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Home Advice from Dick NovalThe following information and materials are provided without the warranty or guaranty of the Home Owners Association and/or Dick Noval. Homeowners should always seek the advise and assistance of qualified, licensed service providers when repairing equipment or replacing materials within their units. Do you have questions about your home? Whether you are new or have lived here for some time, feel free to call me any time you have a question about your home. I have lived here since 1998, and am familiar with many aspects of our homes. If I can't answer your questions, I may be able to direct you to someone that can. No charge for this service.
DICK NOVAL
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When You Leave Home For A Long Period Of TimeWhen leaving your home for any extended amount of time for vacations etc., it is always best to close the water supply off at the main disconnect in the basement to avoid water damage from leaking pipes etc.Whenever the water supply is closed you should be certain to shut off the refrigerator ice maker by either lifting the bar to the locked position or place the switch, if available, in the off position. The reason for this is there is an electrical solenoid that would normally activate when the ice maker is calling for a refill. The solenoid could self destruct if left energized indefinitely. Kitchen and Bath CabinetsIf you need to service or replace any portion of your cabinets, call Kathy Brickey at 430-5477. The original installer, Rivco is no longer in business.Kohler FaucetsMost of our homes have Kohler faucets. Kohler faucets are warranted for life. If you have any problem with your faucets you can call Kohler at 1-800-4-kohler(56-4537).They will ask for the style, finish and color and nature of the problem. They will then send a repair kit to you free of charge. If the kit doesn't fix the problem they will send you a new faucet free of charge. I have installed the repair kits - some worked, some didn't. I installed the replacement faucets and that took care of the problem. If you need help in identifying the faucet, call me and I will help you. Cooling your home, saving energy and lowering your summer electric bill.When you are tempted to turn your air conditioner on, try this first: Turn the furnace fan on and let the cool air that is in your basement circulate throughout your house. The fan uses much less electricity than the air conditioner.Here is how you do that:
Clothes Dryer VentMost of our clothes dryers are vented to the outdoors by a flexible hose. The spiral ridges that make up the hose catch the lint that passes through. Even if you clean the dryer lint filter everytime you use the dryer there is lint passing through to the vent hose. There have been clothes dryer fires that have started because of excess lint accumulated in the dryer and attached hose. You should clean your dryer and hose at least every 3 years or more often depending on frequency of use. The flex vent hose can be damaged if you’re not careful when cleaning.
MY RECOMMENDATION:
AFTER ALL WORK IS COMPLETED, PLUG DRYER IN AND TURN GAS ON (IF APPLICABLE). Silent Door BellMost home owners have the same complaint: I can’t hear my doorbell!
SOLUTION:
Motion SensorsYou can enhance the security of your home by adding a motion sensor to the floodlight fixture located at your deck. This would help to scare a burglar away if they tried to enter your home from the rear. In the past, the light switch that feeds the floodlight motion sensor had to be left in the on position. The only way to turn the light on was to walk in front of the light, which defeated the security of turning the light on without stepping outside. Now there is a motion sensor available that also needs the switch left in the on position, but when you want to light the floodlight from inside you turn the switch off for one second then on again - the light will now stay on. This sequence may differ with some manufacturers.There is one sensor that has been very troublesome. I would not use the HEATH ZENITH- REPLACEMENT MOTION SENSOR MODEL #SL5316. The connecting of the wiring of sensors can be tricky if you are not familiar with wiring practices. Door ViewersMost of our home owners have the same complaint: when the doorbell rings, I can’t see who is at the door without opening it.You can install door viewers. There are two types I have been installing.
