Spring 2003 HomePage Newsletter - The HPS Newsletter of Home Maintenance

WHAT DID SUMMER MAINTENANCE DO TODAY?
BENEFITS OF OUR NEXT VISIT
BAD MERCURY RISING
QUESTION AND ANSWER
TIPS TO PROLONG EXTERIOR PAINT


What Did Spring Maintenance Do Today?
Today we serviced the refrigerator, oven, cook-top, garbage disposal, dishwasher, trash compactor, washer and dryer. HPS checked seals, bulbs, vacuumed coils, drained drip pans, cleaned filters, checked connections, hoses and belts among other things

We cleaned and lubricated ventilation fans throughout the house. The kitchen hood fan and filter were also lubricated and cleaned.

The operation of windows and sliders were examined and tightened, lubricated and caulked as needed.

We inspected your home's cosmetic systems for exterior peeling or blistering paint, protruding nails on your deck that should be reset before those summertime barbecues and just what did the El Nino rains do to the patios and walkways?

The water main's pressure was checked. Exterior hose bibbs were also inspected for proper operation and any leaking.

As usual, we also cleared the debris off the roof and out of the gutters and downspouts. The guy wires on the roof were also tightened in case the recent stormy weather loosened them.


Benefits of our Next Visit
* Mechanical Systems such as the hardware of garage doors will be tightened, lubricated and adjusted. Cabinet hardware will also be tightened, lubricated and adjusted. This would be a good time to have that tall cabinet or bookcase secured to the wall for seismic safety.
* Environmental Systems include inspecting fireplaces: the damper, log lighter, screen and draw. If you have radiant heat, HPS will also inspect for rust, leaks and any problems with the recirculation pump.
* Electrical Systems: Connections, breakers and access will be checked.
* Weather Defense Systems: Well dean those roofs and gutters. Inspect for missing or damaged shingles.
* Safety Systems: Fire extinguishers are inspected for the proper charge and easy access.


Bad Mercury Rising
Attention residents of Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View and Stanford University! If you still have one of those old mercury thermometers, here's your chanceto help Mother Nature and upgrade your medical equipment!

Did you know that the half-gram of mercury in a thermometer is enough to pollute 5 million gallons of water? The water quality control plant's treatment processes can remove only some of the mercury in waste water. Tossing the thermometer in the wastebasket doesn't help either - the mercury will seep into the ground and spread at the dump.

To be a good citizen, take your old thermometer to the Regional Water Quality Control Plant between 8 am. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The plan is located at the end of Embarcadero Way in Palo Alto. You will receive a coupon for $5 off the purchase of a non-mercury thermometer or $2.50 off any purchase at any one of 30 participating pharmacies in the area. For more information call 329-2598.


Question and Answer/Romantic Tip
Our clients ask and we tell!

Q: When I try to achieve a romantic mood by dimming the lights, they start to buzz which is very distracting. Why do they buzz?

A: Dimmer switches work by interrupting the flow of power to the light. These interruptions cause mini surges of power that can vibrate some filaments, like a pick striking a guitar string, causing the bulb to make a buzzing sound. The buzzing stops at the highest setting because there are no more interruptions, just a steady flow of power.

To achieve that romantic mood, go to a light store and ask for 130-volt bulbs or Rough Service (RS) bulbs. These bulbs have a sturdier filament that not only lasts longer, but also is less likely to shake. If heavier-duty bulbs don't work replace your dimmer switch. A good switch that is less likely to buzz can cost from $15 to $25. Or buy yourself a candelabra a la Liberace.


Prolong the Exterior Paint on Your Home
Inspection, inspection, and inspection (and then actual repair) is key to prolong your home's exterior paint job. The average paint job is expected to last 5 to 8 years but professional painters recommend two strategies to make that exterior paint last at last 10 years.

The first step is annual touch-up. Scrape, sand and repaint any localized peeling areas annually, before they spread or allow the wood to deteriorate. This vigilance will pay off in three ways.

1. Annual touch-up stops localized peeling and keeps it from spreading. Your house will look better, and you'll protect vulnerable raw wood from rot.
2. The cost of whole-house repainting win be lower when that time comes, because you've kept the exterior in good condition. It won't require as much prep time.
3. The paint that's in good condition on your home win last longer, because with longer painting cycles it won't build up as fast. Thicker paint loses its flexibility and cracks more easily; eventually leading to a condition called "alligatoring" (extreme paint buckling on the house) When the paint gets that bad, you'll have the huge job or expense of stripping it all off and starting over.


Unfortunately, a paint job is doomed when water gets into the wood. Wet wood causes paint to peel. The way it works is that the moisture from high humidity or in our case, El Nino rain works its way into the wood and causes the fibers to swell. The expanding fibers stretch the paint film until it cracks. Once the film is cracked, more water from Mother Nature (or even lawn sprinklers!) seeps through 1% soaks the wood and breaks the paint bond.

Water-induced, localized "spot" peeling is easy to identify. Although all joints are vulnerable, wood joints at window and doorsills are particularly susceptible. Water sits in the comers, is slow to dry and eventually breaks through the paint barrier. The end grain of window and door frames, once exposed, sucks up water like a sponge, swells and further cracks the paint making the situation worse. Peeling at wood joints can largely be prevented by sealing the end grain with primer. (Take heed, ye who have that noted for a recommended repair on your inspection report or action Est.) The soffits under your home's gutters are also vulnerable if they are clogged or leaky. Trim near the ground is susceptible too especially if the soil level is not graded properly.

Alas, there is no perfect cure but the second step is to maintain your gutters, keep bushes trimmed back from the house to promote drying, lower soil levels around the siding and fix peeling areas as soon as they appear. Tip: Pressure washing is an effective way to clean the exterior and make it look "fresh." Goodbye cobwebs, bugs, dirt and moss! Call us about this service!

Read the Summer 2003 HomePage Newsletter

The HomePage is published by Home Preservation Services as a source of information for our valued clients.