The cost to maintain a home has risen sharply over the past few years. On average, homeowners are paying $1,180 a month in hidden home maintenance costs, according to research from Zillow and Thumbtack. These increases are due in part to the rise in material costs as well as labor shortages across the trades.
There are ways to hedge against these price increases, however. The key is to be proactive. Preventative maintenance can help keep systems and building materials functioning effectively, so as to avoid larger issues from occurring when they fail. The Duffy Home Solutions Greenwich property management program offers a range of preventative maintenance solutions to homeowners across Greenwich, CT. Hear are a few of them:
One of the preventative maintenance tasks that our Greenwich property management team provides is seasonal roof and window inspections. Careful review of these surfaces will help identify any missing or damages shingles or flashing, rot on windows and trim, and any other issues that could allow water to enter the house. Since many of these surfaces are out of site, inspections are key to accessing high and out of reach areas.
The idea is to fix problems before they become bigger issues. For example, cracked flashing, if left unattended, can allow water to enter the house. Once this happens, mold can grow and wood can rot. And since water issues are often out of site, behind walls, or in the eves, catching issues is critical.
Servicing generators and HVAC equipment on a yearly basis (once for heat and once for AC) provides our Greenwich property management crew the opportunity to inspect the system closely. By doing so we can help identify worn out parts that may need to be replaced to avoid the system from breaking down and causing larger issues. In addition, tasks like cleaning the evaporator coils, changing out the filters, and clearing blocked drain lines will help the equipment run at peak efficiency.
When basement flooding occurs it’s important that your sump pump is functioning properly. Regular inspections can help identify issues to ensure that the equipment is always in proper working order. If the sump pump was to fail, the cost and inconvenience of water damage to the home could become a major problem.
Although cost is a factor when it comes to fire events, the real concern here is safety. A single spark from the heating element can ignite lint that’s built up inside of a dryer vent. According to the United States Fire Administration (USFA), dryer fires are responsible for approximately 15,600 structure fires, 400 injuries and 15 deaths annually. Furthermore, dryer fires are responsible for over $100 million in property losses each year. The Duffy Home Solutions Greenwich property management team deals with dryer vent issues regularly. Having them cleaned is a critical part of any preventative home maintenance plan.
Smoke detectors do their job well; however, they will not perform their critical duty if they are not in working order. 3 out of 5 residential fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarm, or smoke alarms that fail to operate, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Many of us don’t think about them. As a result, years can go by without testing or replacing smoke detectors.
As part of our Greenwich Property Management program, we check fire and carbon monoxide detectors regularly to ensure they are functioning properly. And we will replace the equipment when needed. Alarm sensors can wear out and so it is recommended that they be replaced every 10 years, and checked at least once per year.
Managing the numerous trades required to handle preventative maintenance tasks is often a time consuming and frustrating process. This is why Greenwich homeowners rely on Duffy Home Solutions Greenwich property management program. We handle all of your preventative maintenance requirements. Having one contact for all of these tasks not only makes life easier, it can also help save you from unexpected costs in the future.
Summer is unofficially here and that means taking dips in the pool, grilling and entertaining on the patio, and relaxing outside while the kids play (okay that last one is wishful thinking). Before you can do all of that, it’s likely there are a few chores required to get your outdoor spaces fully ready for the season. Some might include power washing the patio, setting up outdoor furniture and touching up exterior paint. For many of our Greenwich property management clients this work has already been completed. Let’s take a look at some of the outdoor home maintenance tasks that the Duffy Home Solutions Property management team has been hard at work at.
The winter season can take a toll on the exterior of the home. Our Greenwich Property Management Team conducts a thorough inspection of the exterior to determine if paint needs to be touched up and/or there is rotting wood that may need to be addressed. Sanding chipped and weathered paint, priming and repainting can make trouble spots as good as new, and keep the overall paint job lasting longer.
Mildew, mold, pollen and dirt can accumulate over the winter on decks and stone work. Cleaning these surfaces with a power washer is an effective outdoor home maintenance task that brings bluestone, driveways, and decking back to life. This is a task that requires some equipment knowledge. Improper use of power washers can actually damage surfaces. Our Greenwich Property Management team understands the pressure setting requirements, as they vary between different types of wood and stone.
If your outdoor furniture and/or cushions are stowed away for the off season, our Greenwich Property Management team brings everything out, arranges the furniture and cleans and freshens up the cushions as needed. We’ll take care when cleaning to ensure that proper solutions and methods are used depending on the material. Wood, metal, plastic and/or fabric often require different cleaning products and methods.
