Is it Time to Upgrade your Home's Electrical Panel?

Of all the things in our home that need maintenance, we rarely think about the home’s electrical panel.

Did you know that some older homes are built with electrical panels that don’t even meet today’s building codes? Routine inspection of your electrical panel is key to avoid any issues or fire hazards. Also be on the lookout for any of these home electrical issues could signify its time to upgrade the electrical panel:

1.    You are remodeling, adding an addition to your home, or installing new appliances.

Any of these things – large remodeling project, home addition, or new large appliances – can consume large quantities of electricity that your current electrical panel may not be prepared to handle. In order to avoid tripping your circuit breakers on a routine basis, upgrade the panel to add amperage.

2.    You suspect electrical wiring issues throughout the home.

Did you know that faulty wiring is a leading cause of home fires in the US? It is important to have your electrical panel and the wiring throughout the home checked by a licensed Plano electrician. Warning signs include sparking or discolored outlets, flickering lights, dimming lights, and a burning smell that will not go away.

3.    You use a ton of extension cords and power strips.

In our day and age, we have tons of devices that we want to plug in; many times we want them all plugged into the same outlet, so we use a power strip or extension cords to do the job. When you notice an overabundance extra cords in your home, it’s a good idea to go ahead and update the panel to add circuits and outlets for efficiency.

If you haven’t had your electrical panel inspected in awhile, give Castle Doctor a call! Our team will come out and inspect the panel, and get you on a regular home maintenance schedule so that never have to worry about it again. Castle Doctor handles all your Plano home maintenance needs so you don’t have to!

5 Ways to Prevent Rodents from Invading this Fall

Castle Doctor knows that as cooler air falls on Plano, Texas, everyone wants to cozy up inside – even the rodents and insects!

Your best defense against pesky rodents like insects, mice, raccoons, and squirrels is to seal off every possible entry point on the exterior of your home. Focus on these areas to keep unwanted nuisances out:

1.    Inspect Areas Under Construction

If you’ve had any home maintenance, new appliances installed, or renovations done on your home in the last year, double-check the work. You may think your home is sealed, but construction or installation teams can sometimes leave holes that you never realized exist. (P.S. At Castle Doctor, we guarantee our work and would never leave a job undone.) Appliance installations – such as dishwashers or refrigerators are a top offender in this category.

2.    Walk the Exterior

Twice yearly – when the air gets cooler in the fall and when the air gets warmer in the spring – walk the exterior of your property. Look for any cracks where you see light shining through or can feel airflow. In the fall, mice are often looking for a warm nest and can squeeze through an opening the size of a dime! Make sure even the smallest holes are sealed.

3.    Seal Windows and Doors

In North Texas, we love to leave our windows and doors open when the cool air sets in. Before doing so, be sure to look for any cracks in your screens, missing window screens, worn out home weather stripping, etc. and seal off accordingly.

4.    Keep Plants Away from Entry Points

Speaking of doors and windows, keep houseplants a safe distance from your home's main entry points. Greenery and plants are a perfect place for small insects and rodents to hide, so give yourself a few feet between the doors and the plants to avoid them darting into the home when doors are open.

5.    Install Preventative Measures

One of the easiest pest control tactics is to put glue traps throughout your attic or other crawl spaces. Check the glue traps periodically, and if you see signs of life, then you can tackle the issue before it becomes a real problem.

Want a home maintenance expert to inspect your home for potential problem areas? Call Castle Doctor in Plano, Texas today! We can schedule an in-home consultation for all your Plano home maintenance and rodent control needs.

Castle Doctor can help with all your Plano home maintenance and rodent control needs!

Are you Overlooking these Bathroom Maintenance Issues?

The bathroom is one of the most heavily used rooms of the home, and yet it’s easy to overlook maintenance issues that could quickly become a major headache.

Here’s our advice at Castle Doctor: look at your bathroom with fresh eyes this week and evaluate your home for these common bathroom maintenance issues:

·      Shower Caulking and Grout: Caulking and grout are essential to keep water out of places it isn’t supposed to be! Look around the bottom of the tub and around the shower door; is there a thick bead of caulk visible? Any place where you see that grout is gone, loose, or mold stricken, then you know it’s time to re-grout or re-caulk your shower. Otherwise, aim to do this about every year-2 years.

