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DEAR MAINTENANCE MEN
BY JERRY L'ECUYER & FRANK ALVAREZ
DEAR MAINTENANCE MEN:
My units have hardwood floors. What is the best way to clean them after a tenant moves out?
DEAR MAINTENANCE MEN:
The angle stop valves under the kitchen sink are very hard to close. I attempted to replace the valves but could not remove the brass collar around the copper pipe.
Dear Davis:
As you might guess, water is the enemy of hardwood floors. Water can damage wood floors and may cause staining, cupping, expansion and separation. Certain cleaning items to avoid are wet mops, ammonia, and floor cleaning products not meant for wood floors. It is important to determine which clear finish was used on your wood floors as a protective coating. For example, penetrating oils, lacquer, polyurethane, etc. Each finish will dictate a specific solvent or cleaning product. Most wood floors can be cleaned and maintained by first vacuuming dirt and debris from the floor and finishing with a soft natural brush or broom, remove dust and residual dirt. If the floor needs deeper cleaning, determine the finish used on your floor and visit a wood floor dealer or home center that sells wood flooring. They will carry cleaning products for wood floors and can help you determine a proper cleaning procedure.
old nut is trapped behind the collar.
What can I do? Also, how often should I routinely replace my under-sink water flex lines?
- Fredric
Dear Fredric:
On the first question, it is always best to remove the old collar. That is easier said than done. You cannot pull off the collar with your fingers; it is too tight. Pliers will damage your soft copper pipe and cutting the line behind the collar is OK if you have enough pipe to spare. But, in most cases the space is limited and cutting the line won’t work. The hardware or plumbing store sells a compression sleeve puller ($20.00 or less) designed for this job and it will not damage your pipe. You can now install your new angle stop valve. An alternative once you remove
- Davis
The new angle stop valves do not thread up and the
Frank Alvarez is licensed contractor and the Operations Director and co-owner of Buffalo Maintenance, Inc. He has been involved with apartment maintenance & construction for over 20 years. He is also a lecturer & educational instructor and Co-Chair of the Education Committee of the Apartment Association of Orange County as well as being Chairman of the Product Service Counsel. Frank can be reached at (714) 956-8371 Frankie@ BuffaloMaintenance.com For more info please go to: www.BuffaloMaintenance.com
Jerry L’Ecuyer is a licensed contractor & real estate broker. He is currently on the Board of Directors and Past President and past Chairman of the Education Committee of the Apartment Association of Orange County. Jerry has been involved with apartments as a professional since 1988.
APARTMENT MANAGEMENT MAGAZINE - MAY 2022 CS-37