House problem solving help.
If it is an emergency CALL me 215-919-3560
If timeliness is important but it is not urgent: text me 215-919-3560
If it can wait a little: email me [email protected]
Please do not attempt anything you feel might be unsafe.
Electrical
No electricity to part of the house:
If it is in the bath or kitchen it is likely a tripped GFCI outlet. Find the outlets in the room with the 2 little buttons on them. Press one, if that doesn't fix it then press the other.
It also could be due to a tripped circuit breaker. If you don't see the breaker box in your apartment then it is likely in the garage or basement. It is a grey box on the wall. Try to find the breaker switch that is not in line with all the other switches then turn it towards the outside of the box then the opposite direction toward the center of the box. If you can't find the tripped breaker try flipping every one in the panel.
Plumbing
Toilets:
Please only flush toilet paper down the toilet. No tampons, paper towels, dental floss, kitty litter or trash. Just toilet paper
If the toilet is clogged the #1 most important thing to remember is to wait for the water level to go all the way down to it's normal level before flushing the toilet again. You will overflow the toilet if you don't follow this.
I provide a BIG plastic pleated plunger in every apartment. Please use it. If you are not familiar with plunging here is a helpful video.
If the toilet makes a constant hissing noise or periodically runs until you go back and jiggle the handle then please email me. The amount of water that can be wasted through a malfunctioning toilet can be staggering.
Other Plumbing
Water leaking from pipe:
Please shut leaking water off if it is MAJOR. Every sink,toilet and hot water heater has a shut off valve. Turning it clockwise or if it is a lever turning the lever perpendicular to the pipe should turn it off. If you have access to the basement and have a leak emergency there is a main shut off in every basement. It will be coming out of the wall and have a small water meter close to it. Might not hurt to know where it is. Please do not practice turning it off as these sorts of valves that are seldom turned will start to leak when used for the first time.
Heat
If there is no heat check that the thermostat is turned to "heat" and set above the current room temperature. Check that the air vents are open in the rooms you want to heat or the valves are open (turned counter clockwise) on the radiators you want to heat up. With radiators it can take an hour to warm up if the heat has been shut off.
If you think your heat is not working in the morning please text me as early as you can.
Do not attempt to light a pilot light.
Air conditioning
Check the thermostat, then the circuit breakers, then email me.
If it is an emergency CALL me 215-919-3560
If timeliness is important but it is not urgent: text me 215-919-3560
If it can wait a little: email me [email protected]
Please do not attempt anything you feel might be unsafe.
Electrical
No electricity to part of the house:
If it is in the bath or kitchen it is likely a tripped GFCI outlet. Find the outlets in the room with the 2 little buttons on them. Press one, if that doesn't fix it then press the other.
It also could be due to a tripped circuit breaker. If you don't see the breaker box in your apartment then it is likely in the garage or basement. It is a grey box on the wall. Try to find the breaker switch that is not in line with all the other switches then turn it towards the outside of the box then the opposite direction toward the center of the box. If you can't find the tripped breaker try flipping every one in the panel.
Plumbing
Toilets:
Please only flush toilet paper down the toilet. No tampons, paper towels, dental floss, kitty litter or trash. Just toilet paper
If the toilet is clogged the #1 most important thing to remember is to wait for the water level to go all the way down to it's normal level before flushing the toilet again. You will overflow the toilet if you don't follow this.
I provide a BIG plastic pleated plunger in every apartment. Please use it. If you are not familiar with plunging here is a helpful video.
If the toilet makes a constant hissing noise or periodically runs until you go back and jiggle the handle then please email me. The amount of water that can be wasted through a malfunctioning toilet can be staggering.
Other Plumbing
Water leaking from pipe:
Please shut leaking water off if it is MAJOR. Every sink,toilet and hot water heater has a shut off valve. Turning it clockwise or if it is a lever turning the lever perpendicular to the pipe should turn it off. If you have access to the basement and have a leak emergency there is a main shut off in every basement. It will be coming out of the wall and have a small water meter close to it. Might not hurt to know where it is. Please do not practice turning it off as these sorts of valves that are seldom turned will start to leak when used for the first time.
Heat
If there is no heat check that the thermostat is turned to "heat" and set above the current room temperature. Check that the air vents are open in the rooms you want to heat or the valves are open (turned counter clockwise) on the radiators you want to heat up. With radiators it can take an hour to warm up if the heat has been shut off.
If you think your heat is not working in the morning please text me as early as you can.
Do not attempt to light a pilot light.
Air conditioning
Check the thermostat, then the circuit breakers, then email me.
