Tips to Prevent Costly Repairs

If this is the first time in your life you have owned a home, you may be shocked at the price of small repairs that undoubtedly crop up over the lifetime of your house. In the past, perhaps you were a renter, and therefore had no qualms calling in the most trivial of repairs (after all, you weren’t paying for it). Now that you are responsible for footing the bill, however, you may not be so quick to call in a repairman for something you can probably inspect yourself. Below, we have outlined areas you can check yourself, and other areas where you probably need to call someone STAT.

It’s Electrifyin’!

Electrical issues can be some of the costliest to repair with the least amount of work. Your electrician may only have to unplug and plug something in, or flip a switch, and yet you get to pay upwards of $100 for the visit. Why pay that much for something you can probably inspect yourself? For example, if your fridge is warm, it could be a serious issue, or it could be as simple as a temperature dial knocked out of place. Make sure it’s on the right temperature before picking up the phone. Also check compartment vents in the fridge and freezer are not blocked by containers, as this is where the cold air supply flows into the unit.

Outlets that suddenly lack power can also (sometimes) be solved simply. Multiple rooms (like bathrooms) can be connected to a single GFCI, often in another room entirely. GFCIs are the red buttons in the middle of some outlets. Try finding that button and push it to reset it. If that’s the problem, the other outlets should come back on. Another good test is plugging something else into the outlet, to make sure the problem is the outlet and not the hair dryer or other device. A third solution is checking the breaker. A tripped circuit breaker will be the switch that points in the opposite direction of the others. If it’s in the middle, push it to off and then back to on.

A major concern with electrical issues is the possibility of fire. One of the most common causes of home fires, though, is lint buildup in a dryer. In addition to cleaning the lint trap after each use, be sure to clean inside the dryer cabinet and vent duct once a year. If your dryer has a gas valve, shut it off. Then, unplug the unit and remove the access panel. Any lint buildup should be immediately apparent. Vacuum it up, and replace the access panel. To clean the vent duct, disconnect it from the dryer and feed a vent brush into it from the outside.

Do the Swim

Water issues, too, can be incredibly costly to repair, but unlike electrical, there is usually no quick way to advert the crisis. If you know there’s a water problem, the damage has most likely been done. The key is mitigating the damage before it gets too extreme. One example is mold. If you see even the slightest indication of mold, especially around pipes or fixtures, you probably have a leak somewhere. Finding the “where” can be harder than it sounds. If mold is on the ceiling, the roof is probably the culprit, but elsewhere, it could be some distance from the moldy spot. Water is, well, fluid, and can move in any direction. This includes up, if the material is drywall. Try to find the leak as quickly as possible and then have it repaired to minimize worsening damage.

Water heater leaks also need to be taken care of promptly. Sometimes a puddle near the water heater is from the drain or the relief valve. These are easy to replace and don’t pose much of an issue overall. Leaks from the tank, though, are another story. These puddles could indicate an impending rupture of the tank, which will instantly flood your home. This rupture is caused by a crack in the glass lining of the tank allowing steel to rust away from the inside. The bigger the puddle, the less time you have, but why gamble at all? If your water heater tank leaks, replace it. Sometimes it’s best to be preventative and replace it even when there isn’t an apparent leak. Water heaters typically last 10-15 years. Small repairs tend to cost up to 30 percent of the cost to replace it. While a little repair would make sense for a water heater that’s, say, five years old, replacement might be a more fiscally-savvy choice after the age of eight years.

As mentioned above, flooding can go from a few drops on the ground to indoor swimming pool in the blink of an eye. If you happen to be home when it occurs, you can sometimes limit the damage. If you are out of town, though, you will not like the surprise when you get home. Prevent this by turning off the main water valve before you leave for extended periods of time. It may be located indoors or outside, depending on your home. Know how to shut it off in an emergency, and keep an eye on it throughout the year; mineral deposits can prevent it from closing when you need it most. To shut off a standard valve, turn the handle clockwise. To shut off a ball-type valve, crank the lever one-quarter turn.

Though much smaller than “flooding” on the water-related dilemma scale, a toilet that won’t stop running can mean big water bills. It is also wasteful, and the sound of the toilet constantly filling itself can be annoying, to say the least. The most common cause of this problem is a worn flapper. This flapper, found in the toilet tank, can be tested by pressing on it lightly with a ruler or even your own gloved hand. If the water stops running, you have confirmed the flapper is the culprit. Mineral deposits may have built up around the rim of the hole it covers. You can feel this by running your finger along the edge. If so, scrub them away with an abrasive sponge. If there are no deposits, or if scrubbing does not help, replace the flapper.

Claim and Fortune

These quick checks frequently can solve minor homeowner woes, but when the problem is more serious or these solutions do not remedy the issue, it is time to bring in a professional. Some of these repairs can be costly, so how do you know when to file an insurance claim, versus just paying out of pocket? Typically, anything worth less than $1,000 beyond your deductible is not worth filing because it will ultimately raise your premium. The cost to repair might be less than those increased rates.

At GCD, we know things happen and repairs will be necessary in any home. We offer a one-year warranty on each and every one of our homes. It covers a number of matters, but employing the tips above can resolve speedy, minor issues or prevent bigger disasters. If you have questions about your GCD warranty, please reach out to us. We are here for you!