Prepare Your Home in Spring and Enjoy Summer

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Frank Jovine

With summer right around the corner I can’t help getting excited, because it’s my favorite time of year, the warm weather, birds chirping, seeing green again, and barbecuing with friends and family. But before summer fever sweeps us away let’s take a look at some of the things we should do in and around our homes. My wife calls it the “Should do list”.

The great news is that if you can’t perform some of these projects you can always hire a qualified professional on ServiceLive. Let us help make this your best summer ever!

Should do list

Roofing: Winter is not kind to roofs. The cold weather and ice can cause severe damage. The spring is the perfect time to have your roof inspected for shingles that may be missing or broken. By fixing problems now you will avoid a more costly fix later.

Siding: Siding takes a beating over the winter. It’s a good idea to have a qualified service contractor inspect for peeling paint, exposed bare wood, rotting wood and mold. You may want to consider having your siding power washed, loose paint scraped; sanded and painted.

Sprinkler System: Spring is the time to get your sprinkler system ready. A service contractor will check for broken pipes, clean the sprinkler heads, and replace the timer’s batteries.

Clean the gutters: During the year, gutters can collect a wide range of debris, including dirt, leaves, twigs and even bee’s nests. It’s best to get at them as early as possible to clear away obstructions that will impede the flow of water. Also be sure to check the down spouts to make sure they are securely connected and pointed away from the house so that no water contacts your homes foundation.

Exterior caulking: Inspect caulking and replace if deteriorating. Scrape out all the eroding caulk and re-caulk the needed area.

Decks and porches: Check all decks, patios, porches, stairs and railings for loose members and deterioration. Open decks and wood fences need to be treated every four to six years, depending on how much exposure they get to sun and rain. If the stain doesn’t look like it should, or water has turned some of the wood a dark gray, hire a professional to treat your deck and fence.

Article submitted by Paul Hendrixson – Account Manager at ServiceLive.com

How to Stay Cool and be Energy Efficient during Summer

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Frank Jovine

You can reduce the burden on your hardworking refrigerator/freezer/AC units and lower your energy costs by following a few simple maintenance steps:

Refrigerator/Freezer

First and foremost, vacuum the condenser coil typically located on the back or bottom of the unit (note: some higher end units have the condenser coil located internally to prevent dust/lint build up… you do not need to clean internal condenser coils) to remove dust and pet hair. This is a very important step as it’s imperative that air flow freely past the condenser coils to efficiently remove heat from the coil and allow the unit to cool efficiently.
Check the seals/gasket around the refrigerator/freezer doors to be sure they seal properly against the frame. Replace the seals if they are torn or cracked.
Clean the seal/gasket and the frame with warm soapy water to remove dirt/food spills and to prevent the door from sticking to the frame when opened (sticking may cause premature cracking of the seal).

A couple of helpful YouTube videos:

AC Units

First and foremost, make sure there are no bushes, trees, shrubs or plants blocking air flow around your AC Unit. You should trim any vegetation so that you have adequate air space (about 2 feet is ideal) around your AC Unit. You should also remove dried up leaves and seed packets from the ground around your unit.
Use a garden hose (make sure the power to the unit is off… see YouTube video clips) to wash down the unit and remove dust, dirt and other elements form mother nature (cotton wood… those fuzzy white things you see flying around in late Spring) can severely block the air flow when it sticks to the condenser coil. This is a very important step as it’s imperative that air flow freely past the condenser coils to efficiently extract the heat from the coil and ultimately cool your home.
Change the filter in your Central Heating/AC Unit (ideally once per month if you have furry pets or about every 2 to 3 months in a pet free home).

A couple of helpful YouTube videos:

Article submitted by Jim Bendewald – ServiceLive Business Services

Ten Things that Make Her Angry

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Frank Jovine

I am not talking about leaving the toilet seat up or socks on the floor. I am talking about the things she wants done and you keep putting them off. I am one of those men who tend to say “I will do it tomorrow”, but tomorrow comes and it’s still not done.

