What you need to know damaging termites

What you need to know damaging termites

Termites leave few clues of there arrival and are active all year round. Those pesky termites cause severe damage to homes, sometimes repairs are not typically covered in standard insurance policies. Discovering unsettling damage at your home can cost thousands of dollars. Termites like damp, dark, and warm areas of a home. Termites live in colonies and once the little termites grow to a certain extent they form a swarm, which is a traveling crowd, and maintain a colony.

Signs of termite damage can include buckling ceilings or walls, appearance of water damage, maze like tunnels in wooden structures, mud tunnels on foundation walls, swarms of termites, termites are known to ruin carpeting, walls, furniture, and flooring.

Can the damage from termites be fixed?

Even though it is rare for some termite species to damage a home beyond repair, if the infestation is not treated for many years. If caught soon enough the cost of the termite repair would be much less.

Subterranean termites

Florida has the subterranean termite species as a termite colony can case significant damage to a house in approximately two years, if it is not treated or controlled. These African subterranean termites dwell underground in loose damp soil. The largest subterranean termite colonies eat about a pound of wood per day and up wards to 100 pounds per year. These critters can travel in tunnels from the ground up on foundation walls and enter your home.

Drywood termites

Other smaller colony species such as the drywood termites can cause the same type of damage over a period of 20 years. These termites live in and feed on wood, they are often found in studded walls, attic areas, and furniture. They eat wood from the inside out.

Swarming termites

These termites swarm in warm weather and often after a rain shower to start new colonies. As the swarming event be so brief you may not even see the flying termites. You are likely to view the discarded wings around window sills, doors, house vents, bathtubs and sinks. Winged termites are attracted to light sources and are mostly active in spring time.

 What can I do to prevent termite damage?

Termite bait or liquid treatements are the best ways to prevent termites. A preventative measure would include eliminating wood-soil contact and resolving moisture problems, store firewood at least 20 feet away from your home, maintain a 18” gap between mulch or soil and wood parts of the home, cut foliage at least 3 feet away, aim irrigation sprinklers away from the foundation, and direct downspouts away from the home. Keep air vents clear and clean so the air can circulate in attics and crawl spaces, however these measures will not keep termites from trying to enter your home.

As a preventive measure, you could use “Bora-Care”. This is a borate treatment that is easily applied to wood and over time can penetrate the entire mass of wood. It is not only a fungus treatment but also making wood unappetizing to wood boring insects and uninhabitable to fungi.

If you believe you’ve found termite damage or have inspection repairs with in your home or just want some peace of mind, call a trusted handyman for your repairs.

If your home needs siding repairs, take action now and schedule Mr. Fix-It Handyman Service to fix up your home!

Help solve temperature fluctuation on a tankless water heater

Troubleshoot temperature fluctuation problems

Learn how to troubleshoot and solve temperature fluctuation on a tankless water heater. You wouldn’t want to get caught in an unpleasant cold water sandwich situation when taking a shower. As the water temperature fluctuates delivered from a tankless water heater after the first few minutes you enjoy a nice hot shower and then changes to cold and back to warm/hot again.

Cold water sandwich 

This problematic issue especially on an electric tankless water heater occurs when the temperature variation when the heater is on as it provides hot water. When the water is not being dispensed from a fixture. Such as the tap being closed the unit shuts off, as the water inside the pipes get cooled. The water heater turns on and the cool water inside the pipes dispenses the cooled water before the hot water reaches the fixture. This results in cold water bursting or the cold water sandwich effect.

In homes it is suggested to set the water heater to a safe 120 degree temperature. One of the main reasons why temperature fluctuates is your tankless heater stopped working due to lack of low water. Usually the minimum flow rate is around 0.4-0.5. If your water heating system is not designed properly where the capacity is smaller than the demand, such as a change in flow from other fixtures in the home are opened or closed you can ‘feel the fluctuation of the temperature drop. Today, most tankless water heating systems have some type of water filtration or may have an inlet filter screen before water reaches the heater elements. It is suggested to change the filter or clean the inlet filter screen located at the bottom of the unit every six months or more frequently depending on your homes water usage.

