Maintenance FAQ

NO WATER PRESSURE FROM A FAUCET
Try removing the aerator from the end of the faucet spout and cleaning out the debris? Or, are the water supply valves under the sink turned on? Or is the Main water valve outside turned on?

KITCHEN SINK WILL NOT DRAIN
Did you try removing excess amounts of food from the garbage disposal?

WHEN THE BATHROOM BASIN OR TUB/SHOWER WILL NOT DRAIN – DID YOU TRY?
Removing strands of hair that might have become tangled around the drain guard or the pop-up stopper? If you use a drain cleaner, please use the liquid and NOT the crystal type. The crystal type can harden in the drain and/or react with the industrial drain cleaner used by the servicemen. Also, always tell your serviceman if you have tried ANY drain cleaners before he was called.

WHEN A TOILET WILL NOT FLUSH - DID YOU TRY?
Checking that the toilet trip lever assembly, inside the toilet tank is intact? Or, making sure the water supply valve is completely turned on? DON’T put foreign matter in the toilet, i.e. sanitary napkins, tampons or disposable diapers. These should not be flushed down toilets and if found by servicemen, TENANT will pay for the service call.

WHEN GARBAGE DISPOSAL WILL NOT RUN - DID YOU TRY?
WITH THE DISPOSAL IN THE OFF POSITION, removing any foreign objects, nails, hairpins, pop tops and /or un-disposed food from the blade area, then engaging the RESET button on the body of the disposal? NEVER put fibrous fruit or vegetables, such as celery, banana skins, rhubarb, artichokes, potato peelings or bones into a disposal.

WHEN THE DISHWASHER WILL NOT RUN OR WILL NOT DRAIN - DID YOU TRY?
Removing any objects (utensils, broken glass, foodstuffs, etc) that might have fallen into the area under the spray bar in the bottom of the machine (especially PAPER)? Or, making sure the controls are correctly set? NOTE: the dishes, glasses, utensils should ALWAYS be rinsed well before loading them into the machine. If a glass is broken in the machine, always remove ALL glass before starting again.

WHEN A CIRCUIT BREAKER IS TRIPPED - DID YOU TRY?
Switching the circuit breaker first to the OFF position and then back to the ON position? If you have had to reset the same circuit breaker several times or it won’t come on, you may have too many items running on the circuit, turn them off and try again. Please tell the serviceman about this.

WHEN CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING/HEATER WILL NOT COME ON - DID YOU TRY?
Making sure the thermostat is set for the desired operation? Did you check to be sure it is on “AUTOMATIC” - NOT JUST “ON?” (If it is set to “ON” the fan will run but there will be no heat or cooling.) If the unit has a reset button, is it tripped? Check the circuit breaker to see if it is tripped. (See previous item - “Circuit Breaker” - too many things running at once?)

WHEN ROOM AIR CONDITIONER OR WALL HEATER WON’T COME ON - DID YOU TRY?
Make sure all controls are properly set? Is the circuit breaker tripped? ALL Air Conditioners (central and room models) and ALL central furnaces have air flow FILTERS. Make sure the FILTER IS KEPT CLEAN BY CHANGING the disposable type or cleaning the washable type MONTHLY.

ALL GAS FIRED APPLIANCES: FURNACES, OVENS, COOKTOPS, WATER HEATERS THAT ARE NOT WORKING - DID YOU TRY?
Checking to see if the Pilot Light was lit? Relighting the Pilot Light? (If you do relight the Pilot Light - be sure to follow the instructions on the appliance) If you smell gas, DO NOT attempt to relight the Pilot Light!

ELECTRICAL OUTLETS WILL NOT WORK?DID YOU TRY…
Resetting any and all the GFI switches on the outlets. They are the red and black buttons in the middle of many outlets in the house. When they are tripped, you need to reset them. Remember, a GFI outlet does not need to be in the same room as the outlet that is not working, so it is important to check them all, no matter where they are in relation to the tripped outlet

NO POWER TO ANY PARTICULAR PART OF THE HOUSE, A SPECIFIC OUTLET OR THE WHOLE HOUSE.
If power is only lost in part of the house, or just to a specific outlet or appliance, you need to check the breaker panel and see if the breaker has been tripped. If so, you need to reset it. If the power is off to the entire house, look outside. If the rest of the block has no power as well, then it is a problem with the lines, and there is nothing the office will be able to do.