Repair Disposal

We get many calls from customers telling us their garbage disposal won't turn on but makes a humming sound when you flip the switch. If you keep trying to turn it on, it won't do that for long because it will probably trip the breaker on the bottom of the disposal.

If you have this problem, it usually means you have a stuck flywheel and the reset button on the unit itself or the fuse or circuit breaker in your electrical service panel will trip and turn off very quickly. The flywheel is stuck because something is lodged between it or the impeller(s) and the shredder ring.

To repair this issue follow these easy steps:

1. Turn off power to the garbage disposal at the electrical switch or service panel.2. Reminder: Don't ever put your hand down into the garbage disposal hopper (grinding chamber) with the power attached.
3. Take the offset wrench that came with the disposal unit and insert the wrench into the flywheel turning hole in the bottom of the unit. If you don't have the wrench you can pick one up from the hardware store that sells your garbage disposal.
4. Once the wrench is inserted, turn it clockwise to dislodge the stuck impeller or flywheel. When it dislodges, you'll feel the flywheel turn freely.
5. Another approach is to try and use a wooden broom-handle or similar wooden object to free the stuck impeller and flywheel from the top of the unit through the drain.
6. Place the broom-handle into the hopper and against an impeller. Use leverage to try and free the stuck flywheel. As before, when it dislodges you'll feel the flywheel turn freely.
7. Once freed, turn the power back on at the panel but don't turn on the disposal yet.
8. Go back to the disposal and press the reset button.
9. Run some tap water into the disposal and quickly flip the switch on and off turning the disposal on for a short burst. Turn on and off again quickly. That should spin the flywheel and the dislodged obstruction should be washed down the drain.
10. If for some reason the obstruction is being caused by a metal screw or nail you will need to turn the power off again and use a flashlight to locate the item. Once located use a magnet or screw grabber to retrieve the item. Once removed turn the power back on and follow the instructions in number 9 above.

You can also watch this YouTube Video

If you are unable to free the obstruction call a professional to assist you.

If you have any questions please email us at sales@onecallhomehandyman.com or go to our site at http://www.onecallhomehandyman.com/

Granite Countertops

As a handyman general contractor, we do kitchen and bathroom restoration projects on an almost monthly basis.  As a part of these restorations, the replacement of counter tops is a must if the project is going to be successful.

Before we started offering this type service, we did extensive research into the techniques and products necessary to accomplish this task and found that these type of repairs take extensive skills and know how, and only the highest skilled and experienced craftsmen can accomplish this task.

That is why we only send our best crews to remove and replace counter tops and have contracted with the best craftsmen in Houston to accomplish our granite counter top installations.

As you probably know, the beauty of natural stone is legendary. From counter tops to flooring, natural stone can turn an ordinary room into a showplace. Our natural stone products include granite, marble, travertine and quart, and we offer these items in a variety of colors, shapes and designs. From prefabricated and custom counter tops, we offer our customers the largest and finest selection.

Although there are many counter top choices in the market, we believe granite is the superior choice. Stunning and stylish, granite counter tops are the perfect addition to any kitchen or bathroom; blending well with both contemporary and traditional styles. It defines elegance in any area and contributes to the beauty of even the most modest kitchens or baths. Products made of natural stone will not depreciate with time and will add value to any property. There is no surface as distinct and unique in its beauty as natural stone. The durability of natural stone is also one of the main reasons it is selected.

In addition to withstanding high heat and traffic, stone such as granite is naturally resilient to scratches. Our granite is pre-fabricated at the manufacturer to save you both time and money. Our granite counter tops come in standard counter top and island sizes that will minimize waste and cost. With the edges already finished, our fabricator only needs to cut the granite pieces to length and add sink or cook-top cutouts prior to installation. These reduced fabrication and material costs ultimately save you money.

Our selection of granite includes 41 granite colors imported representing countries from all over the world such as Brazil, China and India, which gives you a diverse selection to suit your every need.

If you have any questions please email us at sales@onecallhomehandyman.com or go to our site at http://www.onecallhomehandyman.com/countertops.html for more information.  You can also contact us by phone at (832) 800-4441.

