6 minute read
Dear Maintenance Men
By Jerry l’eCuyer & Frank alvarez
Dear Maintenance Men: I am interested in becoming a maintenance mechanic or tech. What skills should I hone or include in my “Tool Box”? Robin
Dear Robin:
That is a very good question. The list below should be considered as the minimum needed to be a well-rounded maintenance technician who wants to be excellent at their job.
1. Have problem solving abilities.
We believe a good maintenance mechanic needs a bit of “detective” in them. In other words, get to the root of the problem and don’t just fix the issue at hand. Find out what caused the issue in the first place. 2. Care about the details. The details can include anything from noticing something out of place to having the right tools for the job at hand. Detail oriented means having a keen eye on what is going on around you and
3.
4.
5.
6.
making sure “good enough” is NOT good enough. Also, do not forgot the importance of being on time to — and cleaning up after — the job.
Technical aptitude or technical
abilities. Learn the system you are working on. Become proficient by attending training programs and getting hands-on training on the systems with which you are unfamiliar. Learn organizational skills. Being organized will save time, money and will create efficiency to get more out of each day. Ability to work under pressure. In other words: get in, get out, and get the job done quickly and correctly, the first time. Be versatile. Don’t be scared to try something new. Don’t get bogged down. Learn to think outside the box to find solutions. Not everything is black and white.
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High Quality Apartment Laundry Service Dear Maintenance Men: We tried to replace an angle stop valve under the kitchen sink but found a brass collar around the copper pipe, which traps the nut behind it. The new angle stop threads are incompatible with the old nut. What can I do? Also, how often should I routinely replace my under-sink water flex lines? Roland
Dear Roland:
On the first question, it is always best to remove the old collar, but 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. Cutting the line behind the collar is o.k. IF you have enough pipe to spare. In most cases, however, space is limited and cutting the line won’t work. Thankfully, the hardware or plumbing store sells a compression “Sleeve Puller” (around $20) that is designed for this job and will not damage your pipe. You can now install your new angle stop valve. An alternative once you remove the collar is to solder a male or female ½” fitting to the end of the copper pipe. Install a male or female angle stop valve and never again deal with a stubborn brass collar. If you ever need to replace the valve, just twist it off and install a new one.
On the second question about replacing under sink water lines, if any of your lines are the white plastic lines, replace them immediately as they are a flood waiting to happen. We like using
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the stainless steel braided flex lines. They last a long time and don’t seem as susceptible to fatigue or abuse. A way to spot a bad flex line, before they leak or burst, is to look for telltale signs of rust, calcium build-up, loose or broken braids, tight kinks, brown spots or they just look bad. While you are replacing those water lines, be sure to also replace the angle stop valve.
Dear Maintenance Men: How do I get oil or grease stains out of concrete? I have both a concrete patio and a parking area with grease stains. Soap and water does not get them clean. Brenda
Dear Brenda:
Go to your local grocery store and pick up the cheapest brand of cat litter you can find. Spread the cat litter over the oil-stained concrete and grind it in with your shoes. Leave the litter in place for a minimum of an hour (24 hours is best) and then sweep up the litter and the stain should be gone. Cat litter is an absorbent that helps draw out the oil or grease. If you have a large area to clean, you may want to go to the hardware store or industrial supply house and purchase 50-pound bags of Absorbent. The cost is a little more than a regular sized bag of cat litter at the supermarket or pet store.
We need Maintenance Questions! If you would like your maintenance question answered in the “Dear Maintenance Men” column, please email it to DearMaintenanceMen@gmail.com
If you need maintenance work or a consultation for your building or project, please contact Buffalo Maintenance, Inc. to schedule an appointment. We are available throughout Southern California and can be reached at 714-956-8371. For more information, visit www.BuffaloMaintenance.com
Frank Alvarez is a licensed contractor and the Operations Director and Co-Owner of Buffalo Maintenance, Inc. He has been involved with apartment maintenance and construction for more than 20 years and frequently serves as a guest lecturer and educational instructor. Frank also serves as president of the Apartment Association of Orange County (AAOC) and chair of the AAOC Education Committee. Frank can be reached at (714) 956-8371 or Frankie@BuffaloMaintenance.com
Jerry L’Ecuyer is a real estate broker and a Director Emeritus of the Apartment Association of Orange County. He is a past president and longtime board member of the association, in addition to having served as chair of its Education Committee. Jerry has been involved with apartments as a professional since 1988.
Do you know… AAOC is non-profit? That means
YOUR dollars come back to YOU!!
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