Both made by Mag Security and can be purchased at your local hardware store. When drilling the hole, you have to be very careful not to drill the hole oversized. There is no room for error. The best drill bit to use is a concentric bit. A concentric bit costs about $28. Install viewer to the eye level of the shortest person in the home. Kohler Wellworth ToiletsMost of our homes have the above mentioned toilets. One problem that occurs is the constant refilling of the tank caused by a leak at the tank flapper seat. This seat can easily be replaced. I have been installing the Rigid Toilet Tank Flapper (color blue) made by Fluidmaster, Part#233-594. $4.47 Found at your local hardware store. There are many styles that could work, but this is the one that has worked best for me.UPDATE. Fluidmaster has recently modified the design of this part. I had one problem with the modified part that caused me to seek out a more foolproof brand. I found a Kohler brand flapper that worked extremely well and I will install this model from now on. Kohler part #GP1079948 Garage Door Entry PadThere is a Touch Code Transmitter (Keyless entry pad) available for your garage door operation. It would be installed outside the door to allow you to open or close your door from outside the garage without the need of your remote transmitter. It operates with a 9 volt battery and is wireless. The instruction to program the pad is included and is a relatively simple procedure.Most of us have the Liftmaster Security + model. The older version is the Liftmaster model without the "Security +" designation. The supplier will need to know which model you have. Look at the side of the opener or the front of the wall mounted opener button and you will see which model you have. The cost is approximately $40. The pad can be purchased at Fimbel Seacoast Corp. In Epping, NH 734-5547 Smoke Alarms in Your HomeThe smoke detectors we have in our homes are Ionization type alarms. They are generally more effective at detecting fast, flaming fires that consume combustible materials rapidly and spread quickly. Sources of these fires may include paper burning in a waste container or a grease fire in the kitchen.These detectors feature a False Alarm Control which when activated, quiets unwanted alarms, such as excess smoke from cooking in the kitchen, or steamy showers etc. Press and release the test button on the detector. The alarm should stop within ten seconds. This means the smoke alarm is in False Alarm Control. Just before returning to normal operation, the smoke alarm will sound two short beeps. This signals the end of False Alarm Control.
Red and Green LED Indicators
Red LED (can be seen through the Push-to-Test button)
Testing the Alarms
The smoke alarms are all interconnected, and should all sound an alarm within 3 seconds after any test button is pushed and the tested smoke alarm sounds. The Push-to-Test button accurately tests all functions. DO NOT USE AN OPEN FLAME TO TEST THE SMOKE ALARM. These alarms have battery (9volt) backup, in event of a power failure the alarm will still warn you of an emergency. One of the first things to happen in a fire is the loss of power. So for this reason do not operate your detectors without fresh batteries.
Firex Smoke Alarm
The Firex smoke detectors we have in our homes can be replaced with units purchased at Home Depot. Central Vacuum CleanerIf you don't get the suction you used to from your central vac you should clean the filter located inside the canister. Unplug the power cord from the central vacuum before working on the unit. Remove the container that stores the dirt. Reach up and remove the wing nut that holds the filter in place. Clean filter and re-install assembly. The suction should now be at its best.Furnace FiltersNot getting enough heat from your furnace? This information passed on to me by Jim Beer.Jim has a 2 year old Bryant furnace. The house temperature could only reach 62 degrees during the severe cold spell we had this winter. He called in the Gas Company per his maintenance contract. They said that was to be expected and there was no problem in spite of the fact that the furnace analyzer was showing a 3.3 error code. Jim called Bryant and was told that the furnace filter he was using was the wrong filter and it was blocking the airflow. Bryant told him that the inexpensive (95 cent blue style) was the proper filter for that furnace. He replaced the filter, problem solved. This problem also happened at another home with a Bryant furnace. The possibility exists that this may happen to other brands of furnaces as well. So be careful to select a free flowing filter as a replacement. Additional Info from Rich Hureau, Webmaster: I have allergies that bother me mainly in the Spring, Summer, and Fall. Therefore, I take a 2-filter approach. In the winter, I use a regular cheapo blue filter, as mentioned by Dick. This gives me maximum output from the furnace, and I don't need the extra filtration. However, during the other 3 seasons I switch to a 3M Filtrete 1000 filter (about $9). I find that the furnace still heats fine, and the air-conditioning works fine in the summer too. I have a 3-year-old Carrier WeatherMaker 8000 furnace. I don't know how this filter might work in other models. I have scanned the Consumer Reports article on whole-house air-cleaners, from the Feb, 2002 issue, which discusses these issues. You can view the article by clicking here (a PDF file) Hot Water HeaterThe ideal temperature setting on our water heaters is the A setting. A higher setting wastes energy. I have seen settings at "C" or hotter, which caused the pressure relief to open and spill water on the floor. If you reduce a setting from higher than normal to the "A" position, it may be necessary to adjust the shower-mixing valve at each shower faucet to allow more hot water to flow when used.WARNING: Too high a setting can cause scalding. Hot Water Heater Corrosion PreventionMany of our homes have an A.O. Smith 50 gallon water heater. In order to properly maintain your water heater, once a year you should drain approximately 10 gallons of water from it (or more if needed) until you get clean water without any granules. To do this, open the drain faucet at the bottom of the tank. This will flush out any accumulation of debris from inside the tank. Be careful while draining, the water is very hot. WARNING! FYI. The drain faucet on some Hot Water Heater Tanks is not of the best quality. Once opened to drain the tank, the faucet may not close fully causing the faucet to leak and may have to be replaced which involves draining the tank completely before replacing. This happened to me on my 10 year old A.O. Smith tank..When I flush my hot water heater I notice a fair amount of light green granules (aluminum hydroxide) in the collected water. This is caused by a chemical reaction of the aluminum anode and water with a high pH (8-plus). We have a high pH water supply at Hampton Meadows. Some tanks have an aluminum anode, some have a magnesium anode. Replacing the aluminum anode with a magnesium anode will solve the problem. The type of anode can be determined by the cap of the anode. A flat top cap is aluminum, a cap with a raised bump is magnesium. The flexible magnesium anode rod can be purchased from A.O. Smith for approx. $65 plus shipping. The part no. is 21088. Installation instructions are on the web site. For more information call 1-800-433-2545. Here are pictures of the used anode, and a picture of the used anode beside a section of a new anode. The heater this came from is five years old. The magnesium sacrificial anode helps prevent corrosion of the water heater.