The summer months bring thunderstorms that can lead to downed trees and power outages. Many of our Greenwich Property Management clients are enrolled in regular generator preventative maintenance. Regular generator maintenance can help ensure that your equipment will fire up when needed, help extend the life of the equipment, and help the generator function at peak efficiency.
Generator manufacturers recommend a preventative maintenance checkup at least once per year. Servicing typically incudes load bank testing (to ensure the equipment will fire up when called on), changing the oil and filters, inspecting the wiring and electrical system, and inspecting the air intake system, among other items.
As the peak spring pollen season winds down, now is a good time to have your windows cleaned by a home maintenance service. Clean windows not only make the house look nice; they also have a range of other benefits. Window cleaning can remove debris to keep track windows sliding effectively. Regular cleaning can also make each appointment less time consuming. And the job can double as an inspection opportunity to identify any issues that might be occurring– particularly on upper windows.
When you have home equipment that lays dormant for several months throughout the year it’s always a good idea to have it inspected for proper functionality when it’s time to put the system back into use. Our Greenwich Property Management team conducts thorough lawn and garden sprinkler system inspections and will repair any issues. We’ll check for clogged or broken sprinkler heads and leaking sprinkler lines. We’ll also analyze the watering pattern to ensure that it is functioning at peak efficiency, among other tasks.
When the exterior of your property is well cared for by home maintenance professionals it provides peace of mind and allows you and your family to get the most out of your deck, patio, pool, and lawn. The Greenwich property management team at Duffy Home Solutions provides one source for all of your home exterior, as well as interior, maintenance needs. Please reach out to discuss how our program works in detail.
In this installment of The Greenwich Property Management Solution, we are discussing HVAC duct cleaning. Air quality continues to be an issue on the minds of homeowners, and for good reason. Poor air quality can lead to allergies, headaches, nausea and other health issues. Our team of Greenwich home maintenance professionals field a lot of requests for duct cleaning. Let’s take a look at some of the more common reasons why cleaning your duct work is important.
At Duffy Home Solutions our Greenwich Property Management team recently helped a Greenwich homeowner with a mold issue in their ducts. The homeowners had closed the vents in two of the rooms to reduce the cold air output in those particular spaces. Unbeknownst to the homeowner, closing the vents had caused condensation to form in the duct work due to the imbalance of temperature between the duct work and the rooms, and the inability for moisture to be released.
In this case our team needed to conduct a full remediation and cleaning to safely remove the mold. If you suspect there could be a mold issue in your ductwork, contact our Greenwich Property Management team. Mold can often be mistaken for dust or dirt upon visual inspection. As a result, our team can closely inspect the inside of the ductwork and take samples for testing if needed.
Regular HVAC duct cleaning can help ensure that your air remains clean throughout the year. In addition to duct cleaning there are a few steps that can be taken to help reduce pollutants from being spread throughout the house. Changing HVAC filters, and using a high-quality filter, is one. Other steps include maintaining low humidity throughout the house, keeping dust at bay with regular house cleaning, and keeping your pets groomed and clean.
Air filter changes are typically part of a regular HVAC preventative maintenance program; however, this type of service occurs only once or twice per year. Optimally you should change out your HVAC filters once every three months. Our clients really appreciate having our Greenwich property management team to help with this type of project.
Cleaning your HVAC ducts can help improve the airflow of the system. Over time dust, pet dander and hair, and debris can build up inside of the duct work. When this happens the flow of warm or cool air can be restricted. This can affect the efficiency of the system and can cause the equipment to work harder. When the system is strained it can lead to premature equipment failure.
The aforementioned dust, pet hair and other debris can also harbor moisture when it becomes trapped in the ductwork. This is a recipe for mold growth. Rooms with higher humidity, such as bathrooms, are prime targets for this type of issue. Duct cleaning by the Duffy Home Solutions property management team can remove mold spores that lead to mold growth.
The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) recommends cleaning residential HVAC air ducts every three to five years. If you have pets that shed frequently, or if you have allergy sufferers in the house, it may be a good idea to have it done more frequently. And you’ll want to consider a cleaning if you recently completed a home renovation, as dust from construction will be a consideration.
Maintaining the quality of the air inside your home is important to the health of you and your family. At Duffy Home Solutions our Greenwich property management team is equipped to provide thorough, attentive duct cleaning services across Greenwich. Our experienced crew will help ensure that the air in your home remains clean day in and day out.
At Duffy Home Solutions our Greenwich Property Management team deals with a wide range of home maintenance issues across Greenwich, CT. What are some of the most pressing issues that homeowners are facing these days? We’ve been getting a lot of calls regarding clogged drains in the kitchen and bathroom. Our Operations Manager John Duffy Jr. discusses some of the leading causes and solutions for clogged drains.
