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.
Spring is here and with it comes a laundry list of spring cleaning and home maintenance tasks. The Greenwich Home Management property management team in Greenwich, CT has put together a checklist of essential to-dos. These tips will help ensure your property is looking its best and help you keep your equipment running efficiently for the months to come. Homeowners can tackle some of these tasks, however, some are best handled by a home maintenance professional.
The following provides more information on some of the key tasks that demand attention:
Gutters can trap leaves and debris over the winter – even if they were cleaned in the fall. Cleaning your gutters in the spring helps to ensure water is always directed away from the house. Clogged gutters can lead to water backup that can be pushed under shingles and cause serious moisture issues that lead to rot and mold. This is a task that Greenwich, CT homeowners often look to Greenwich Home Management to handle. It requires high ladder work. For this reason gutter cleaning is often best handled by a pro.
April and May are typically some of the wettest months of the year. Spring rains can be a scary time for Greenwich homeowners that have had wet basement issues in the past. If you have a sump pump, March and early April are the time to have the equipment inspected to ensure everything is working properly. Inspections can also help expand the lifespan of the pump.
If you have water issues in the basement, but don’t have a sump pump, reach out to Greenwich Home Management to discuss how to eliminate the wet basement once and for all. We can provide a full assessment and determine the cause of the issue. We may recommend installing new drainage, or consider the value of adding a sump pump to remove and water.
The winter months are harsh on home exteriors. Springtime is typically when we see signs of peeling paint. If you do see paint flaking or fading, it’s always a good idea to get ahead of it. Sumer heat can exacerbate the issue. Once wood is exposed to moisture it starts becoming susceptible to rot. This is when having a property management professional like Greenwich Home Management on your side can pay off. We can handle any and all home maintenance tasks, and our master painters can handle the inspection and get the job done.
Lint can build up over time inside dryer vent tubes. When this happens it becomes a fire hazard. Lint is extremely flammable. Keeping the dryer vent clean also helps the machine work at peak efficiently. When clogged, the unit has to work harder to push air out. This uses more energy and causes more ware and tear on the equipment.
Clogged refrigerator coils are not necessarily a fire hazard, but they can affect the efficiency and function of a fridge. When the coils are clogged it can be hard for them to release heat efficiently. The compressor then works harder. This causes stress to the unit which can shorten its lifespan, and it will use more energy.
The Greenwich Home Management property management team vacuums dirt and dust from refrigerator coils. For dryer vents, the crew uses a special brush with a long extension. Both jobs are relatively easy, however it can be nice to have someone handle these types of projects for you.
The winter weather leaves deck, patio, driveway and siding surfaces dirty and covered with debris. Power washing, otherwise known as pressure washing, is an excellent way to clean these surfaces in the spring. Pressure washing, however, requires equipment and knowledge of technique. Improper or overly aggressive use of the machine can result in damaged surfaces. The pressure setting should be in line with the type of surface that is being washed. Some machines can put a hole through asphalt. When done properly, however, pressure washing can make surfaces look like new.
Spring is a great time of year. Kick it off with a thorough spring cleaning and maintenance plan. Having the property ready for outdoor fun with the family, and ensuring your mechanical systems are in top working order, will help ensure that you can relax and enjoy your home for the months to come. The Greenwich Home Management property management team will be busy helping Greenwich households with their checklists. Please reach out to us if you would like help getting your home ready for the season.
Managing a home in Greenwich, CT can almost be a full time job. Greenwich property management tasks such as power washing the patio, painting the house, or putting away patio furniture are hard to ignore, but there are several home maintenance needs that do. At Duffy Home Solutions our Greenwich property management team has put together a list of tasks that should be done on a regular basis to keep your appliances, mechanical equipment and home working efficiently and effectively.
Enrolling in our property management program can ensure these items are taken care of for you. Following are a few key home maintenance initiatives to keep an eye on.
Tree limbs can cause a lot of damage if they fall on the house, auxiliary buildings, or other plantings or trees. And overgrown shrubs that are too close to the house can inhibit airflow and lead to mold and/or rot on siding. The property management team at Greenwich Home Management can inspect the entire property at least once per year to determine if any trees need to be trimmed or plantings need to be trimmed or moved.
Some homeowners don’t realize that inspecting and cleaning the HVAC system is critical to helping mechanical equipment operate at peak efficiency. In addition, this yearly home maintenance task can help equipment last longer. And finding and fixing minor issues can help avoid larger breakdowns before they become bigger, more expensive problems. AC systems should be inspected and cleaned once per year, around May. Heating system yearly maintenance should be completed around October.
Putting this task off could reduce the life span of your refrigerator. Condenser coils run across the bottom or back of the unit. Over time they collect dust and pet hair. This clogs the vents and limits airflow. As a result the unit has to work harder to maintain the proper temperature. The fridge will then use more energy and more strain will be put on the mechanical components. Cleaning refrigerator coils is the type of chore that homeowners often avoid. That’s where Duffy Home Solutions Greenwich property management services come in. Tasks like this can be part of your regular, ongoing home maintenance plan.
One of the leading causes of hot water heater failure is not draining the tank at least once per year. Sediment can settle at the bottom of the tank. When left in, the sediment can corrode the tank and cause it to leak. When the tank is full of sediment the equipment also has to work harder. This puts strain on the system that can reduce the life span of the unit.