In no particular order:

10. Garage assembly = The garage is full of clutter, please clean it out
9. The lawn needs to be cut
8. Paint the walls and trim in the kitchen
7. Please check my computer, its slow = removing viruses from computer
6. Please get the pool ready … it’s June already speedy!
5. When are you going to replace the kitchen faucet?
4. The front door still doesn’t close right = fix doorknob, don’t be a doorknob!
3. A roof shingle is missing, please replace
2. Please call a carpet cleaner, the rugs need cleaning
1. My car is over due for an oil change

I am sure there are many more things we can add to this list. I would rather my wife be happy about the things I got done than to hear her constantly remind of what I need to do.

It might be that some of the things that need to be fixed are not within our expertise, but they still need to get done, even if it takes hiring a professional. We’re only human and can’t fix everything.

Facts: Overall, more than a quarter of Americans say they procrastinate. Men are worse than women (about 54 out of 100 chronic procrastinators are men).

The causes of procrastination combine temptation, sense of immediacy, the value of doing the job, and whether you believe you can get the work done.

Men – Lets stop procrastinating and start doing! Need a handyman referral like me?

Declaration of DIY TV Installation

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Frank Jovine

There are a number of websites that have easy to follow, step-by-step instructions for wall mounting your own flat-panel television. Most of them contain the proverbial warnings that point out dangerous consequences if the process isn’t carefully followed. “The television may fall down if…” (Or) “You may electrocute yourself if…” Some of these websites even point out potentially fatal errors that are common for the average Do-It-Yourself consumer. Aside from these extreme examples, there are a few common mistakes people make when wall mounting a flat panel television. Below is one example from this extensive series that we call the ‘Declaration of DIY TV Installation’. to pay, and grab yourself a cold beverage.

The Cable Quandary

Even when the length of the necessary cables is carefully measured, they will never be long enough. Although you measured that 6’ cable when you opened the package, it shrank the minute you plugged it into the TV and now won’t reach the DVD player. It can be initially painful for the pocketbook, but spare yourself the aggravation by purchasing longer cables than you think you will need. to pay, and grab yourself a cold beverage.

It is far better to have an extra foot of cable than have one that is two inches too short. Many consumers make the mistake of neglecting to measure the horizontal distances and adding it to the overall length. When you think you have the right measurement, add to it, and make sure you can convert meters to feet. To further add to the cable length quandary, most manufactures make (and advertise) their cable lengths using the metric system. (Hint: 1 meter = 3.2808399 feet). to pay, and grab yourself a cold beverage.

When you find yourself digging a hole, we all know that rule #1 is to stop digging. Rule #2 is to immediately find your mouse (the one tethered to your computer), go to ServiceLive.com and click on a professional. Identify what needs to be done, schedule a time that is convenient for you, indicate the amount you are willing to pay, and grab yourself a cold beverage.

How to Clean Your Dishwasher

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Frank Jovine

How to Clean Your Dishwasher

Time – 30 minutes

Difficulty – Easy

Expertise – Basic familiarity with your dishwasher

Frequency – Once a month

Where – All US

To make sure your dishwasher looks good and works well for a long time, be sure to maintain it properly. Having to repair dishwashers is expensive. Your owner’s manual has all the specifics you need, but here are some tips to get you started.

Steps

Cleaning the exterior. In most cases, regular use of a soft, damp cloth or sponge and a mild detergent is all that’s needed to keep the outside of your dishwasher looking nice and clean.

Cleaning the interior. Hard water minerals can cause a white film to build up on the inside surfaces, especially just beneath the door area.

1. Apply powdered dishwasher detergent to a damp sponge to make a paste. Or, use liquid automatic dishwasher detergent and clean with a damp sponge.
2. Run a normal cycle with detergent after cleaning the interior.

Tips and Warnings

Do not clean the dishwasher interior until it has cooled.
Be sure to wear rubber gloves when cleaning the dishwasher.
Do not use any type of cleanser other than dishwasher detergent because it may cause foaming or sudsing.

