Empowering residents one home improvement tip at a time!


Maintaining your new home can be a big job. From smoke alarms to breaker issues, caring for a property takes dedication and awareness from tenants and landlords alike. There's plenty to do!


Here is a guide to troubleshooting common problems in any home:

  • SMOKE/CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS

    If your smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector is going off, please go outside and call 911 immediately! If your smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector is beeping, it probably needs a new battery. It is the tenant’s responsibility to ensure all alarms have functioning batteries. Do not touch any alarms on the walls of the unit, only the ceiling.

  • GARBAGE DISPOSALS

    Clogged garbage disposals are most often the tenant’s responsibility and shouldn’t need a technician to assist. Watch this video for help unclogging the disposal yourself to avoid the cost of a professional:

    1. Follow this link for a quick tutorial on how to unclog your garbage disposal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0OByRuoYM0. 
    2. If the garbage disposal is still clogged after these steps, please proceed with a maintenance request.
    3. Your garbage disposal might seem powerful enough to chew through anything, but some foods can cause damage if they go down the drain. For helpful garbage disposal tips, including cleaning, maintenance, and more information as to what foods should never go into a disposal, click here.

    Foods to never place in garbage disposal:

    1. Bones, pasta, rice, eggshells, fibrous vegetables, coffee grounds, non-food items. 

    Cleaning

    1. Baking Soda & Vinegar: As discussed, pour half a cup of baking soda into the disposal, followed by a cup of vinegar. Let it sit for about 10 minutes, allowing the natural chemical reaction to fizz and clean.
    2. Ice Cubes & Salt: Occasionally, run a handful of ice cubes combined with coarse salt. This scours the blades, removing stubborn debris and sharpens them.
    3. Citrus Peels: For a refreshing scent, occasionally grind lemon or orange peels, which naturally deodorize, leaving a pleasant aroma.
    4. Affresh Garbage Disposal Cleaner

    Note: Again, do not use liquid drain cleaner in the kitchen sink, especially in a garbage disposal.



    Amazon
  • DISHWASHERS

    The most common cause of dishwasher issues is a dirty/clogged filter. Please follow the below steps and see if it corrects the issue.

    1. To ensure proper operation of your dishwasher, do not use dishwasher pods. Jetdry or another rinse agent is highly recommended and make sure to clean the filter at the bottom of the dishwasher. Periodically run a cycle using Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner.

    2. Click the links below to see how to clean your dishwasher filter.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck3RtAhtuZk

    https://www.kitchenaid.com/pinch-of-help/major-appliances/how-to-clean-dishwasher-filter.html

    3. Cleaner purchase Link: https://a.co/d/hEgDUVN



    Amazon
  • SLOW/CLOGGED DRAINS/TOILETS

    Clogged drains/toilets are most often tenant responsibilities typically due to hair, toys, or other non-flushable items being placed down a drain/toilet. To unclog your sink or toilet, please refer to the steps below.

    For Sinks: 

    1. Remove hair and debris from the drain. You can use a very inexpensive drain stick from a home improvement store to easily remove hair clogs or remove/clean the stopper. To remove the sink stopper, Click Here.

    2. Try using a sink plunger or removing/cleaning the drain plug. Do not use liquid drain cleaner in the kitchen, especially in garbage disposal.

        a. If the sink is still clogged after these steps, please proceed with a maintenance request.

    For Toilets:

    1. Use a toilet plunger to clear the clog. If a toilet plunger doesn’t work, try to use a snake to remove the clog. 

        a. If the toilet is still clogged after these steps, please proceed with a maintenance request.

    Note: Again, do not use liquid drain cleaner in the kitchen sink, especially in a garbage disposal.



  • A/C OR HEAT

    Most HVAC issues are due to dirty filter that clogs the system. Below is a list of remedies which will solve most issues.

    1. Make sure the air filter is clean and properly installed. Maintaining a clean air filter is tenant responsibility. Please change your air filter every 2-3 months. If you are having issues with heating/cooling, please flip the breaker for your Furnace or A/C, leaving off for a few minutes, then flip the breaker back on to see if that resets the system and resolves the issue. 

        a. If the above steps and replacing the filter does not fix the problem, please proceed with a maintenance request.

    Most HVAC issues are due to dirty filter that clogs the system. Below is a list of remedies which will solve most issues.

    1. Make sure the air filter is clean and properly installed. Maintaining a clean air filter is tenant responsibility. Please change your air filter every 2-3 months. If you are having issues with heating/cooling, please flip the breaker for your Furnace or A/C, leaving off for a few minutes, then flip the breaker back on to see if that resets the system and resolves the issue. 

        a. If the above steps and replacing the filter does not fix the problem, please proceed with a maintenance request.



  • THERMOSTAT PROGRAMMING

    Refer to the owner’s manual or use Google to determine how to program your model of thermostat or change the batteries. If you cannot program the thermostat, please proceed with a maintenance request.

