Is Your Home In Tip-Top Shape?

Are you keeping your home in tip-top shape? Home ownership goes beyond just purchasing a house and the financial responsibility. It also requires regular home upkeep and maintenance to keep it running without issue. No different than your car needing a regular oil change.

Obviously we all love to play when the sun is shining, but because of the prolonged sunlight that the season brings, it is also a good time to focus on any projects that we have been putting off.  

Here’s a list of summer home maintenance tasks to help you get started and so your home will be happy and healthy for years to come. 

• Inspect plumbing and check for leaks – Check every faucet, toilet and water source in your home for small leaks; and repair as needed. Also check your faucets for poor water pressure. If there are no visible leaks present, there’s a good chance that it’s caused by a clogged aerator on the faucet tip, which is an easy fix. If the problem continues after replacing the aerator, call the plumbing professionals at Central.
• Check and clean dryer vent – When the dryer is turned on and running check that exhaust is exiting the vent. It should smell like fresh, clean laundry. If there doesn’t appear to be much exhaust, look for any possible blockages and vacuum all lint from the hose at the dryer to avoid any mishaps.
• Check windows – If you are trying to keep the heat out when running the AC, one of the key tasks in maintaining your windows is to routinely check for any cracks in the sealants. Make sure inside and outside is secured and caulk any open areas in between. Also check that your weather stripping isn’t damaged or old and replace it immediately. If you are cleaning between the grooves, a small paintbrush or old toothbrush works great to clean out the hard to reach areas.
• Preventing mold and mildew – With the humidity that comes with summer, it’s easy for mold and mildew to grow and become a nuisance. The key to prevention is air circulation. When you leave the shower, leave the shower door or curtain open to allow them to dry. Also leave your washer and dryer doors open when possible to avoid the growth of smelly bacteria.
• Turn it off! –  On hot days avoid using your oven or stove. Both create heat build up in your home and can make your air conditioning work harder to keep your house cool. Using the outside grille is a nice and many times healthier alternative. Also, install energy efficient lighting that runs cooler. Only 10-15% of incandescent lights result in light, the rest just creates heat. 

Whether you are in Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Bigfork, Polson or anywhere else in the Flathead Valley…As always, your comfort is our CENTRAL concern. Call 406-756-6656 for all your heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical and drain cleaning needs.

You walk into your kitchen and a mystery smell is coming from somewhere, but you’re not sure where. You check the refrigerator to see if food or leftovers have gone bad and need to be removed. You take out the trash and spray air freshener, yet the smell still lingers. Where is it coming from? Chances are the smell is coming from your kitchen sink.

This unpleasant odor may indicate that dangerous bacteria have accumulated in your sink drain and garbage disposal from food particles and grease that have built up over time.  Considering the kitchen is the heart of many homes, and one can’t even make a cup of coffee without using the kitchen sink, its best rectify the problem as soon as possible.

Here are a few helpful tips:

Freshen Up - After using grind up “Ice” on a regular basis and a few lemon or orange peels, occasionally and enjoy the fresh scent!

The Garbage Disposal – The garbage disposal’s job is to grind down food particles so they can wash freely through the drainpipe. However, with regular use, greasy food bits can tend to build up and stick to the blades of the grinder and decompose, which can create a smelly kitchen. The easiest way to dislodge the grease from the blades is to regularly pour hot water down the garbage disposal as it’s running to help wash away the grease.

Another home remedy that also effectively works is fill the sink with 2-3 inches of hot water and then add to the water, vinegar and baking soda; unplug and let flow down the drain as the garbage disposal is running.

Bacteria Build-Up - The build up of bacteria in the drainpipe can create a foul smell. Bacteria thrive off of the warmth of the kitchen, water and the build up food that doesn’t wash through the drain. To remove the bacteria and stop the odor that it creates, you can use baking soda and vinegar, bleach or a commercial cleaner.

If using baking soda and vinegar, be sure to run hot water afterwards to flush through the pipes. If you decide to use a commercial cleaner, read all directions and verify that it is safe for kitchen use to avoid food contamination.

Clogged Vent – If you continue to have an odor after cleaning and clearing the garbage disposal and kitchen sink, this could indicate that the vent that runs from the sink to the roof vent is clogged. You can clear a clogged vent by using a plumber’s snake. From the roof, introduce the snake from the top of the vent and push until the blockage is cleared. You can also try pouring hot water into the vent and try and clear it.

Having a smelly kitchen sink can be both a health hazard and indicate a build up of bacteria, as well as become an odor filled inconvenience. In many cases if the smell is mild it can be addressed with “Home Remedies” listed above.   However, we have a product called “Bio-Clean”, which is so safe... that you could actually drink it because it is all natural. You should use it on a quarterly basis as a preventative application. Call or stop by Central, and we can share this amazing product…I also like to use it in the dishwasher…

Whether you are in Kalispell, Whitefish, Bigfork, Columbia Falls or anywhere else in the Flathead Valley. . .As always, your Comfort is our Central concern, call 756-6656, for all your heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical and drain cleaning needs.