Home Watcher LV Las Vegas - Blog

A great review received today from a client in Henderson

1/6/2019

Fire Prevention Week. Oct. 7-13, 2018

10/9/2018

This week is the Fire Prevention week as announced by the National Fire Prevention Association. A very simple preventive and life saving measure is to ensure that your smoke and CO detectors and alarms are not only working but that they are within their life expectancy.

How often do smoke alarms need to be replaced? A national survey shows most Americans don’t know. The NFPA and many manufacturers recommend replacing the smoke detectors every ten years. Read this article here.

If you are not home or need help with replacing batteries or checking your smoke detectors, give us a call.

JP Lalonde
Home Watcher LV
Las Vegas
#HomeWatch

Pool pump. Who's watching?

7/13/2018

Pool pump mechanical timers. They are very reliable until they are not. In this case, the ON tab slipped off the wheel and moved all the way to 8:45PM. So the pool pump was basically running from 8:45PM to 6:45PM, 22 hours a day. They say moving water is happy water. I understand that but the owner is not so happy about the high utility bill.

Enjoy summer!

JP

Home Watcher LV
Las Vegas

Pool pump running 22 of 24 hours. #HomeWatch

No, it was not the wind.

4/30/2018

Unexpected finding. We had windy days lately but nope, it was not the cause of this problem. It was a hit and run.

The wall was rebuilt quickly and everything is back to normal.

JP
Home Watcher LV
Las Vegas
#HomeWatch

Exterior Electrical breaker box.

3/20/2018

Just imagine that kids or burglars are casing your house. They might trip the main electrical breaker and wait a couple days before gong back. Why? Your security system, if you have one, will be dead. Your powered security cameras, your VOIP telephone, your internet modem and router will all be dead.

Unfortunately, your refrigerators and freezer will also be off potentially causing damage and losses.

Locking your exterior breaker box is the right thing to do.

JP at Home Watcher LV
Las Vegas

#HomeWatch

Home Watch Boot Camp Training instructor

3/18/2018

JP Lalonde from Home Watcher LV is an instructor for the National Home Watch Association for the Certified Home Watch Professional Boot Camp training program.

You can visit the NHWA websites for more details.

http://www.homewatchbootcamp.com/ and
https://www.nationalhomewatchassociation.org/certification/

JP Lalonde
Home Watcher LV
Las Vegas NV

#HomeWatch

A silent killer. Today's finding

3/12/2018

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas that can kill you quickly. It is called the “silent killer” because it is colorless, odorless, tasteless and non- irritating. That is why we must have a CO monitor in the house however, if your device is not ready to warn you, this will cause a vulnerable situation.

During a home walkthrough, a quality Home Watch Service should pick-up on audible alarms and notice abnormalities like this defective CO sensor.

JP at Home Watcher LV
Las Vegas NV

#HomeWatch

Home Watch check and finding

Today's find. Water Softener leak

1/24/2018

Here is a short video of the softener control head leaking. Fortunately, I was inspecting the garage as the softener was going through its cycle. Et voila. This leak would cause significant damage is not seen for a long period of time. Service is scheduled.

JP Home Watcher LV

#Homewatch

Water softener leak.

Door buster attempt

1/18/2018

Flyers or packages at your door are inviting for the wrong crowd but look at this video and ask yourself if your doors would resist this brutal attack. Let's discuss inexpensive improvements to strengthen one of the most vulnerable point in your home.

All points of entry should be looked at, not just the front door. Side or rear doors, garage doors, windows and sliding doors, etc. Another item to be considered are the electrical breaker panels or main electrical breaker access point.

There are several aspects to be assessed when thinking about how secure your property is.

JP at Home Watcher LV

#HomeWatch

Today's finding. Windy Las Vegas.

12/20/2017

Home Watcher LV Findings

Today was very windy in Las Vegas. This yard gate was pulled off the hinges and was partially open. In this case, there is a pool in the yard and as everyone knows, this is a vulnerable situation and could have been a disaster.

Home Watcher LV, Las Vegas

#HomeWatch

This week's findings

12/10/2017

Mushrooms anyone? When you see this in Southern Nevada, you know something is wrong. After investigation, a warm water line was leaking under the floor slab causing high humidity and higher then normal temperature in the bathroom.

This is a faucet leaking slowly under the sink in the cabinet. This could have been much worse if the faucet internal seal would have let go completely.

JP @ Home Watcher LV, Las Vegas NV

#HomeWatch

What is this?

7/15/2017

While performing a walkthrough a few days ago, I noticed a reduced water flow at the bath tub.

This is frequent and can be caused by sediments collecting at the faucet strainer. So I took the aerator out to find it almost completely clogged with small light brown particles. I knew exactly where these are from and it can be a disaster.

These particles are media beads from the water softener. The beads are not supposed to be found in the plumbing but when the media strainer fails, the beads are free to travel through the entire plumbing system and clog up aerators and in some cases plug water lines completely.

I immediately switched the water softener to by-pass mode to prevent this from getting worse and to stop the flow of beads in the system. Then I removed and cleaned aerators and ran every faucet, shower head, bath tubs, toilets, etc. I am sure we will see beads coming out of the lines for months.

The photo shows what came out of the bath faucet when I flushed the line without the aerator. If you look carefully, you will see thousands of small brown media beads.

Water softener service has been scheduled.

The joy of hard water.