·      Toilet: Every time you clean the bathroom, use a cleaning rag to test for water around the bottom ring of the toilet. If you find that the area is damp, consider it an early sign that the sealing ring is in need of replacement by a professional handyman. Also, here’s an old plumber’s trick: lift the lid off the back of the toilet periodically to see if anything seems off. If so, call a Plano plumber immediately before the issue worsens.

·      Sink: The bathroom sink can harbor a lot of bacteria and mold, and much of that starts in the drain. Pull the drain plug out completely and clean on a regular basis in order to avoid clogs and mold buildup in your sink. Also inspect around the faucet for leaks.

·      Exhaust Fan: If you want to keep your bathroom humidity levels low and mold at bay, be sure to clean the exhaust fan out on a regular basis to aid in the airflow throughout the bathroom.

If you suspect you ned bathroom repair, call Castle Doctor in Plano, Texas today for a free in-home consultation. We’re a handyman, plumber, and carpenter all in one – providing all the services you need to keep your bathroom (and entire home!) in impeccable condition.

Back to School Checklist: "Three Rs" of Home Maintenance

Back to school season is a great time for homeowners to do their own homework and assess any maintenance that needs to be done around the home.

The American Society of Home Inspectors – the ASHI – recommends following three simple “Rs” of home maintenance to prevent more costly issues down the road and maintain home value:

1.    Replace

With summer comes heat, and heat can definitely take its toll on our homes in Plano – requiring certain items to be replaced more rapidly. Walk around your home and look for any loose caulk or warped boards that have pulled away from the home due to heat. And what about your air filters? Take this opportunity to replace filters and batteries you may have neglected to replace during the summer months.

2.    Repair

Fluctuations in temperature can wreck havoc on the exterior of your home, causing cracks in the foundation, masonry issues, roof damage, cracked walkways, and more. Take a close look at the exterior and interior of your home and examine for home maintenance issues. Repairing these issues now will prevent most costly Plano home maintenance repairs in the future.

3.    Remove

Back to school season is a great time to remove debris and overgrown shrubbery before the Fall season. Check for clogged gutters and remove debris accordingly. Trim back overgrown tree limbs that could cause issues if a storm blows through. Did you have some of your landscaping bite the dust during the summer? Remove any dead plants that may be causing an eyesore.

Need help with your back to school homework? Give Castle Doctor a call today for a free in-home consultation! You will love the peace of mind that comes with knowing your home is well maintained. And with 5 levels of membership available, it’s easy to find the level of maintenance that works for you. Proudly providing the best handyman service to Plano, Allen, Frisco, McKinney, Dallas, and the surrounding North Texas communities.  

The Risks of Putting off Home Maintenance - Castle Doctor

It starts innocently enough. You notice some warping, sagging, and cracks in the fascia board on the exterior of your home. You tell yourself, “I’ll get to it one of these days.” Without maintenance, the issue worsens, water damage occurs, insects get in, etc. and what could have been a simple fix is now costing you thousands to repair.

Castle Doctor sees this situation play out time and again, and our goal is to educate our clients on the risks involved when home maintenance is prolonged:

Risk #1: Reduction in Home Value

According to home appraisal experts, a home can lose up to 10% of its appraised value when maintenance is neglected. In Plano, Texas, where the average home price is $385,000, this could mean a reduced value of over $30,000! When a home looks worn out or in need of obvious repairs, an appraiser quickly takes note. This not only affects the current value, but the economic age of your Plano home as well.

Risk #2: Missed Appreciation Potential

Homes in North Texas sell extremely well and appreciation is almost a given, but just like your home can lose value due to non-maintenance, it can also appreciate less. Don’t risk losing money on your greatest asset by missing routine maintenance.

Risk #3: Costly Repairs Down the Road

As Benjamin Franklin famously said, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Performing routine maintenance now alleviates stress and prevents costly issues in the years to come.

How do I get started?

Want to change the way you view home maintenance in Plano? Start by calling Castle Doctor! Our team will offer a free in-home consultation, at which we can address all your concerns and do a walk-through of your home. From there, Castle Doctor will create a home maintenance plan perfectly tailored to your needs. We partner with you to provide the best home maintenance service in Plano, hassle and stress free.