Leaks in BasementThis tip is from Rich Hureau, Webmaster:Do you have leaks in your basement walls in the rebar holes? Or where the large waste pipe leaves your basement? John Nigrelli (#68) and I (#103) have had good luck sealing these holes with: Dap Concrete and Mortar Filler and Sealant. It comes in a tube for use in a calking gun, and is described on the tube as "a durable, high performance sealant formulated to repair cracks and holes in concrete, mortar and masonry." I used it to seal some leaking rebar holes and found it very easy to use. John used it to seal a rather large area around the waste pipe. So far, we have had no leaks where we used this product. Critters in The BasementSeveral homes have had problems with rodents in their basement. A common way for them to get in is through the drainage hole in the basement floor.This drainage hole is usually sealed with a large plug (made of plastic and rubber in some houses, and of rubber squeezed between two metal plates in others). However, many of us have a dehumidifier in our basement and remove the plug to use the hole for the drain hose from the dehumidifier. This creates an opening for critters to enter the house. To correct this problem but still drain the dehumidifier, you should drill a hole through the middle of the plug slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the hose. Then force the hose through this hole. When the dehumidifier is not in use, you should seal the hole in the plug with fender washers and a suitable bolt. General-Aire Furnace Humidifier
These units as well as all makes of furnace humidifiers should be checked on a yearly basis. The evaporator pad should be replaced most likely every two to three years or sooner if necessary. There are two locations that I am aware of that sell General-Aire parts. The Granite Group, Rte 150, So. Hampton (603)394-7740, or The Granite Group, 152 Epping RD, Exeter (603) 772-3721.
Bathroom Ceiling Exhaust, Heat and Light unitsThese units should be cleaned on a yearly basis. They tend to accumulate dust and lint when located in the bath or shower rooms. Be sure to turn off the power before cleaning. Be careful not to damage the heater coils etc.
Carbon Monoxide WarningMany of the homes here at Hampton Meadows have side exhaust white PVC pipes to vent the gas furnace and gas water heaters. The snowdrifts against the house can cover these pipes causing carbon monoxide to remain in your home, which of course can be fatal. Check your homes now and remove the snow blocking the pipes. The storm of 1/24/05 resulted in several deaths in Massachusetts because of this problem. You should also consider purchasing a carbon monoxide detector.
Toilet LeakingThe toilet has a wax seal underneath that prevents the water from escaping onto the floor when flushed. The seal in my upstairs toilet failed after 6 years. There was no sign of a problem until the water started to leak through the ceiling on the first floor. I now have the same problem with the master bathroom, which did show up as a leak on the floor.I have been using the Fluidmaster no. 35b toilet bowl gasket with polyethylene flange wax extender kit. It is extra thick reinforced wax, has a 10-year guarantee, and sells for $4.48. The original seals were just wax without reinforcment.
Kohler Leaking Shower ValveIf you have a leaking shower valve, contact Kohler at 1-800-456-4537. Tell them that you need the Mixer & PBU SP Kit for your Coralais model. The newer style is part number 76851. The older style is part number 77885. There will be no charge for this kit.The newer style has a round shaft, and the older style has a square shaft. The handle and bezel have to be removed in order to identify the shape of the shaft. You can also identify the style without removing the handle and bezel - if your handle has a small removable 1/4"x1/2" cap on its face, then you have the new style. If the cap is not present, then this is the old style.