Inspection Repair Services

The listing make-ready and option period after a contract is executed, can be a very stressful time, as inspection reports can reveal an overwhelming number of flagged or non-compliant items. A good Buyer's or Seller’s Agent should do everything in their power to keep the contract in good standing and help their client reach the ultimate goal - CLOSING. To do this, most Realtors® have a group of licensed and qualified contractors to provide the best, and hopefully lowest, estimates possible for the repairs to be made. However, many buyers and sellers are astonished to find that many contractors are not willing to bid inspection repairs.

Much to the buyer’s and seller’s dismay, most contractors do not see any chance of their bid being accepted and are hesitant to provide free estimates. Unfortunately for you, the buyer or seller has to pay those contractors a “trip charge”, regardless of whether an estimate is provided or not. In many cases, the contractor will not bid at all, thereby making your task of getting an estimate harder.

One Call has a better option! Instead of dealing with multiple contractors, hoping for several estimates that are reasonable, One Call, though it's many years of experience and an extensive list of highly qualified sub-contractors, can provide an inspection review, invaluable feedback and one estimate report that outlines the costs of all repairs requested. 

Realtot's® and customers who have the correct information and are in touch with the trends are the ones who list, sell and complete transactions swiftly.

We charge a nominal fee of $105 for our standard inspection service or $150 for expedited service, which is credited if the Realtor® or client utilizes us to repair their home.

If you have any questions please email us at sales@onecallhomehandyman.com or go to our site at http://www.onecallhomehandyman.com/option.html and follow the instructions. 

Upgrading Lighting to LED Bulbs

We get a lot of calls from customers telling us they want to change the type of lighting they are getting in their newer homes from the standard incandescent down lighting.

After much study and research I have found that incandescent and halogen lights generate a huge amount of heat (about 3° F more heat in your house) that you have to air condition out, and cost you on average of between $150 to $250 more on your energy bill over the useful life of the replacement LED bulb.  That is about 75% more than the LED replacements, even with the extra cost of the bulbs.

After investigating replacement bulbs, I found that LED replacements at The Home Depot generate much brighter light and create a much more pleasant home environment.

There are multiple replacement bulbs I would recommend and they are as follows:

1. The EcoSmart 16-Watt BR40 LED Flood Light Bulb for standard down cans
2. The EcoSmart 14-Watt BR30 LED Flood Light Bulb for directional cans
3. The EcoSmart 6-Watt LED Light Bulb to replace a standard 40-Watt bulb or the EcoSmart 10-Watt LED Light Bulb to replace a standard 60-Watt bulb
4. The EcoSmart Candelabra 4-Watt LED Light Bulb to replace a standard 25-Watt bulb
5. And multiple others that are equivalent to other standard bulbs

The steps for replacing these bulbs are as follows:

1. Count your down can, directional cans, standard light bulbs and candelabra bulbs in your home.
2. Purchase your bulbs and try to see if the manager at The Home Depot will give you a discount for these bulbs.  They run between $15 and $35 each but last up to 25,000 hours, use about 20% of the energy of a standard bulb and produce almost no heat.  All of this can save you as much at $250 over the life of the bulb.
3. Remove the existing incandescent light bulbs.
4. If you are replacing standard light bulbs, go to number 8. 
5. While replacing can or down light bulbs, if the bulb being replaced is the same length as the LED bulb, go to number 8.
6. If you happen to have a short version of can or down flood, about 1" shorter than the new bulb, you will need to adjust the bulb support inside the can.  This is done by removing the cover from the can, loosening the wing nut that holds the bulb support, move the bracket up toward the top of the can by about 1" and then re-tighten the retaining wing nut. (see illustration below)
7. Once the bulb bracket is secure replace the cover.
8. Install the new LED light bulbs and test it to make sure it turns on and off properly.
9. Repeat these steps on every bulb until you have replaced all the bulbs.
10. Discard all replaced bulbs properly as required by your local garbage collection or recycling authority.
11. If you are unable to make any of the above adjustments or steps please call a professional to assist you.

If you have any questions please email us at sales@onecallhomehandyman.com or go to our site at http://www.onecallhomehandyman.com for more information. You can also contact us by phone at (832) 800-4441.

Lighting A Water Heater Pilot After Gas Has Been Turned Off

We get a lot of calls from customers telling us they are having issues lighting their hot water heater after they have had the gas turned off. This is a common issue and is very easy to solve!!!

Here are the steps you should use to light your pilot and have hot water tonight.