Restriction of water flow

Water in Florida has a high mineral deposit count the can lead to a restriction of water flow in plumbing fixture parts such as long term mineral build up deposits on faucet aerators, shower heads. It would be a good idea to flush and clean each single one. You can soak them in household white vinegar to help dissolve the mineral deposits and flush the parts toughly with water before reinstalling.

Plumbing crossover

Temperature fluctuation may occur due to a plumbing crossover of a faulty mixing valve, incorrect plumbing, single lever faucet, or failed washer in a fixture. An easy way to find out is close the main line going to the heater and open a hot water tap, wait five minutes, and if water is still flowing there is a problem with a plumbing crossover.

Water pressure

A tankless water heater normally uses constant water pressure maintained at 30 psi. The pressure needs to be consistent so if you have a well on your property, be sure the pressure is present.

Mixing Valves

Do you have a mixing valve installed; a mixing valve lowers the temperature of hot water and mixes it with cold water. Check to see the water temperature on the valve.

Before any changes to fix your temperature fluctuation problem, measure the fill time to see what the proper activation flow rate is. If your experiencing longer than usual the odds is the activation rate is not met.

If you are experiencing difficulty to solve your temperature fluctuation problems and you need other home repairs, hire a professional handyman.

Surprising common causes why a breaker trips

Our surprising common causes why a breaker trips

Electrical issues in a home may be surprising at times we laid down some common causes why a breaker trips. A breaker trip comes as a result of a circuit attached to your circuit breaker exceeding safe parameters. Here are the top five common causes why a breaker to trip overloads, short circuiting, ground faults, appliance failure, and storms may cause your circuit to flip.

Overloads

Since breakers have a safety limit built in you may have too many appliances or outlets overloading the circuit. This is a more common issue with in a home. When you overload a circuit as more the items powered in your home draw to much amperage exceeding on the circuit. The safe limit of the breaker trips the supply on the circuit this causes an overloaded circuit. One cause of more than 40,000 residential fires is attributed by overloaded circuits in the United States. If you find yourself using extension cords or multiple plug adaptors to a plug consider having an electrician install more outlets or on a new or different branch circuits to handle the demand of power.

Short circuiting

A short circuit happens when a hot live wire comes in contact with other hot wires. This sometimes can be seen on outlets in the home. The blackening around an outlet or a burnt smell could indicate a short circuit. When this happens, turn off power to the circuit and call in for an expert.

Ground fault

A ground fault occurs when a ground wire touches a hot live wire. Handle this problem as the same manner as a short circuit.

Appliance failure

As an appliance ages the components tend to fail over time. This can cause overloading to the circuit as the faulty appliance can draw more power than intended and can initiate an overload of the circuit. If the appliance is hotter than usual it may be time to replace the appliance.

Storms

Lightning strikes can travel across electrical lines and into your home, this can blow one or more of your breakers in one swift jolt. If you can’t get the power back on, just to be safe it would be a wise choice to call in an expert for repair to look for burnt wires.

Why does my breaker trip on my A/C unit?

Although it may be common for a breaker to trip due to a loose connection or result of a thunderstorm it is important to try to reset it “one time” by turning it off all the way and flipping it back on. Since breakers are a safety device as they are designed not only to protect the equipment but wiring and home as well. This problem should be taken seriously. If the breaker trips immediately after resetting it the circuit is telling you there is a problem. This is generally indicated by a direct short. Do not try to reset it again since time has come to investigate the problem with in the circuit.

If the breaker feels hot to the touch this indicates a problem to be not ignored. Remember you are dealing with high voltage and amperage which can cause serious damage to property and life.

Your A/C appliance may be causing the breaker to trip. A hard start of the compressor trying to kick on may be causing the breaker to trip. A simple fix of a “hard start kit would repair this issue by replacing the faulty capacitor on the outside unit.

Other issues such as a weak compressor, under-sized breaker or wire, defective breaker, loose breaker, loose electrical connection, weak capacitor, or a locked up motor or compressor may cause the electrical circuit to trip.

Don’t ignore a tripped breaker schedule your appliance repair today.