ANDY OnCall® News & Events

Labels: DIY, Handyman, home maintenance, home repair services, winter

Labels: Handyman, home maintenance, home repair services

Labels: Handyman, home maintenance, home repair services

Labels: Handyman, home maintenance, home repair services

Indoor Lighting Tips

Outdoor Lighting Tips

• Use outdoor lights with a photocell unit or a motion sensor.
  
• Turn off decorative outdoor natural gas lamps.
• Exterior lighting is one of the best places to use energy saving lights because of their long life.
• Also consider high-intensity discharge (also called HID) or low-pressure sodium lights.

Home Improvement Honey Do's

• Update Fixtures — Fixtures are the fashion accessories of the house. They speak volumes about your style. Start with high traffic areas. Consider a new set of faucets in the kitchen and bathroom, or new light fixtures in living/dining room. They can be installed in a matter of hours. You will be amazed with the transformation they bring to your home.
  
  
• Add A Backsplash – A well designed and installed tile backsplash is a nice focal point to your kitchen area. Besides showing off your personal style for your own enjoyment, an up-to-date design can make your house more desirable for potential buyers.
  
  
• Fresh Paint— Painting is another quick & easy way of updating your home. Use new colors can completely restyle your home. Even just freshen up the old paint can give your home a nice lift, especially in high traffic areas like the bathroom, kitchen, hallway & living room.
  
  
• Closet Organizers – Everyone can use more closet space, but how do you increase your bedroom closet capacity without adding an addition or taking away from the space in your room?
  Use closet organizers to remedy wasted space and alleviate clutter and confusion.

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Weather Stripping Tips

• Update Door Step by Installing an Aluminum Threshold with Vinyl Seal
  
• For Extra Draft Protection, Seal Bottom of Doors by Adding a Door Sweep
  
• Inspect and Identify Your Door's Current Type of Weather Stripping Before Replacing.

Window Caulking Tips

• Scrape and clean the area to be caulked
  
• Cut 1/4 inch off the tip of the caulking tube with a utility knife
  
• Slide tube into caulking gun
  
• Run a 1/8-inch bead of caulk between window frame and siding.
  
• Smooth the bead of caulk with your finger or a popsicle stick.
  
• Clean the tip of the caulk tube frequently to avoid excess buildup.

Labels: Handyman, home maintenance, home repair services

Playing host during the holidays can certainly be stressful with all the cooking, planning, organizing, etc. Basic home maintenance isn't only important for your home, it can make your life a lot easier during the busy holiday season.

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Holiday Maintenance Checklist

• New Kitchen Fixtures— By having the right kitchen environment for your get-togethers this holiday season, you can cut down on holiday stress by having a kitchen that's equipped to handle all your holiday party needs.
  
• A Fresh Coat Of Paint—Giving your bathroom something as simple as a nice new paint job can work wonders. Over time, even the highest quality paint job loses its luster, especially in a high traffic area like the bathroom.
  
• Seal Door and Window Drafts—If you've been noticing that your home's a little drafty, be sure to seal things up before your guests arrive.
  
• Insulate Pipes—Coming home to busted or frozen pipes tops the list of cold weather, homeowner nightmares.
  
• Strengthen Bouncy Decks—If you notice your deck starting to sag or feel unsteady when you walk across it, now's probably the time to fix it.
  
• Fix Slow Drains—More showers, extra laundry loads and a busier kitchen sink will put added strain on those slow drains and possibly cause a serious and inconvenient backup.

Home Maintenance Checklist

Here's a simple bi-annual "top to bottom" checklist to keep your home in shape year-round.

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a free estimate

• Roof: Check roof and around vents, skylights and chimneys for leaks.
• Attic: If there is no ridge vent, keep gable vents open year-round to ensure proper ventilation.
• Fireplace: Clean fireplace of ashes. Check chimney for loose or missing mortar. Have chimney professionally cleaned.
• Filters: Remember to clean or replace filters once a month, or as needed. Check and clean dryer vent, air conditioner, stove hood and room fans.
• Safety Equipment: Ensure that all smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers are in good working order.
• Faucets: Check for leaky faucets in kitchen and bathroom(s).
  Windows and Doors: Seal drafty doors and windows. Replace seals as needed.
• Basement: Check basement walls and floor for dampness.
  Heating System: Have heating system serviced. Change filters.
• Hot Water Heater: Drain hot water heater. Remove sediment from the bottom of the tank.