  • GARAGE REMOTES/DOORS

    The most common cause of garage door remote control failure is weak or dead batteries. For assistance, please google the make of your remote/opener and follow the instructions listed. If replacing the batteries does not work, or you have other issues, please proceed with a maintenance request.

  • PEST CONTROL

    Try products like insect repellant or mouse traps that you can purchase and use yourself. For more tips on pest control, please click the button below. If you have tried to resolve the pest issue yourself and cannot, please proceed with a maintenance request.



    Pest Control Tips
  • POWER OUTLETS/POWER OUTAGES

    Most power issues are the result of a tripped breaker or GFCI outlet. A GFCI outlet (ground fault circuit interrupter) is an electrical device that will trip if a ground fault is indicated, causing the outlets to not work until reset. Please try the steps below to resolve the power issue.

    1. Make sure there is not an Xcel Energy power outage in your neighborhood. You can confirm this by checking with Xcel. 
    2. Check your breaker panel for Tripped or Off breakers. Reset any breakers that are not in the On position. If you are unsure, switch the breaker to the Off position and then back to On. (If your breaker panel is outside, please refer to the video below for how to access it. Click Here)

    For outlets/appliances,

         i.Test the light switches to see if they turn the outlet On and Off.                  

        ii.Reset the GFCI outlet.

    1. Typically, only 1 outlet on a circuit will have a Test and a Reset button, which will reset all outlets on the circuit. The bathroom GFCI Test/Reset outlet is usually located in the main level bathroom. Reset the outlet by pushing in the Reset button on the outlet.
    2. Follow this link for a quick tutorial on how to test and reset your GFCI outlet. Click Here
    • If the above steps do not work, try unplugging all your devices and slowly add devices back one by one to see if that could be the cause of the tripped breaker/outlet.                             

          iii.If the resetting of the breaker and/or any GFCI outlets does not work, please proceed with a maintenance request.


  • DRYER VENT/DUCT CLEANING

    The tenant is responsible for maintaining a clean dryer, as well as the duct through to the outside of the home. Ducts that vent to the roof are the landlord’s responsibility. The tenant should not go on the roof.

    For more tips on duct cleaning, look here.

    https://www.build.com/9-dryer-maintenance-tips-to-live-by/a22905



  • LIGHT BULBS/FRIDGE FILTERS

    The tenant is responsible for maintaining and replacing light bulbs and refrigerator filters. Only place a maintenance request if the light fixture itself is not working and above steps did not solve the issue. Replacement fridge filters are available online and at big box stores like Home Depot. These filters are easy to replace, and the type can be found on the existing filter in the refrigerator. If you have a question on how to replace your filter, please google the make/model and follow the instructions. 

  • BATHROOM VENT FANS

    Bathroom vent fans are needed to remove excess moisture when showers/baths are used. Please turn the vent fan on 10 mins prior to showering and leave on for 10 mins after showering to remove all excess moisture from the bathroom.

    After a heavy rain, snowstorm, or snap freeze/arctic blast you may notice dripping from your vent fan. This is condensation from the weather and not a leak. If you have water dripping from your vent fan, please do what you can to mitigate the dripping water. Do not submit a maintenance request unless the issue continues 2 days or more after the weather event.



  • PREFFERED VENDORS

    Handyman Services

    • Casey Campbell Home Services
    • 720-982-4055

    Junk Haul Service

    • Mile High Haul Off
    • 720-999-0941

    Pest Control Services

    • Colorado Pest Pros
    • 720-422-1083

    Cleaning Services

    • Purrrfection Cleaning
    • 720-327-9924


Tenant FAQ


  • I HAVE A NOISE COMPLAINT.

    If you are experiencing a noise complaint please reach out to your neighbors and ask them to quiet down or call the non-emergency Police line and file a noise complaint.

  • I AM EXPERIENCING INTERNET ISSUES.

    If you are experiencing internet issues please reach out to your current internet provider as we have no control over their systems.

  • SOMEONE IS IN MY PARKING SPOT

    We know this can be frustrating. Please leave a note on the vehicle letting them know this is a reserved spot, if the issue persists please let your property manager know.

  • POWER OUTAGE

    Contact Xcel Energy and verify there is not an outage in your area and also check your breaker panel to make sure no breakers have tripped.  

  • CAN I HANG THIS?

    As long as what you are wanting to hang does not damage the property, please refer to the Wear and Tear document, you are welcome to hang objects/art. If you still have quetions please reach out to your property manager.

  • I AM HAVING SNOW REMOVAL ISSUES.

    If we remove snow at your property we come out anytime snow is over 2 inches and shovel/salt all parking lots and walkways. If you are in a single family home or property that does not receive snow removal you have 24/hrs to clear all public walkways of snow. 

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