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As you begin to think about spring repairs in and around your home, there may be
some areas that have been neglected in the past. This is the time to address those
specific areas to prevent larger maintenance problems in the future. - Clothes dryer Dryer lint is highly combustible and can cause a fire if left unchecked for too long. Excess lint also reduces the dryer's efficiency, so it will save you money to keep your dryer as lint-free as possible. Clean the lint trap after each load of laundry. If your dryer has a venting hose that is vertical, check the vent connection for lint buildup. At least twice a year, move the dryer slightly forward and disconnect the vent from the back of the dryer. Clean out the lint from the hose and fitting; then reconnect the vent. - Troubleshooting basement moisture problems In order to know what is causing a basement moisture problem, you have to determine where the moisture is coming from. An inexpensive, yet effective way to find your problem is to: Cut a few 12"X12" squares of aluminum foil or thick plastic, and tape them on the concrete block walls and floor. Wait several hours and then check for condensation on the foil or plastic. If the room side of the foil or plastic is wet, moisture is in the air, a problem you can often solve by removing sources of excess moisture or using a dehumidifier. If there is moisture between the concrete block and the foil or plastic, the moisture is coming in through the wall or floor from the soil. If this is the case you will need to look for the source outside. Begin by avoiding over watering of plants and shrubs near your foundation. Check that all gutter downspouts are directed away from the house for a minimum of six feet and the foundation grading is sloped away from the house. If you have been adding mulch every year around your house foundation, check to make sure it has not gotten above the waterproofing on the foundation walls. - Roof with dark stains Fiberglass shingles commonly develop a dark, mildew like stain. The stains are caused from Gloeocapsa Magma Algae that feeds off the limestone in fiberglass shingles. Although the algae won�t harm roofing materials, many homeowners prefer to remove or prevent it for aesthetic reasons. Either copper or zinc are effective deterrents. Using long, 7" wide copper or zinc strips underneath the last full course of shingles at the top of the roof, will do the trick. You should be able to slide the copper up under the shingles approximately five inches or so. This will leave approximately two inches exposed to the weather. When it rains, the rainwater will carry small amounts of metal residue down the roof preventing algae growth and stains. If you are installing new fiberglass shingles, look for shingles that contain copper coated granules. - Fast fix for leaky toilets If your toilet periodically runs for no obvious reason, the problem could be a small leak where the tank ball or flapper fits into the flush valve (the opening in the toilet tank, into the toilet bowl). Mineral deposits and sediment can collect on the flush valve and prevent the ball or flapper from forming a watertight seal. Before you buy replacement parts, try the following: raise the ball or flapper out of the way and scour the brass flush valve with fine steel wool. If your toilet has a plastic flush valve, use a plastic scouring pad. Scrub the ball or flapper clean also. This should fix your problem. (Image provided by Wikipedia.)
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