Hot water heaters have a sacrificial anode rod inside the tank. It works by attracting corrosive elements away from other parts of the tank. The anode rod should be inspected regularly and replaced once it becomes significantly deteriorated. The Duffy Home Solutions Greenwich property management team recommends inspecting hot water heaters once per year. During the inspecting we drain the tank and inspect the anode rod.
There’s nothing like relaxing in front of the fire on a cold winter day. Avoiding chimney cleaning, however, could result in a serious safety issue. Over time wood burning fires deposit soot and creosote inside the lining of the chimney. These elements are highly flammable. Too much buildup could cause a chimney fire. We recommend cleaning the chimney once per year.
Most know to clean the dryer lint trap after each run. This allows airflow to effectively move through the dryer. The equipment has to work harder and takes longer to dry clothes when clogged. The same rule applies to the vent pipe itself. Lint can build up inside the pipe. This restricts airflow as it works to push air out. More importantly, a dryer vent full of lint can be a serious safety issue. Lint is extremely flammable and can ignite while the machine is running. The Duffy Home Solutions Greenwich property management team cleans dryer vents by using special brushes with a long extension.
Making sure your home is properly maintained will help the investments that you make last longer, and keep things running more efficiently. Some homeowners keep lists of essential home maintenance tasks to check off throughout the year. For those that would rather spend their free time being with family and friends, Duffy Home Solutions offers full service property management services for Greenwich Homeowners. We provide one point of contact for all of your home maintenance needs.
The spring and summer seasons are upon us. This means finally being able to enjoy your outdoor spaces. The Greenwich, CT area is seeing warm weather and it’s time to relax on the patio or take a dip in the pool. But before you mix that margarita, you’ll want to make sure your maintenance tasks are taken care of. At Greenwich Home Management our residential property management team is busy power washing patios, repairing pool surfaces and cleaning gutters, among other home maintenance tasks. Here are a few items that typically require attention this time of year.
Teak, wickerand metal outdoor furniture gets dingy with mildew and dirt over the winter. Take care when washing these surfaces. A mild cleaner and scrub brush will be all that’s needed to clean them properly. Dish soap and water is typically sufficient, however if you have stubborn residue you can use environmentally friendly cleaners that can be purchased at a garden center. Scrub gently at first and increase the pressure as needed. You can also carefully power wash teak furniture to bring it back to looking brand new.
The Greenwich Home Management property management team handles furniture cleaning. We take it a step further for our clients by taking away all outdoor patio cushions in the fall. We clean andstore them in a dry space and bring them back fresh in the spring.
If you plan to wash your windows yourself, consider purchasing a squeegee. This tool will make the job a lot easier and help ensure a professional level of clean. Make sure, however, to purchase a few extra blades. They tend to get cracked or nicked and this can cause streaking. When our property management team’s professional window cleaning crewuses squeegees they change out the blade frequently. This ensures a beautiful result for every window.
Patio stone, driveways, siding, and decking can develop a coating of dirt and mildew over the winter. Power washing can be an excellent way to bring these surfaces back to life. This tool, however, is extremely powerful. It can take paint off of a car, break windows, or put holes in brick surfaces when not used properly. If you plan to handle power washing yourself, there are a few things to keep in mind. Always wear eye protection and long pants, make sure you use the right settings for the type of material you are washing, and avoid using the power washer while on a ladder.
Over time the weather in Greenwich, CT wares on pool surfaces. Fluctuating temperatures, ice, hot sun, and wind can cause tile, plaster and vinyl to degrade over time. Repairing pool surfaces is typically a job for a professional pool repairman. Our property management team includes pool repair specialist that can bring a pool back to life to be enjoyed for years to come. If it’s early in the season we will drain the pool and make any necessary repairs. If the pool is in use and you don’t want to drain it, we can provide underwater plaster repair of small cracks or chips.
Spring and summer brings bugs and insects. One of the first steps in helping to reduce the chance of being overrun by ants, spiders, wasps, cockroaches, and so on, is to conduct a thorough house cleaning. Some of these critters like warm moist places so make sure to remove clutter around the outside and inside the home. If you already have a problem, reach out to our property management team. Our pest specialist can remove bugs and insects and take thorough steps to ensure they don’t return.
This is one of those jobs that’s often best handled by the professionals. It’s a big job and often requires high ladder work. Bringing in a property management team to paint the exterior of your home will give you more time to enjoy your outdoor spaces. The painting teams at Greenwich Home Management will clean the exterior thoroughly, sand and scrape and then apply finish to trim and siding. There’s nothing like a fresh paint job to make the house look beautiful for the summer.
The changing seasons in Greenwich, CT brings falling leaves and tree debris that ends up in gutters. Spring is a good time to clean gutters. When left unattended they can get clogged. When this happened they overflow and can backup under shingles and cause serious moisture issues. If you’re not comfortable on a ladder have a professional handle the job.
Taking care of spring and summer outdoor maintenance pays off big when it comes time to enjoying your outdoor spaces. When it comes to the tricky home maintenance tasks, bring in the help of a Greenwich, CT residential property maintenance team. You’ll feel better when things are taken care of the right way.
