Garbage Disposals

Clogged or malfunctioning garbage disposals are one of our top maintenance issues. To avoid issues with your disposal, throw away food scraps instead of washing them down the drain. Keep seeds, coffee grounds, eggshells, popcorn kernels, avocado pits, dried beans, starchy foods (pasta, potato peels and rice), bones, corn cobs, and of course bottle caps and bits of glass or plastic out of the drain. We've even found shot glasses in disposals on more than one occasion. If you do find yourself with a clogged or jammed disposal, arm yourself with a quarter-inch Allen wrench and check out this video for everything you need to know to reset it.

Dishwashers

Is your dishwasher not draining or backing up into the kitchen sink? The drain-line for the kitchen and dishwasher are usually tied together so if there's an issue with one, there's an issue with the other. Run the disposal to help the dishwasher drain better and if the disposal isn't working, refer to the tips listed above.

Sinks & Tubs

Slow draining sinks and tubs are another top issue that can be avoided with hair catchers over the drain. If you find yourself with a slow draining sink, we love the Zip-It for ease of use and fast results. You can also use a plunger to dislodge a blockage, just make sure to get a tight seal and you can get movement in your plumbing.

Toilets

Keep your toilet working normally by only flush toilet paper in the toilet. Never flush feminine products, paper towels or wet wipes down the drain.

Blown Fuses

If your toaster, coffee maker and microwave running at the same time have blown a fuse in the kitchen, reset the fuse from your breaker box. When you find a tripped switch, make sure to push it all the way to the off position and then flip it back on. You may need to reset the nearest GFIC outlet. These are typically found in the kitchen and bathroom, you simply press the "reset" button on the outlet to restore power.

Error Codes on Appliances

Error codes on appliances- this isn't always an easy fix but the first thing any appliance repair tech will do is to reset the machine. You can do this by disconnecting the appliance from the outlet or use the breaker box as an on/off switch.

Refrigerators

Keep the fridge cooling correctly, especially when you're stocked up on groceries- make sure there is no food blocking vents in your refrigerator or freezer which could interfere with cold air circulation.

Drains & Gutters

Year-round in DC, leaves, flowers, pollen, and mulch accumulate in drains and gutters. Make sure to clear any exterior drains of debris to keep them from backing up and let us know if you see water spilling over the side of gutters during heavy rains.

Air Filters

And finally, it's always a good time to check your air filter on your heating and cooling systems in the home. We recommend checking your air filter monthly and replacing them as needed or every 3 months. If you need help locating or changing your air filter, it's very simple, check out this tutorial. It is also a good time to test your air conditioning to make sure it's coming on normally and that cool is flowing through the vents. If it doesn't turn on, check the breaker box to make sure no fuses have been tripped. If there any issues, noises or strange smells, let us know and we can coordinate HVAC service.

Lock Outs

If you find yourself locked out after hours, it never hurts to shoot us an email. While we’re available to assist Monday through Friday between 9-5pm, we might not be available in the evenings or on weekends. We recommend Upco Locksmith (202-322-1500) for fast, reliable locksmith services.

Trash & Recycling

Questions about trash and recycling? Your trash and recycling days can be found here. If you live in a condo building with four or more units, trash is collected privately so reach out to us if you have any questions. In the age of 2-day shipping, you may have extra your boxes on your hands. DC has strict sanitation laws. Recyclable boxes and scattered trash should be placed inside of their respective carts with tight-fitting lids. If you have extra boxes, bundle them neatly and place near the respective carts/containers until collected. DC Public Works also offers free bulk-pick up. To schedule an appointment visit www.311.dc.gov. Keep in mind, should the property receive a trash violation from the city for improper trash storage, you may be responsible for the fine.