Page 15 - Hawaii Renovation - Dec 8, 2019

DEC. 8, 2019 HAWAII RENOVATION 15
Home projects that could save you thousands
Routine maintenance is a homeowner’s best line of defense when
it comes to protecting their investment.
“Many homeowners in- surance policyholders are choosing higher deductibles because it lowers their insur- ance costs,” said Christopher O’Rourke, Mercury Insurance vice president of property claims. “This means, howev- er, that if they need to make a claim then their out-of- pocket costs will be higher. So, the best claim is the one you don’t have to make, be- cause you’ve taken the time to ensure your property is properly maintained.”
Here are three projects that could save you money.
INSPECT HOSES AND PIPES
Refrigerators with ice- makers or water dispensers,
dishwashers and washing machines all have hoses that connect to your water supply. If these hoses wear out, blister or crack, or the connections loosen, they can cause leaks that can cause a lot of damage to your home and appliances. Replace these hoses with steel-braided hoses be-
cause they are less likely to fail and can be purchased at your local hardware store for around $20.
Periodically inspect the pipes under your kitchen and bathroom sinks for leaks.
“Oftentimes, people will notice a brown spot on the ceiling, bulge in the wall or swelling cabinets — all indi-
cators of water build-up or leaks — and most homeown- ers policies don’t cover long- term leaks,” said O’Rourke.
If you suspect you may have a leak, but the source isn’t easily accessible, time is of the essence. The aver- age cost to hire a plumber is about $300, which is less than the potential amount of damage an untreated leak might cause.
CLEAN DUCTS AND VENTS
According to the National Fire Protection Association, U.S. fire departments re- sponded to 15,050 home fires involving clothes dry- ers and washing machines in 2014, which is the most recent data available.
It’s important to empty your dryer’s lint filter after each use because lint is highly flammable. Combined
with the high heat given off during a tumble cycle, this is a recipe for disaster. Lint also accumulates in dryer ducts and vents. While they take a bit more effort and know-how to clean, it’s just as important to do this at least once a year.
Unfortunately, one Mer- cury policyholder learned this the hard way.
“Our insured’s dryer was about 12 years old and its vents had never been cleaned,” said O’Rourke. “The resulting fire caused $300,000 in damage to her home, which she was forced to leave for 10 months.”
The average cost of a pro- fessional dryer vent cleaning is less than $200.
INSPECT YOUR HOME’S EXTERIOR
Make a point of walking the perimeter of your home
to look for cracks, chips or holes in the façade and loose shingles on the roof. Imper- fections like these can be access points for unwanted water to enter the home, which can cause rot, mold or structural damage.
If your exterior walls are coated with built-up dirt and debris, wash them first to make it easier to detect potential problem areas. You can do this by attaching a cleaning tool to your garden hose or renting a pressure washer. Costs will vary, but start as low as $20.
Taking care of your prop- erty now with these simple maintenance tips could save you time and money in the long run.
This article is courtesy of Brandpoint.
FOR INFORMATION AND OFFERS ON HOME IMPROVEMENT
1
CREATE A
TEXT MESSAGE
Open a new text message and enter
HOME IMPROVEMENT
AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
HAWAII RENOVATION KEYWORD DIRECTORY
AIR CONDITIONING
AIR CITY HAWAII
AIRCITY
AIRE CONDITIONER SHOPPE
ACSHOPPE
BUILDING SUPPLIES
OHANA BUILDING SUPPLY
OHANA
RUI BUILDING SUPPLY
RUISUPPLY
CABINETRY
C&C CABINETS GRANITE
CCCABINET
DA WING TRADING, LLC
DAWING
GOLDEN CABINETS & STONE
GOLDENCAB
OHANA BUILDING SUPPLY
OHANA
FLOORING
KAHALA PACIFIC FLOORS
KPTFLOORING
TRI-WEST FLOORING
TRIWEST
GARDEN SUPPLIES
BIG ROCK FABRICATORS
BIGROCKS
GENERAL CONTRACTORS
ATLAS CONSTRUCTION
ATLAS
GRAHAM BUILDERS
GRAHAM
HK CONSTRUCTION, CORP
HKCON
HPS CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
HPSCON
HOMEWORKS CONSTRUCTION
HOMEWORKS
HUA XIA CONSTRUCTION
HUAXIA
KAI RIDGE HAWAII CONSTRUCTION KAIRIDGE
S. TANAKA CONSTRUCTION
STANAKA
WG CONSTRUCTION
WGCON
WONG CONSTRUCTION, LLC
WONG
HOME COOLING SYSTEM
ISLAND COOLING LLC
ICCONCEPTS
INTERIOR DESIGN
& CONSULTATION DESIGNER FOR A DAY DFAD
KITCHEN & BATH
ALL ISLAND BATH REMODELING
AIBATH
ISLAND BATH WORKS
ISLANDBATH
THE BATHROOM STORE
BATHSTORE
TROPICAL WHOLESALE
TROPWHOLE
PAINTERS
DEEP PURPLE PAINTING
PURPLEPAINT
PLUMBING
TROPICAL PLUMBING AND BATH TROPPLUMB
Text the KEYWORD to 71441
2
ENTER THE KEYWORD
In the body of the text message, type in the KEYWORD and then hit the “Send” button.
the number 71441 where you would normally put a phone number (the “to” line).
3
CLICK
ON THE LINK
In a few moments, you will receive a text message with a link on your phone. Click on the link to instantly access more information on the company!*
ENVIROWASH HAWAII
ENVIROWASH
ROOFING
TROPICAL WHOLESALE
TROPWHOLE
WEST OAHU ROOFING
WOROOFING
SOLAR
CLEAN SOLAR HAWAII
CLEANSOLAR
WINDOWS & DOORS
DIAMOND HEAD WINDOWS & DOORS DHWINDOWS
T&T TINTING
TNTTINT
TROPICAL WHOLESALE
TROPWHOLE
WINDOWS HAWAII
WHAWAII
ROOF & EXTERIOR
CLEANING
*Message & data rates may apply. Text STOP to 71441 to unsubscribe. Text HELP to 71441 for customer support. Visit http://www.staradvertiser.com/about/sa_term_of_ service.html for our Terms of Service and http://www.staradvertiser.com/about/sa_privacy_policy.html for our Privacy Policy.