Our tenants frequently ask our property managers questions about common 'how to fix' situations in their rental homes.
In fact, these questions are so common that we have identified videos on YouTube which beautifully demonstrate the fix-it solution to send to tenants asking about easy rental property repairs.
In the hope of making life a bit easier for our tenants, we have gathered these resources into this article as a handy reference for all of those commonly asked 'How To Fix" rental property questions.
If we've missed one, please let us know so we can add it to this article.
9 Frequently Asked Questions About 'How To Fix' Common Rental Property Maintenance Issues
1. How To Turn Off Running Toilets
If you hear the water running non-stop in your toilet, look for a tap so you can shut the water off until a plumber can arrive. You will usually find the tap behind the toilet as you can see in this :38 minute video:
2. How To Reset Your Garbage Disposal
If you find that your garbage disposal is not working, you'll want to take the following steps.
- Turn off the switch to the disposal.
- Check that nothing is in the sink obstructing the workings of the disposal. If yes, remove it.
- Turn the switch on again. If the disposal still does not work, then turn the switch off.
- Confirm that the plug underneath the sink is plugged into the outlet.
- Look for the red reset button on the bottom of the garbage disposal unit and press it.
- Try the switch again. If it still doesn't work, then...
- Find the disposal wrenchette.
- Insert the wrenchette into the central hole on the bottom of the disposal.
- Work wrenchette back and forth to loosen blades.
- Turn on the switch and confirm that it works again.
Here's the 1:36 minute video showing you how to reset the garbage disposal:
3. How To Reset and Test GFCI Plugs
A GFCI is a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter and protects you from shock. You'll frequently find them in bathrooms and kitchens and other areas where water is present. Here's what to do if you need to reset the GFCI:
- When the red reset button is sticking out further than normal, it means that this outlet has been tripped.
- Push in the red button to reset it.
- To make sure that the GFCI outlet is functioning correctly, push the black test button.
- If you hear a clicking sound that indicates that it is working and the outlet has been shut off.
- Reset it by pushing on the red reset button.
- If the reset button is pushed in and clicks in place, then you know the outlet is functioning properly.
If it doesn't, try these steps:
- When the reset button is pushed in and trips again immediately, try unplugging everything connected to the outlets in that curcuit. If this still does not work, professional help is probably needed.
- When the reset button will not actually push back in, check to make sure that there is not a breaker tripped in the main electrical panel. Once this is checked and the outlets are still not working properly, professional help is needed.
Here is the 5:14 minute video on how to reset and test GFCI plugs:
4. How To Replace a Honeywell FocusPro Thermostat Battery
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsAE_GoejKY
- Top right back side of the thermostat is a press tab - press down and push outward
- Remove old batteries
- Put in new batteries
- Put container back into thermostat in the same direction that battery container was taken out
- Thermostat will then immediately begin to work again
5.
HOW TO CHANGE A FURNACE FILTER
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGYrVgFSzV4
- Open or slide the door panel to get access to the furnace
- Usually find the filter around where the cool air enters the furnace
- Slide out the old filter and replace it with the new one
- Make sure the air flow arrows on the side of the filter are pointing the correct direction - toward the blower and away from the cold air
- Replace the panel or door
- Replace filter around every month
6.
HOW TO CHANGE SMOKE DETECTOR BATTERIES
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QoGF-Dv0BY
- may require a 9 volt or AA battery
- open door
- pull out old battery
- install new battery
- shut battery door
- push button to ensure that alarms work
- recommend changing batteries yearly and changing all batteries throughout the home at the same time
How to?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gudS4XDizCI
- Pull off bulb cover to reveal the control system of the opener
- Push the square learn button, a light above it will turn on
- Then press one of the buttons on the remote, this will program the opener to understand the remote?s signal
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7. HD LIFTMASTER GARAGE DOOR OPENER KEYPAD PROGRAM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5_9PoqB-p0
- Go to motor unit
- On the rear, there is a purple learn button behind the flip down door
- Press this button, green light will appear
- Now have 30 seconds to get to keypad unit and change the code by simply plugging in the new code
- Press enter, the light will flicker which means that the new code has been set
- How to set a temporary pin?
- Enter the regular code on the keypad
- Then press star
- Now enter temporary pin
- Press enter
- Can set the number of hours for this code to be set, or the number of openings
- To set openings number- press the number, then #
- To set the amount of hours ? enter the original user pin, then press *
- Then enter temporary pin, press enter
- Enter the number of hours and hold *
9.
HOW TO PROPERLY WINTERIZE A HOSE BIBB
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHubU3FpRbg
- There are two hose bib set-ups
- Make sure there is no hose on either hose bib
- Could purchase insolated cover, but not necessary
- Frost-free hose bib
- Shut off the handle
- Excess water that was still in the pipe will then ?leak? outside of the house for 15-20 seconds which is normal
- Silcoc application
- Shut off the valve on the inside ? ball valve, gate valave, or stop and waste valve
- Go outside and turn on your silcoc outside
- In the spring, when you want to turn on water again?
- Often a leak will develop on the gate valve
- Take a crescent wrench, put it on the packing nut and give it about an eighth of a turn clockwise which should stop any leakage
- Turn on hose bib from the outside
