Troubleshooting and Maintenance

Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors:

If your smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector is going off, please go outside and call 911 immediately!

If your smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector is beeping, it probably needs a new battery. It is the tenant’s responsibility to ensure all alarms have functioning batteries.

Garbage Disposals:

Clogged garbage disposals are most often the tenant’s responsibility, and should a technician need to assist, it will likely be the on the tenant’s dollar. Watch this video for help unclogging the disposal yourself to avoid the cost of a professional:

Slow/Clogged Drains:

Clogged drains are most often tenant responsibilities.

Remove hair and debris from the drain. You can use a very inexpensive drain stick from a home improvement store to easily remove hair clogs.

Try using a plunger.

If neither of these options work, try using a liquid drain cleaner such as Drano.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, please proceed with a maintenance request.

Note: Again, do not use liquid drain cleaner in the kitchen sink, especially in a garbage disposal.

Clogged Toilets

A clogged toilet is most often the tenant’s responsibility.

Use a plunger to clear the clog.

If a plunger doesn’t work, try to use a snake to remove the clog.

If the toilet is still clogged after these steps, please proceed with a maintenance request.

A/C or Heat Not Working:

Check the air filter and replace it if dirty.

Make sure the air filter is clean and properly installed.

Maintaining a clean air filter is tenant responsibility. Please change your air filter every 2-3 months.

If replacing the filter does fix the problem, please proceed with a maintenance request.

Power Outlets and Power Outages:

Outlets

Test the light switches to see if they turn the outlet on and off.

Locate the GFCI outlets (outlets with the test and reset buttons). Look for GFCIs in bathrooms, kitchens, basements, garages and on the home’s exterior. Then press the reset button on all GFCI outlets you can find.

If the reset button does not work, please proceed with a maintenance request.

Power Outages

Make sure the power is not out in the area by checking with your local power provider.

Check the breakers.

If the power is not out in the area and checking the breakers does not work, please proceed with a maintenance request.

Garage Remotes/Doors:

The most common cause of garage door remote control failure is weak or dead batteries. For assistance, this video demonstrates how to change the garage door battery:

Sprinkler Timer and/or Thermostat Programming:

Refer to the owner’s manual or use Google to determine how to program your model of sprinkler timer and/or thermostat.

If you cannot program the timer/thermostat, please proceed with a maintenance request.

Pest Control:

Try products like insect repellant or mouse traps that you can purchase and use yourself.

For more tips on pest control, see here.

If you have tried to resolve the pest issue yourself and cannot, please proceed with a maintenance request.

Dryer Duct Cleaning:

The tenant is responsible for maintaining a clean dryer, as well as the duct through to the outside of the home. Ducts that vent to the roof are the landlord’s responsibility. The tenant should not go on the roof.

For more tips on duct cleaning: Click Here

How to fix a toilet that makes a whistling sound.