Home Security System BatteryMany of our homes (not all) have the Ademco brand security panel. The battery that supplies backup power (located in a box usually mounted on the wall in the closet behind the wall that the panel is mounted on) should last a minimum of 3 years (mine lasted 6 years). When the life of the battery is expired you should see the letters BAT on the panel mounted on the wall in your hallway. You may also at times (usually after a power failure) hear a beeping sound coming from the panel and see the BAT symbol. In order to silence the beeping, enter your 4 digit security code that you would use to set the alarm and press AWAY, this will set the alarm, now enter the same 4 digits and press OFF, this will reset the alarm and should turn the beeping off. If you don’t know your security code, and no code has ever been programmed into the panel, try code 1234. This is the code the unit is set to at the factory.The battery that is in the unit from the factory is Part #ES4-12. This is a 12 volt 4 amp hour battery. The replacement battery should be upgraded to a 12 volt 7 amp hour unit. This unit measures 2 ½” X 6”. Be certain to connect the battery to the proper polarity, that is, red wire to red connector and black wire to black connector. These are considered Security system batteries. You can purchase the battery from Riel Security (603) 894-5911. They charge $30 if you pickup at their office in Windham NH or they will ship to your home for $40. You may also order from the internet. Search security batteries. If the BAT symbol is still showing on the panel after installing the new battery, you must disconnect the battery and unplug the power source located at the security box in the closet, count to 10, then reconnect both power sources. BAT should go away.
Bathroom Block WindowsThe majority of the homes at Hampton Meadows in the first four phases, (“A" thru "E" streets) have Block windows in the bathrooms. These appear to be glass blocks, but are actually made of acrylic. A large percentage of the windows are becoming defective. In the earlier stages you will see horizontal cracks mostly on the bottom of the blocks usually only seen from the outside. After a while the block will show excessive moisture inside the block and eventually actual water levels that could freeze in the cold weather. There is a 10 year warrantee from the manufacturer for the replacement of the window only, not the labor to install the unit. One resident has already received and installed the replacement window. In order to receive the replacement you need to contact the manufacturer: Hylite 800-423-3032. They are located in Georgia. Ask for Susan. The distributor that supplied the windows to Drakes Appleton is: Applicator Sales, 400 Warren Ave., Portland Maine 04103.(This is one of the questions asked on the forms that HyLite will send you). UPDATE When ordering from the manufacturer they may attempt to deny the free replacement stating that these windows were pressure washed. Our homes were occasionally washed without pressure, just a soap sprayed on and hosed off. Even if they had been pressure washed this problem would not occur. Besides no one would pressure wash a window. Answer NO to the pressure wash question. I (Dick Noval) have received the replacement window. The order was completed without a problem. There are a few options available. If you choose to order an Acrylic window there will be *NO charge for the window or the shipping. There are two Acrylic options. 1: There is a new construction version with a nailing flange; this would require the siding to be removed in order to install this version. 2: There is a remodel version, this would require the old blocks to be removed without disturbing the existing frame and therefore would not require the siding to be removed. You may want to discuss these options with the installer before you order. Note that Phase Five ("G") street homes have REAL GLASS windows now. I assume there was a good reason for the supplier to switch to REAL GLASS. I also checked out a few window suppliers that offer sliding replacements for approximately *$200, or 6 over 6 that match the other windows in our homes for approximately *$200 or less. There are many options out there.
*There have been ongoing discussions with the window manufacturer about warrantee, price etc. You may find the situation has changed for better or worse when you make contact yourself. UPDATE 6/14/2010. Just received a call from a Hampton Meadows resident. He called the number for Hylitehylite or whatever their name is today. I have told our residents many times over the last 8 years to get the window asap before they are no longer available. Looks like that day is here. You may pursue the issue if you wish but don't hold your breath. Good luck. If you choose to replace your window with a different style, you need to get permission from our board of directors before installing the new style.-Dick
If you decide to have your window replaced, here is one option you have for a local contractor that has expressed interest in doing the installs: Rob Gagnon
More About Our WindowsThese are the suppliers of the windows in our homes at Hampton Meadows.
GE Dishwasher RecallSome GE dishwashers have caused fires in some homes. Because of this they have offered a free repair that I think everyone should take advantage of immediately.You need to write down the Model and Serial numbers of your dishwasher that can be found on the left side when the door is opened. Once you have these numbers call the GE recall hotline at 1-877-607-6395 or go online using either of these links:
Recall page:
Recall for our dishwasher page:
If your dishwasher qualifies they will schedule a date when they will send a repair person to install a new wiring harness etc. at no cost to you. They may ask if you use the rinse dispenser. Tell them that you do. They offer a plug cap that would prevent the future use of the rinse dispenser, but no repair. Tell them that you want the repair, not the cap. If you were planning on buying a new dishwasher they offer a $150 or $300 rebate depending on the GE model you would buy instead of opting for the repair.
