CAPITAL BUILDS MAINTENANCE

As residents of Capital Builds properties, we hope you’ll treat the homes as if they’re your own. At the same time, we know that repairs and maintenance issues are inevitable—and we’re here to help. Here’s a list of common issues that come up in renting and a quick how-to on fixing them.

If you are having an appliance issue, please call Service Master at 703.338.7403 and email tenants@capital-builds.com to make us aware of the situation. If you can’t find an answer to your question, please email tenants@capital-builds.com and we’ll get back to you within 24-48 hours.

ISSUES, TIPS AND TRICKS

Issue #1 - No Power:

Outlets not working in bathroom or bedroom? Double check all outlets in other bathrooms and make sure you fully press down the reset button as a curling iron or other electronics can trip the circuit. Your outlet might not be where the first GFCI outlet is that protects the rest of the circuit, so, knock on your housemates’ doors and have them reset their bathroom GFCI as necessary. Also, please open the electrical panel, the gray box on the wall, and make sure all circuit breakers are in the ‘ON’ position. If any are not, flip them to the ‘ON’ position. Please ensure you have performed the recommended steps (reset all GFCI outlets, check circuit breakers) before reaching out.

Issue #2 - Lights Not Working:

Please check the lightbulbs. Tenants are responsible for replacing lightbulbs. Given our concern about the environment, most bulbs should already be switched to LED which typically have a very long expected useful life. However, LED bulbs also eventually fail so please replace, as needed.

Issue #3 - Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping:

Check to see if too many appliances are running at the same time (irons, microwave, toaster, curling iron, computers, printer, blow dryers, dryer, oven etc.), causing an overload.

Issue #4 - No Hot Water:

This could be because your power is out, and the circuit breaker has tripped or gone bad (see #1). Or, the pilot light may have gone out if your hot water heater is powered by natural gas. If resetting the circuit breaker does not solve the problem, please email us at tenants@capital-builds.com and we’ll come take a look.

Issue #5 - Garbage Disposal Not Working:

The name is a misnomer—garbage should NOT be put into the garbage disposal. You guessed it, this is one of our most frequent issues. If the disposal isn’t getting power, please press the red or black reset button at the bottom of the disposal. Please also check if there is there a blockage in the sink/blades. Please keep in mind, before putting your hands or a utensil down the sink to check for blockages—make sure unit is turned off or unplugged. After checking for a blockage, if the disposal is still not working insert an Alan wrench into the bottom of the disposal (there should be one under the sink) and twist to free the blockage. If it’s still not working, please email us at tenants@capital-builds.com.

Tenant will be charged the vendor fee for unblocking a garbage disposal if any of the following are found to have blocked the garbage disposal: bones, banana peels, corn husks, pasta, cornmeal, stringy vegetables, “twister” seals, screws, nails, cigarette butts, flower clippings, toys, coins, grease, shellfish shells, celery, onion skins, potato peels, rice, meat fats, artichokes, bottle caps, rubber bands, string, popcorn kernels, egg shells, coffee grounds, glass, utensils, fruit pits, washcloths, or sponges.

Want to HELP your disposal? Throw in some ice, it loves that given it helps sharpen the blades, without damaging them, and ice chips act as tiny scrubbers. And, if your disposal stinks, a handful of ice helps.

Issue #6: Blocked Sink or Drain:

If your sink is draining the water away too slowly, try using drain cleaner to free the blockage. Also, try to clear hairs and old soap from the waste and/or pour boiling water down the drain to unclog blockage. If the drain is blocked in the kitchen, try to remove old food waste and likewise pour boiling water down the drain.

Issue #7 - Smoke / CO Detector Beeping:

First, replace the batteries. Tenants are responsible for the replacement of batteries (deduct cost of battery from your rent and submitting a receipt to tenants@capital-builds.com). It is important to replace batteries and NOT disconnect the smoke alarm or CO alarm. Normally the alarm will emit a beeping sound only when the batteries are not working or losing their charge. If the alarm is not working after replacing the batteries, submit a maintenance request immediately by emailing tenants@capital-builds.com. Please do not disconnect or remove a smoke or CO alarm.

Be sure to test your smoke and CO alarms every thirty days.

Issue #8 – Washer Not Working:

Check whether the lid is closing properly. And, check if the machine is out of balance by rearranging the items evenly in the bowl.

The washer may not work if it is overloaded. Please NEVER overload the machine. Please put no more than two towels in at the same time and wash sheets by themselves. If the washer still won’t work, please call Service Master at 703.338.7403 and notify tenants@capital-builds.com.

Issue #9 – Dryer Not Working:

First, replace the batteries. Just kidding, wanted to see if you made it this far. Dryers can automatically shut down due to overload of lint in the filter. Check whether the filter needs to be cleaned properly and NEVER overload the dryer. Please put no more than 2 towels in at the same time. If the dryer still won’t work, please call Service Master at 703.338.7403 and notify tenants@capital-builds.com.