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The Handyman Blog

Keyless Locks

10/19/2015

2 Comments

 
I've been working for a property management company that runs a large apartment building. This kind of building presents a challenge: there are some doors which should be locked to the general public, but easily accessible to the residents.

This nifty lock is a good solution to the problem:
Keyless lock installation
Door knob and lockset installation
To open the lock, you simply punch in a short numerical code and then twist the silver knob just below the key pad. The lock can also be opened with a key in case the battery dies and the electronic parts stop working. The nice thing about this is that if you don't need to change locks or replace keys in order to keep out trespassers; you can just update the code every so often.

This is an excellent way to keep fitness rooms, laundry rooms, swimming pools and other amenities limited to use by the residents. In fact, it's great for anyone who regularly forgets their keys. You can even have two codes, with an "override" code for yourself and another code which you give out to friends or to the kids.

These locks sell for about $70 at the hardware store, so it's an inexpensive investment for the convenience it brings.
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Repairs at a Little Country Church 

10/13/2015

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My most recent job reminds me of this old song:
If you go exploring in the mountains around Asheville, you will discover many little churches tucked into the curves of the road or nestled in the little hollows. Many of these churches have been here for many generations, and the old-timers tell of times when the little churches were so crowded that the women and children sat indoors while the men stood outside the windows in order to hear the sermon.

Times have moved on, and most of the congregations have dwindled to a little handful of people, but the churches still stand. I was recently hired to do a little maintenance on one of these churches, Price's Chapel:
Asheville church repair
The church is just a few feet from the road; it was built before paved roads and fast cars. Back then the traffic past this church was mostly on hoof or foot. If you look at the roof line, you can see that the central part was added first, and then the wings on each side were added as the congregation grew.

One of the first things the congregation wanted me to do was get the door cleaned up. It had been painted at one time and then later stripped to reveal the old wood. The refinish job was probably really beautiful at one time, but this door is on the side that catches the wind and weather (not to mention the road salt). After consulting with the congregation, it was decided that a simple paint job would probably be easier to maintain.
This door needs repainting
Exterior painting and touch up really helped
I did a few small repairs indoors as well. The most important one was fixing the ceiling fans. The original fans were cheap and tended to clank and wobble. Apparently the clanking was so bad that some of the church members couldn't hear the Sunday school lesson.
Removing these old ceiling fans
Old Fans
New ceiling fan installation
New Fans
I made a point to match the old fans. The new fans are very similar, but of much better quality, so they won't be as likely to squeak and hum as they age. Aesthetically not much has changed, but now everyone can hear the service.

All in all, this was an enjoyable job, and I'm glad I got the chance to help maintain this historic little building.
PictuRepairs completed on a local Asheville chrchre
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How (Not) to Accidentally Burn Your House Down

10/7/2015

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One of my clients recently bought a home and had me install a few shelves in the laundry room. When I moved the dryer out of the way, I spotted this:
Home repair on a kinked dryer vent
That bent silver hose is the duct that allows the lint to escape from the dryer. Lint is extremely flammable, and if it built up in the kinks of the duct, it would be a fire hazard waiting to happen. Fortunately there was no lint build-up yet, and it was easy to replace the kinked duct with a shorter, straighter duct.

Washing machines and dryers cause about 1 in 22 home fires, with most of the fires coming from the dryer, so it's worthwhile to pay attention to your appliances. Most of the fires are caused by a failure to keep the dryer and vent clean.

Here are a few things you can do to make your dryer safe:
  • Clean the exhaust duct every three months to remove any lint build-up.
  • Check the exterior of the duct to make sure that it opens and lets out air when clothes are drying.
  • Clean the lint filter every time you dry a load of clothes.
  • Periodically clean behind the dryer, on the drum, and anywhere else dust and lint might collect.
  • Don't leave home or go to sleep with your appliances running.
  • Don't dry items containing foam or rubber (like bath mats or foam mattresses).
  • Don't use the clothes dryer to dry items which have oil, rubbing alcohol or other flammable liquids on them. Instead, dry the material outdoors away from heat.
Picture
While you're at it, take a look at how the machine was originally installed and make sure it was done right. Here are a few pointers:
  • Make sure that your appliances are plugged into outlets that can bear the appropriate electrical load; you can't use just any old outlet.
  • Ideally, the dryer should vent to the outdoors (as opposed to an attic or crawlspace) and the exhaust duct should be as short as possible. Long ducts need to be cleaned more often.
  • Make sure that the exhaust duct is metal (not plastic) and it's UL-listed. Ideally it should be a rigid duct, not flexible.
  • Make sure that any connections between sections of the duct are firmly sealed shut.
  • If there's no smoke detector nearby, consider installing one.
  • Have new appliances installed by a professional, and check his (or her) work!
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    About

    Arthur Teel, Asheville & Weaverville Handyman
    Welcome to my blog! This is a chronicle of the adventures of Arthur Teel, a handyman working in Asheville and Weaverville, NC. Need someone to fix your home?
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  • Home
  • Handyman Services
    • Closets and Storage
    • Doors, Locks and Knobs >
      • Door Repair
      • Door Replacement
      • Knobs and Locks
    • For Interior Designers >
      • Hanging Pictures & Mirrors
      • Interior Painting
      • Light Fixture Installation
      • Window Treatments
    • Furniture Assembly
    • Light Fixture Installations
    • Outdoor Spaces >
      • Decks and Deck Repair
      • Porch Repair
      • Railings and Stairs
      • Screen Doors and Porches
    • Renovations
    • Trim and Moldings
    • Wall and Ceiling Repair
    • Winterizing >
      • Storm Doors
      • Weatherstripping
  • Interior Painters
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