John JR: There are a fairly wide range of issues that can lead to a clogged drain in the kitchen, bathroom or in the main water or sewer lines. A few of the more common causes include:
Hair and soap (sometimes combined) are leading causes of clogged pipes in the bathroom. This is typically an easy fix for our Greenwich property management team. Clogs can occur when animal fat derivatives from bar soap mixes with minerals to cause build up. Sometimes the soap deposits on their own are enough to slow the flow of water. More significant issues, however, typically occur when soap residue combines with hair. This can lead to clogs severe enough to virtually stop the flow of water.
Sometimes, if the issue is occurring towards the top of the drain, we can remove the top portion of the stopper assembly and reach the hair with needle nose plyers to remove the blockage. Other times, if the hair is further down the drain, we will use a snake to remove the clog.
We advise our Greenwich property management clients to always wipe up loose hairs in and around the sink, and avoid cleaning hair brushes over the sink.
Deposits from calcium, magnesium and metallic elements in the water can build up on the inside of pipes and eventually reduce the flow. This is a natural occurrence caused by hard water that contains dissolved mineral compounds. In addition to pipe scale issues, hard water can also lead to buildup on the inside of appliances and on the surface of sinks, showers and faucets.
Our Greenwich property management team will typically treat pipe scale by recommending the installation of a water softener system. Softeners consist of a tank that is connected to the main water line of the home. Inside the tank, thousands of resin beads attract and capture the mineral and metallic elements, allowing the soft water to pass through.
Tree roots can cause severe drainage issues to water or sewer main lines. Old pipes can eventually deteriorate, allowing roots to burrow into the pipe and block flow. The roots seek out water and waste in the lines. Gurgling sounds in your pipes can be an early sign of a potential root problem.
The first step in diagnosing a tree root issue is to have your Greenwich Property Management plumbing professional scan the drain with a camera. Once the issue has been identified, there are a range of potential solutions. Some include removing roots using a snake, administering chemical root killers, and fixing any visible leaks that could lead to problems down the road. This is typically an issue that is best handled by home maintenance professionals.
Unfortunately, paper towels, dental floss and other trash items do make their way into drains. Since these items do not break down, they can cause significant clogs in main drain lines and septic systems. They can even lead to issues for public sewer works. Even wipes that are labeled as “flushable” should typically not be flushed. They just don’t break down enough for certain systems.
It’s important to note that the only items that should be flushed, or put down the drain, are human waste and toilet paper. Toilet paper is specially designed to completely break down. If an issue does occur within the pipes, the drain will be snaked to remove the clog.
Clogged drains can be a disruption and can sometimes lead to costly issues. If you’re experiencing slow water flow, or a stoppage, call the Greenwich property management team at Duffy Home Solutions. Our Greenwich, CT plumbers can diagnose and fix issues large and small.
Some home maintenance projects are easily handled by homeowners, but others require the experience and skills of a trained professional. At Duffy Home Solutions our Greenwich Property Management team consists of home maintenance journeymen. We also have relationships with some of the best service professionals in Greenwich. They’ll be the first to tell you that certain jobs are better left to the pros. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
Greenwich, CT residents are directly affected by well and irrigation issues. The back country area of town has a high concentration of ledge rock. As a result, well water can be sparce. This makes it hard to irrigate gardens, fill pools, and it can even affect the water supply to indoor and outdoor faucets.
This is the type of job that requires Greenwich Property Management professionals. Our team has solved these types of problems across town. We bring in well and irrigation system specialists that can identify the location and depths of well water and we work together to develop a plan to solve the issue.
Generators and HVAC systems require annual maintenance to remain at peak efficiency. Regularly scheduled maintenance can also head off issues before they become bigger, more expensive repairs. And if an issue does arise, the repair work is typically not an appropriate job for a homeowner. When it comes to maintaining and repairing a generator or HVAC system, it’s important to bring in a trained and licensed Greenwich Property Management professional to properly diagnose and fix the problem.
The water table can be high for properties close to the shore in Greenwich, CT. Depending on the situation, the installation of a sump pump may be sufficient to solve water in the basement. For more serious cases, exterior drainage work may be required. In these instances, the water may need to be redirected away from the house. This can be accomplished with re-grading and potentially adding curtain drains, trench drains and/or a dry well.
Excavation, drainage and sump pump installation and servicing require experience, technical know-how and sometimes heavy equipment. The Duffy Home Solutions Greenwich Property Management team is equipped to handle these types of jobs. Our team can provide a full assessment of your water issue and develop a plan to solve the problem.
