighten the days, many home dwellers make the time for a thorough spring cleaning. But the checklist for getting things clean in the house should also extend to include household maintenance, which can help prevent the need for services.
Trimming the bushes and trees, changing the air conditioner’s filter, checking electrical receptacles for damage and keeping certain foods out of the garbage disposal are some things people can do to prolong calls for service repairs or improvements.
In Fallbrook’s tight-knit community, the selection of professionals able to help with home maintenance isn’t just long, it’s filled with professionals that have lived in the Fallbrook community for years and believe in being a strong community player. This makes it easier to ask neighbors, business associates and friends who they recommend, as chances are, they personally know their plumber, electrician or housekeeper.
The home care specialists in this section are able to offer their opinions on what should be done as part of the spring cleaning and maintenance process.
When it’s the time of year where ants line up to become houseguests, Larry Banfield, owner of South County Pest Control, said to be sure trees and shrubs are away from the house, frequently rake any leaves and avoid using too much bird seed.
Banfield’s pest control business has been serving Fallbrook for 15 years, and he said ants are a big problem all over Southern California.
Keeping foliage away from the house can help keep the ants out.
“When we get a homeowner with an ongoing problem, in most cases, there’s a tree or something touching the fence line, and the tree touches the house.”
To keep the cool air blowing inside during the summer, Jim Vampola, owner of Affordable Air Conditioning & Heating, recommends replacing the air conditioner filter each May, and then performing a simple inspection to see if the unit is properly working.
There are two copper pipes that connect the air conditioner to the house, and Vampola said that one pipe is the size of a thumb and the other about the size of a pinky finger. He said that after running the condensing unit for 15 minutes, the pipe that’s the size of a thumb should be sweaty and wet.
“If it’s frosty, that’s bad,” he said, and added that it could mean the unit is in need of Freon. “If it’s sweaty after 15 minutes, it’s likely working,” he said. He also said the pipe should stay wet the entire time the air conditioner is running.
On the list of inspections, don’t forget to check the electrical outlets that are on nearly every wall in the house, and look for signs of a problem or potential problem.
Preventative maintenance on electrical receptacles can save thousands, according to electrician Jason Ewig, owner of Custom Touch Electric.
He said if the connection on a receptacle isn’t tight anymore or there is black film around the electrical devices, it’s time for a professional eye to evaluate the problem.
Another sign that it’s time for service is if a particular light or lights are dimming or flickering, he said.
To keep a healthy flow through the garbage disposal, Kathy Rivas, manager of All Valley Rooter & Plumbing, said that there are certain foods people should not be putting down the disposal.
“No potato peelings, celery or carrot peelings (should go into the disposal),” she said. One food that many people might not know to avoid washing down the kitchen sink is rice.
Rivas said rice works just like paste and will clog up the disposal.
To clean the blades on a disposal, she recommends blending ice, lemon, Comet and any kitchen dish liquid that is also a degreaser soap.
Fallbrook’s community is filled with small businesses that are able to give you the highest quality service possible. While larger, out-of-town companies may offer sales and discounts to entice homeowners into hiring them, there is no comparison to hiring a professional that can offer you great service and support from your own community.
Andrea Verdin contributed to this article.
| Sourcebook 2011 Feature Story | Next > |