1. Make sure your gas is turned on to the house and to the hot water heater.
2. Turn the top or side selector to Pilot and push down or in (black arrow to the right).  This will start the flow of gas to the pilot.  Since the gas has been off for a while, make sure you hold it down for a few minutes before trying to start the pilot.
3. After a few minutes, push the igniter button (red arrow) to create a spark at the pilot to light it.  If it does not light, continue to hold the knob down and repeat his step until the pilot lights.  You may have to hold it down for quite a while if the gas has been off for an extended time.  Just keep repeating this step until it lights.
4. Once the pilot lights, hold the knob down for a minute or so, release the knob and turn it to on.
5. The burner should light and start heating the water.
6. Make sure to adjust the water temperature below 120° F so you do not scald yourself.  

If all else fails just call a professional or One Call Home Handyman and we will help in any way we can.
 

If you have any questions please email us at sales@onecallhomehandyman.com or go to our site at http://www.onecallhomehandyman.com/

Extension Cord Keeps Tangling

During all my years as a contractor I have never had a problem with my extension cords tangling because of a little trick I learned years ago from a old framer.  Since I visit many a home and see their extension cords tangled, I though you might want to view this YouTube video, No Tangle Extension Cord Storage, and never have a tangled extension cord again...

Remember, if all else fails just call a professional or One Call Home Handyman and we will help in any way we can.  If you have any questions please email us at sales@onecallhomehandyman.com or go to our site at http://www.onecallhomehandyman.com/

Toilet Won't Stop Running

During a recent visit to one of my customer's homes I was asked to help fix a toilet that would not stop running.  Upon investigation I found that about every minute or so the tank valve would come on and fill the tank with a small amount of water.  This ususally means that the flapper valve is leaking and is a simple fix.  Upon further investigation I saw that the gasket under the flapper assembly was deteriorating and was allowing water to leak into the tank.

Since the toilet was only 4 years old and these gaskets are supposed to last many years I did some investigation and found that recent research has shown that many common toilet cleaning products can damage the rubber flapper causing significant leakage. Dropping certain toilet bowl cleaners (usually in the form of large white tablets) into your toilet tank may result in damage to the parts within the tank, especially if you do not flush your toilet at least once a day. Some manufacturers may even void the warranty on those parts. If you chose to use these cleaners, the toilet must be flushed at least once per day. As an alternative, use the in-bowl toilet cleaner rather than the in-tank cleaners.

Since the prior owner did not know about this issue, I had to change the entire gasket and flapper assembly.  This assembly on cost about $5 - $10 at Home Depot or Lowe's.

If the toilet is conventional, the process of changing the gaskets is as follows:

1. Turn off the water supply to the toilet.
2. Flush the toilet to get as much water out of the tank.
3. With some old rags, sop up all the water left in the tank.
4. Loosen and remove two nuts and washers on the two bolts which secure the tank to the bowl.
5. Carefully lift the tank off off the bowl, and set it upside down on the floor.
6. Remove the old gasket from wherever it's stuck, and clean all fragment from the contact areas on both the bowl and bottom of the tank.
7. Unscrew the large nut that holds the flapper assembly onto the tank.
8. Remove the old gasket between the flapper assembly and the tank.
9. Install the new gasket on the flapper assembly.
10. Install the flapper assembly back into the tank by screwing the nub back onto the flapper assembly and tightening it (do not over tighten).
11. Install the new gasket onto the bowl float screw.
12. Remove the bolts and old washers from the tank, and clean the mating surface.
13. Install new washers on the bolts [they go inside the tank, under the bolt heads]
14. Carefully set the tank atop the bowl, being very careful to get perfect alignment on the first try.
15. Reinstall the two bolts with new washers.
16. By hand very carefully reinstall the nuts and washers on the bolts, running them all the way up by hand. 17. With a wrench, very carefully final tighten the nuts, but not too tight as it is very easy to overload the china bowl or tank, resulting in breaking one or both, ruining the entire toilet assembly. The nuts don't have to be extremely tight just up snug so as to just slightly begin to compress the washers.

If all else fails just call a professional or One Call Home Handyman and we will help in any way we can.

If you have any questions please email us at sales@onecallhomehandyman.com or go to our site at http://www.onecallhomehandyman.com/