6 common maintenance issues and how to fix them

Here at ADC Property Solutions we do a lot of property maintenance. On our travels, we have come across problems which keep occurring. We thought we could help to stop these issues from growing so wrote this post to help people prevent the problem in the first place.   So the question is do you want to:

  • Avoid having to replace expensive parts of your home
  • Save money by preventing the problems before they happen
  • Avoid hassle further down the line when a huge problem happens
  • Keep your property in tip top condition in case you want to sell it

Without further ado lets save you a lot of hassle and money! We spoke to our Operations Manager Gary Evans and his sidekick Joe Patchett to get the best information available.

1. Doors

Maintaining doors

One of the most important parts of a house are doors so, keeping them well maintained is very important.
Doors are one of the most common maintenance problems we come across here at ADC.

Gary says
  • Keep a regular schedule of door painting at least once a year with a oil-based waterproof paint.
  • Keep the door hinges well lubricated using WD40

2. Toilets

Maintaining toilets

Even pink toilet roll can’t make this toilet acceptable

Every great kingdom needs a fantastic throne to sit on. If there is one thing you don’t want to break it is the toilet, we are constantly getting called out to jobs with a large array of waste around the toilet. They often say that prevention is cheaper than the cure and that holds true for toilets especially

Joe says
  • Buy a good quality toilet in the first place
  • If your toilet is flushing or draining slowly then check your drains are clear

3 Roof Leaks

How to maintain your roof and stop leaks

One of the main things in life is keeping a roof over your head. Keeping it well maintained is important unless you want to have a large amount of buckets catching rain around your home.

Our experts say
  • Have a trained professional come and repoint your roof once every two years
  • If you do this you will avoid water penetration and therefore by extension avoid puddles on the floor

4. Damp

How to avoid damp!

Almost every person on the planet has encountered damp at some point in their lives. The sight of damp is usually enough for people to get frustrated.

Gary says
  • Double glaze your windows, as they become the coldest part as they are thinner than the walls this means condensation will form on the glass first.
  • Get an extractor fan fitted into the room to help get rid of the moisture in the air

5. Gutters

How to maintain a roof

It is the job most people tend to put off because of the effort required getting a ladder. However it can be one of the most beneficial as clearing out the gutters can help prevent rain collecting inside of the roof and causing either leaks or damp to take hold.

Joe says
  • Make sure you clean out your gutters regularly, usually once every 6 months is fine

6. Locks

How to maintain your locks
Possibly the most important home maintenance task if you take your families security seriously. If your lock starts to deteriorate it can lead to a whole host of problems such as burglary, keys getting broken and getting locked out of your home in the rain! Here at ADC nobody wants that we want you to be inside your home sitting next to a warm toasty fire.

Gary says
  • Buy a good lock in the first place spending money, in the beginning, is worth it
  • Never force a lock by attempting to a put a key inside which doesn’t fit as this only weakens the lock

Our experts Gary and Joe have over 27 years combined experience in the maintenance fields.

Gary started as an on-site apprentice at the age of 17 after which he did a 3-year full apprenticeship. After that experience, he then went into business for himself with DG Evans Building Services before coming to work as the Maintenance and Operations Manager at ADC Property Solutions. Joe also started at a young age as he completed a time served apprenticeship with Brunel House in Huddersfield working for Castles.