Need help or have questions related to your dishwasher or HVAC system? Contact a recommended contractor.

Tips provided by ManageMyLife.com.

Customer Service is a Choice

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Frank Jovine

The key to customer retention is good customer service, regardless of the industry. Great customer care is of paramount importance. An increasing number of organizations are realizing that with growing competition, new innovations, constantly improving services and products, consumers are being pulled in different directions. It is vital to ensure that customer loyalty programs are an integral part of an organization.

Acquiring new customers is important, but holding on to existing customers is crucial. After all if existing customers are satisfied they will help in acquiring new ones by spreading the news of your organization’s outstanding customer service.

Take a look at these statistics:

Repeat customers spend 33% more than new customers
Referrals among repeat customers are 107% greater than new customers
It costs 6% more to sell something to a prospect than to sell that same thing to a customer

So you can see the need for consistent and committed customer service support that will nurture and strengthen this relationship. Determining what they want is an important factor in organizational success. Since the market is in constant flux, one needs a consistent and committed approach in order to gauge and be in touch with the changing whims of a consumer.

The choice is yours. Do you have a customer service story to share? Please comment.

How Not to Remove Tree Stumps

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Frank Jovine

When I was a kid my dad needed to remove an old tree stump on the side of our house. The only problem with dad was his planning. Instead of digging and removing the earth around the stump, my dad had other plans.

My dad was all about getting it down fast and cheap, but his ways proved otherwise. I would never tell him what to do or I would get the back hand. I was in the front yard and dad was making some ruckus in the garage and I had to see what he was doing. There was my dad in the garage connecting two thick chains together, and no not with duck tape, but with locks.

I asked dad what he was doing and he said “mind your business.” That seemed like a normal response, but the fun was about to begin and I sure was not going to miss another one of my dad’s DIY disasters. Dad climbed in his 1970 Cadillac and drove around to the side of the house and backed the car up close to the stump. Here we go!

Dad tied one end of the chain around the stump and the other to the hitch on the bumper. Can you visualize what happens next? My dad tore the bumper (and muffler) right off the car and I laughed so hard, but of course out of sight. My dad wasn’t finished … he then tied the chain around the axle and pulled again, but this time the tree stump came free.

Even though the bumper came off dad’s car, he was still happy about removing the stump.

This is not how you remove stumps! It’s best to hire a home services professional.

That’s my dad for you!

Mothers Know Best

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Frank Jovine

Do you remember how Mom would tell you to turn out the lights? Mom was thinking of saving energy dollars, not rolling blackouts and bankrupt utility companies. Rarely have Mom’s words of wisdom been as fitting as they are now. Electricity rates are going up everywhere, besides switching off lights there are several other painless methods to conserve energy and save money.

Save on your utility dollars by following a few simple tips:

Dishwasher: Run your dishwasher only when it’s full. Another cost saving measure would be to turn off the heat dry cycle (if you have this option) and open the door to air dry your load.

Refrigerators: Use more power than any other appliance in the home. Although rushing out to buy a new refrigerator may not be in your budget, it is important to know that new models are more efficient and use as little as half the electricity of older units.

Make sure the refrigerator door seals are tight. Test them by closing the door over a piece of paper or a dollar bill so it is half in and half out of the refrigerator. If you can pull the paper or bill out easily, the latch may need adjustment or the seal may need replacing.

Place food and liquids in airtight containers because uncovered foods release moisture and make the refrigerator compressor work harder.

Lighting: Turn off lights that are not being used and consider installing timers or photo cells on some lights to conserve energy and reduce costs. Another option, consider using occupancy sensors that would turn on and off automatically when someone enters or leaves a room.

Rather than brightly lighting an entire room, focus the light where you need it. For example, use fluorescent under-cabinet lighting for kitchen sinks and counter-tops.

Consider dimmer switches and three-way lamps, these provide low light levels when bright lights are unnecessary.

Every little change can save you money for that next vacation.