Ask The Expert
I have Stink Bugs every where, can I do anythig about them at my house?None of the outlets in my bathroom/kitchen/outside are working but none of the breakers are tripped. What's going on?
My garage door will not close all the way unless I hold down the button the entire time. What is causing this problem?
My gas stove will not light. There is gas but no spark
Are my plants going to survive the snow that is on top of them?
Can an Ice Dam damage my house?
I have Stink Bugs every where, can I do anythig about them at my house?
Yes, there are several approcahs that you can take to deal with the bugs, an aggressive approach with a insecticide to kill them on teh exterior or an natural approach to prevent from comming and sealing up your exterior and keeping them our of the house. To here more about how to get rid of stink bugs, contact your home mamager.
None of the outlets in my bathroom/kitchen/outside are working but none of the breakers are tripped. What's going on?
Electrical outlets located in areas that might be exposed to water, including bathrooms, kitchens, bars and exterior outlets, are required by code to be tied to a ground fault circuit interruptor (GFCI) breaker or outlet. GFCI outlets can be identified by their "test" and "reset" buttons. If your outlets are not working, chances are they are tied to a GFCI outlet that has tripped. Once you find the GFCI, press the "reset" button to restore power. If you cannot reset the outlet then you will need to contact an electrician to have it replaced.
My garage door will not close all the way unless I hold down the button the entire time. What is causing this problem?
There are several possible issues that will prevent your garage door from closing properly, and all of them are tied to the safety sensors mounted on either side of the bottom of your garage door tracks. If the sensors are not aligned so that they communicate with each other, or if the beam between the sensors is blocked, the door will not close all the way. Check to make sure the sensors are aligned and the lenses are clear of debris (spider webs can block the rays). Newer sensers have lights on them that will blink if the laser is not communicating properly. Also check the bottom of the door for leaves and other debris that could break the beam as the door lowers. Finally, if the issue arises early in the morning or late in the day, it could be caused by sunlight shining directly into one of the sensors. Try shading the sensor and then closing the door again.
My gas stove will not light. There is gas but no spark
If the ignitor does not do anything - does not spark or make any noise - chances are there is no power to the unit. Oftentimes the stovetop ignitor is tied to one of the GFI outlets (the ones with the buttons) in your kitchen. Check to see if you can push in the reset button on any of the GFI outlets. If you can, this will probably solve your problem
Are my plants going to survive the snow that is on top of them?
in general your plants are tuff ans will sruvey if they are not broken from the snow. We are seeing many trees that are damages and will not make it, however, you shold do nothing until the spring and see what plants bounce back. Click here to read more about Landscape Issues from the snow and what can be done about them in your yard.
Can an Ice Dam damage my house?
Ice Dam can cause significate damage to the your home and even possbile hurt you or other as they enter and exist your home. Ice Dams form along gutter line on the house and can be very large and heavy, and even remove the gutters from your home. Click here to read more about Ice Damming and what can be done about it at your home.