Although the Duffy Home Solutions Greenwich Property Management team handles small jobs, such as powerwashing and cleaning outdoor furniture, homeowners are really glad to have us when a major system malfunctions – such as a plumbing or electrical issue. Although not all of these jobs are big, they almost always require the skill of an experienced, licensed trade person.
Plumbing problems can range from leaky faucets to burst pipes. Low water pressure, water heater beakdowns and leaking toilets are also common issues that our Greenwich Property Management team faces. These are some of the most pressing home maintenance issues since water leaks can lead to wood rot and mold over time.
It goes without saying that electrical work can be dangerous. Let’s leave this one to the Property Management pros. Common electrical issues that homeowners face include overloaded circuits, surges or dips in the power, and outlets that are not functioning. Electrical needs, of course, aren’t always a result of an issue. Our Greenwich Property Management team helps homeowners with new indoor and outdoor lighting installation, replacement of lighting fixtures, and even changing of lightbulbs.
Roof issues can be stressful. They often lead to leaks and require attention right away. Some issues, however, can go unnoticed. When they do, they can lead to serious damage. Regular roof inspections can help identify issues before they become bigger problems. Storm and tree damage, ice build-up, and temperature fluctuations can all lead to cracked slate, wood or asphalt roofing. And over time these materials can simply degrade. When this occurs, it can lead to leaks in locations that you may not be aware of.
When it comes to these bigger jobs (and some smaller jobs too) it’s always good to have a local professional on hand. The challenge that we often see, however, is that many of these maintenance needs require a separate trade or pro to handle the job. Greenwich Property Management services are designed to provide Greenwich, CT homeowners one source for all of your home maintenance needs. When you’re a Duffy Home Solutions Property Management customer you’ll have one contact to handle it all.
When identifying a company to care for your home maintenance needs, location counts. For Greenwich, CT residents, hiring a Greenwich property management company can yield a range of benefits. Let’s take a look at why going hyper local makes sense when you’re in need of HVAC, plumbing or appliance repair, or even more simple home upkeep services.
Property management companies use a range of different terms to define the business including property maintenance company, home maintenance company, and home management company. At Duffy Home Solutions our Greenwich Property Management services provide one source for all home upkeep, maintenance and repairs – small or large. Types of services can range from replacing lightbulbs and cleaning outdoor furniture to diagnosing and repairing HVAC and plumbing systems.
Duffy Home Solutions’ Greenwich Property Management team is located in Greenwich, CT and has been since 1988. We only serve homeowners in town. As a result, we know the area very well, and the property maintenance challenges that are specific to the town.
Greenwich is broken up into three general zones that include the waterfront, in town, and back country. Let’s take a look at the unique property maintenance needs of the waterfront and back country.
The position of Greenwich along the coast means that the water table is high. This can result in a range of issues for homes that are on or close to the water. Basement flooding as well as lawn and driveway flooding can lead to major issues. Our Greenwich Property Management team has done extensive work on exterior drainage, sump pump installment and repair, and even excavation to move water away from the house when water levels rise.
Another issue that waterfront homes in Greenwich face is rapid wear and tear on home exteriors. The salt air and heavy winds can cause maintenance issues that include siding, door and window rot and corrosion, roof shingle and flashing damage, and downed trees. Getting ahead of these issues can help avoid further damage down the line. And having a local maintenance provider that understands the area intimately can be key to properly diagnosing issues and effectively repairing them.
One of the most significant issues that Greenwich homeowners face when living in the back country is sparsity of underground water. Because the landscape in this section of town is riddled with ledge rock, plentiful well water can be an issue. Warm summer months can lead to dry springs.
Our Greenwich Property Management team has helped homeowners that have simply run out of water when trying to balance household needs with irrigation. We have tricks to help the property produce more water. And we’ve worked closely with local irrigation companies to help homeowners implement irrigation strategies so they do not run out of water for the house or plantings.
Another key benefit to having a local home maintenance solution in town is the ability to respond to issues quickly and efficiently. Our office is only minutes away from our property management clients. When you need us, we’ll be there.
Because The Duffy Home Solutions Greenwich Property Management team is familiar with the specific issues of the town, we not only help fix maintenance problems, but we can also help provide solutions to mitigate issues in the future. Our in-house team of licensed and insured maintenance journeyman, combined with our longstanding relationships with Greenwich based subs, allows us to provide comprehensive service to homeowners specifically in Greenwich.
Contact Duffy Home Solutions for more information about Property Management Services.