Basement Foundation WarranteeOur basement foundations have a ten year warrantee for water leaking problems. This does not cover floor cracks or leaks. If you have a problem you need to call Tuff-N-Dry water proofing system at 1-800-876-5624. They may ask if you are the original owner. This company is located in Heath, Ohio. They will connect you with a local company that should be able to do the repair.
Your Air Conditioner - Part 1 - Attachment to the FurnaceThe AC unit that is attached to your furnace acts in a similar way that your dehumidifier does. The AC coils located in the mid section of the furnace remove humidity from the air. The water drops into a pan and then drains out of the pan into a white PCV pipe located behind the furnace that will drain either into a hole in the cement floor or into a small tank resting on the floor. If a tank is in use, it will pump the water out of the basement to the outdoors.
Your Air Conditioner - Part 2 - Outside UnitThe AC condenser located outside your home may need some attention. The low voltage wiring outside of many homes has been damaged either by animals or weed wacking etc. If this wiring should break the Air Conditioner will not work. The issue is that the wiring has no protection from abuse. There are protective measures that can be taken. Also the pipe insulation may be damaged. This insulation helps maintain a cooler temperature in the piping, which will result in more efficient cooling. Here are two pictures of units after and before repair.WARNING! Prior to working on any wiring you MUST disconnect power to BOTH the LOW and HIGH VOLTAGE wiring.
Your Air Conditioner - Part 3 - LimitationsThe air conditioning units installed in our homes have limitations. As told to me by Tom Nigrelli the builder, these units can only cool our homes to a maximum of 20 degrees cooler than the outdoor temperature - e.g. outside temperature 95 degrees, indoor temperature cools to 75 degrees. Close window blinds on extreme temperature days to minimize indoor heat.
Refrigerator Coil CleaningThere is a vent cover at the bottom front of some of our GE and possibly most brands of refrigerators. The vent cover is removed by pulling forward in most cases. Behind this cover, there is a series of cooling coils that attract dirt and dust. You will be surprised how much accumulation takes place in just a few years. Clogged coils have a drastic affect on the efficiency of operation. If you haven’t cleaned these lately you should check them. Before cleaning the coils you must unplug the refrigerator so as not to come in contact with the fan blade that could be turning.
Air Conditioning Condensate Trap AlternativeMost homes have had trouble with the ac condensate trap plugging up and causing a backup of water that would spill out onto the floor in the basement at the furnace, and sometimes spill onto the front of the furnace, damaging the electrical components etc. This problem occurs when the condensate trap plugs up with muck from the heat exchanger of the ac unit. The original trap is non-transparent, thereby preventing you from seeing when it needs to be cleaned. The homes that run ac more often have had the most frequent problems. There is a new device on the market that is called the e-z trap. It is transparent, making it easier to monitor the trap for debris. It has 3 clean out plugs and comes with it's own brush. This would eliminate any future problems. The e-z trap can be purchased at plumbing supply houses.
Keeping Mice, etc out of Your HouseThere have been many H M homes that have had mice etc enter the walls and ceilings. Some have called exterminators at a cost of $1100. You may not be able to keep them all away, but there are some measures that you can take to hopefully win the battle more often than not. The exterminators found that some critters were gaining access to walls by climbing up the outside corners of the siding, then chewing holes into the plywood and getting into the walls that way. It has been suggested to take steel wool,(non-soap) coarse grade such as #2, and stuffing the openings of the outside corners to deter the critters from climbing up into the cavity. Fold over each pad and stuff it up approximately 4 inches. It takes 4 pads per corner. Do this at every corner. It will take as many as 3 bags of steel wool. Another area of concern is to caulk any opening no matter how small that penetrates the sides of your home, especially where the ac lines enter. |
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There are many Hampton Meadows homes that have the General-Aire Model 81 furnace humidifier. I just overhauled one that had not been maintained since it was installed five years ago. There was an enormous amount of scale, encrusted silt and corrosion within the unit. The metal clips that hold the evaporator pad drum together were corroded beyond repair. The pivot shaft that holds the water shutoff seat was broken in two which was about to prevent the inlet water from shutting off. That would have allowed the water tray to overfill and spill water onto the floor and surrounding area.
The PVC pipe has a trap built into it. Depending on the frequency of use, the trap will become clogged, blocking the draining of water. The water then backs up and overflows’ the pan and then drops excess water onto the floor and across the electrical components of the furnace which of course will cause considerable damage. The piping should be maintained properly by inserting one cup of 1/2 water and 1/2 vinegar mix once a year to prevent mold and sediment buildup. If the piping has not been maintained, it may have to be flushed and cleaned. This is a common problem. I have had to flush more than a dozen units here at HM in the last year. The problem occurs in proportion to the amount of use the AC unit gets.
