About GHMS Blog

Gardens Home Management Services is here to provide you with Daily Tips for your home and general information about our company.

Monday, January 31, 2011

Water Heater Problems and Repairs

Water heater problems normally become self-evident: A hot water faucet fails to summon hot water, you see dripping or puddles near the water heater, or the tank emits strange gurgling or popping sounds.

Though many gas utility companies will make a free house call to solve problems with a gas water heater’s burner or the gas supply to the tank, it helps to know how to solve basic outages yourself. For more difficult issues, contact a qualified local hot water heater repair person.

Typical water heater problems include aleaking tank, not enough hot water, water that is too hot, water that is not hot enough, strange noises in the tank, anddiscolored water. Most water heater problems are easier to diagnose and relatively easy to handle if you understand how they work. For more about this, see How a Storage Water Heater Works.

 Note: Leaking natural gas can be dangerous. If you smell natural gas (it smells a bit like garlic) near the water heater, shut off the pilot light, close the gas shutoff valve, and call aplumber or your gas utility company for assistance.  

http://www.hometips.com/repair-fix/hot-water-heater-problems.html

Friday, January 28, 2011

Green Cleaning Solutions

Green Cleaning Solutions
If you spend some time reading labels and researching companies, you will be able to find quite a few green cleaning products on the market today. Because of the increased awareness of environmental, health, and sustainable living issues, products catering to the green crowd are becoming more economical and available.

However, if you really want to know what you are spraying on your countertops, nothing beats homemade solutions. The ingredients for healthy cleaning solutions are inexpensive, readily available, and nontoxic. Here is a list of the basics you’ll need before you begin:

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). If you need a reason to believe in the cleansing power of baking soda, just remember that it was the primary cleaning agent used in the restoration of the Statue of Liberty. Baking soda is an effective cleaning agent for three reasons:

1) The crystalline form of baking soda makes for an excellent scrubbing abrasive, but it’s not so abrasive as to harm sensitive fiberglass tub surrounds or tile flooring. In fact, it is the gentle abrasive qualities of baking soda that make it an attractive ingredient in “whitening” toothpastes.

2) It is a natural deodorizer in both its dry and diluted state. This means it can work to neutralize all sorts of odors whether run through the laundry (use a half cup when adding bleach to your wash for the clothes to come out free of the bleach odor) or sprinkled directly on carpets before vacuuming to extract pet odors.
3) It plays well with others. Because sodium bicarbonate neutralizes acid qualities, baking soda is ideal when used in combination with lemon for cleaning stains or with white vinegar as a degreaser.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Home Care Tip - Microwave Ovens


Today, it's estimated that 90% of American homes have a microwave oven in the kitchen. When it comes to cooking quickly and efficiently, they can't be beat. With this in mind, they are great for reheating pizza, thawing frozen foods, popping popcorn, and much more.

In addition to saving time, a microwave oven also saves energy. It can eliminate a tremendous amount of wasted energy in the kitchen, from the energy needed to preheat a conventional oven to the waste involved in heating a kettle of water when all you need is a cup.

Several types of microwave ovens are available, from ultra-compact models suitable for a college dorm to large-capacity built-in microwaves. In the links listed below, you'll find information that will help you make informed buying decisions as well as guidance for microwave care and repair.



Website Updates


The Website has been updated with some new flashing graphics on our home page. Our Facebook page should be customized this week... Look out!

http://www.homecarepro.com/

Monday, January 24, 2011

Website Updates


The Website has been updated with some new flashing graphics on our home page. Our Facebook page should be customized this week... Look out!

Friday, January 21, 2011

Thursday, January 20, 2011

WTSF Sweepstakes!


Check out Welcome to Sunny Florida's Sweepstake - They are giving away a $100 Prepaid Visa Gift Card!


Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Dryer Vent Professionals

Meeting with Dryer Vent Professionals today to become a preferred supplied of Gardens Home Management Services

Monday, January 17, 2011

Service Guarantee

Gardens Home Management Services is offering a Service Guarantee to our customers.  If you are not satisfied wit your service, you will not be charged for that service!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Best and worst bottled water brands

How much do you know about the bottled water you drink? Not nearly enough, according to a new report released today from Environmental Working Group(EWG). "Bottled water companies try hard to hide information you might find troubling," says Jane Houlihan, senior vice president of research for the Washington D.C.-based research and advocacy group.
EWG analyzed the labels of 173 unique bottled water products and company websites to determine if companies disclose information on where water comes from, how or if their water is treated, and whether the results of purity testing are revealed. The nonprofit also looked at how effective (and advanced) any water treatment methods are. Researchers followed up by calling dozens of bottled water companies to find out which ones willingly tell consumers what's in their bottles.
The Environmental Protection Agency says on its website that consumers have the right to know where their water comes from and what's in it so they can "make informed choices that affect the health of themselves and their families." Tap water is regularly tested and consumers can find their local water info online. That's not necessarily the case with bottled water, which is not required to disclose that information to consumers. "Bottled water is a food product and every one of these companies is complying with federal law," says Tom Lauria, of the International Bottled Water Association.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

January Newsletter


The January GHMS Homeowner Newsletter is being sent out this week. Leave your email address if you would like an email!

Friday, January 7, 2011

Happy Friday

We hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.  Look for a sweepstakes coming soon!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

HomeWatch

South Florida and Metropolitan D.C. have an impressive and formidable collection of private estate communities with many seasonal residents. 
This is an extremely popular lifestyle choice for retirees and semi-retired people who enjoy the seasonal changes of their northern residences in the spring, summer and fall months and the ideal South Florida climate in the winter. 

These people, affectionately known as "snowirds" make the annual trek to South Florida around Thanksgiving and return to their northern enclaves sometime after Passover or Easter. 

It is reassuring to many to know that someone will "keep an eye" on their home while they are away. Many people arrange to have someone perform weekly HomeWatch visits. This is an inexpensive "insurance policy". However, special care should be taken when choosing a service provider to be sure that the person or company has a reputable background, and has been adequately trained in home inspections of this nature.With our HomeWatch service, the homeowner contracts to have their house inspected in their absence to ensure that there are no signs of leaks, insect or pest problems, security system alerts, or other visible maintenance needs. A complete interior and exterior inspection of the home is conducted with close attention paid to proper operation of the mechanical systems including air conditioning, pool and spa equipment, and plumbing and electrical systems. 

When repairs or maintenance are needed, homeowners can then use the management company's preferred vendors. When using preferred vendors, the homeowner may rest assured that the vendor is licensed, bonded and properly insured. The quality of the workmanship and timeliness of completion will also be guaranteed. 

In summary, the use of a qualified, competent home management company can grant you the peace-of-mind that comes from knowing your home is well cared-for... when you're away... and when you're not.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Our Clients Say It Best

"We have been Customers of Gardens Home Management Services since the purchase of our home in BallenIsles in October 1995. We have always found their service very reliable and responsive to our needs. Our home received prompt attention to any discovered problems and we found them proactive in their response. We look forward to many years of happy service in our new home in Old Palm. "