JP
Home Watcher LV

Be an Angel - Don't water on Sundays

6/14/2017

The Southern Nevada Water Authority was talking about this for a couple years and now it is official.

From May 1 through Aug. 31, watering restrictions prohibit landscape irrigation between the hours of 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday watering also is prohibited. During the hottest hours of the day, water is often lost to evaporation from the heat and high winds.

Water your landscape early in the morning, before sunrise, to reduce evaporation caused by wind and heat. Experts agree that running drip irrigation less frequently is much better for plants than daily watering.

We will verify your irrigation timer to set the schedule according to the latest watering restrictions.

JP @ Home Watcher LV.

A new pond in the yard.

4/23/2017

Yes, sometimes you get what you were wishing for. Unfortunately, the cost and timing is not right.
Home Watching pays off. Who knows, perhaps you'd end up with a lake and a huge water bill.

This is a water leak caused by a cracked plastic water supply line to the irrigation system. Fortunately the problem was found prior to significant damage to the property.

JP @ Home Watcher LV
#HOMEWATCH

Professional Home Watching. Is it really an option?

4/12/2017

Here is an interview with a Real Estate professional providing some valuable tips for anyone leaving their home for an extended period of time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVBenUl7-hk&feature=share

JP at Home Watcher LV

Windy Vegas. Who will tell you about the wind damage?

4/2/2017

Yes, it can be windy in Las Vegas. If you are not home, who will tell you about this? How long will it take? Two days, two weeks, two months, perhaps never?

These are concrete roof tiles that were flipped over in our most recent wind storm two days ago. Some of the tiles flew away and can possibly cause additional damage like break a window or land on a car.

The real issue is, who will notify the owner?

JP at Home Watcher LV
Las Vegas NV
#Homewatch

Surprise, surprise...

3/15/2017

This is a friendly warning for all the vacant property owners who are not able to or elect not to close the main water valve. Fortunately in this case, someone was home and heard this splashing noise in the laundry room. The washer hose connection had corroded over time and became weak. That morning was the end of its life. The hose popped out and the flooding started. Within a few minutes, there was water everywhere on the laundry room floor and quickly expanding to other rooms.

The washer water supply valve was closed quickly to avoid a significant disaster.

The bottom line is, close the main water valve when the property is vacant AND have a look at the washer hose connections at both ends. Any evidence of corrosion is a sign that the hoses should be replaced.

JP at Home Watcher LV.
#HomeWatch

It starts with a drip, then...

3/12/2017

A pool filter can leak for many reasons but this one is a disaster in progress. The casing is cracked and leaking significantly. The minor dripping was previously reported but now, it has become a more significant and urgent issue.

JP at Home Watcher LV
#Homewatch

Client's feedback.

2/2/2017

Feedback sent to Evolve Vacation Rental Network about Home Watcher LV this morning.

I depend on him so much! He has been very easy to work with, responses quickly, and reports damage to my home as soon as possible. He is awesome.

Thank you very much for the great feedback. It is much appreciated.

JP at Home Watcher LV

This week's finding. A water leak.

12/5/2016

This ceiling water leak could have caused very serious damages to this property. An investigation is under way to determine the root cause of this leak. The water source may be from the above unit's dishwasher, kitchen sink or heating system. Caught on time, the disaster is avoided. Troubleshooting and repairs are initiated.

JP at Home Watcher LV

Have you ever seen a burglar magnet?

11/20/2016

Hello again,

This may sound like a weird question but we see it every day.

It does not matter if you live in a gated or guarded community.

What matters is the magnet itself. It can definitely attract the wrong crowd.

Do you agree?

This one was left by a service provider. So preventable.

JP at Home Watcher LV

Here is the very typical and powerful burglar magnet.

Toilet tank leak. A happy ending story.

11/3/2016

This is a minor leak for now but days after days, or weeks after weeks of dripping, this leak would cause significant damage to the property. Damage to flooring, possibly walls, ceilings and furniture would cost a small fortune and your insurance may not cover the damage if you do not use a Home Watcher during your extended absence.

Caught on time, this issue is just another happy ending story to talk about.

JP at Home Watcher LV.

Certificate of Recognition

9/24/2016

Thanks to the NHWA for giving me this certificate. It's been a pleasure to be involved with the Advisory Board and help the NHWA raise the bar in the level of knowledge and services for all members. The NHWA is definitely showing its value and heading in the right direction.

JP
Home Watcher LV, Las Vegas NV

Visit us at www.HomeWatcherLV.com

Jury Summons and you are not home?

9/4/2016

Yes, this can happen to you!

The State's records are not very accurate but regardless if you should serve or not, you must answer this notice.

Fortunately, we sort the first class mail during our visit and the owner was notified immediately.

JP
Home Watcher LV, Las Vegas NV.

Water waste alert!

8/8/2016

Property owners.

This can happen to you.

When is the last time you checked your toilet flaps? Do they look old? Are they deformed? Are they out of position? Do you hear a toilet refill often even if it was not used? Is your water bill higher than normal?

This is today's find. Unfortunately the water pressure is ON at this property and the toilet flap collapsed creating a steady water flow down the toilet. Actually you can see the air bubbles coming up as the fill valve tries to keep up. No damage to the home but a possible high water bill for sure.

Fortunately we walkthough this property on a bi-weekly basis, so this problem started no more than two weeks ago. This could still be thousands of gallons of water wasted down the drain.

JP at Home Watcher LV