Maintenance Requests & Tips

Maintenance Overview & Tips

How requests work:

  1. A maintenance request may be emailed to maintenance or called in to 719.630.8767.
  2. Each weekday morning BVPM staff reviews all of the requests and prioritizes them.  For example, water leaks and heating problems take priority over a clogged garbage disposal.
  3. Non-emergency requests are scheduled based on location.
  4. Emergency requests are given priority, regardless of location, and be remedied as soon as possible.

Examples of emergency requests are:

  • Water coming through the ceiling
  • Flooding
  • No Heat (in winter)

Examples of non-emergency requests are:

  • Slow drains
  • Garbage disposal

Maintenance Tips & Information

Problem: Toilet plugged or is not flushing right

Possible Solution:

  1. Residents should attempt to plunge the toilet. Black rubber plungers are the best kind of plunger to use and is the most effective. (Items that tend to plug toilets to avoid: Q-tips, paper towels, Kleenex tissue, excessive toilet paper, feminine products, fish tank rocks, cat litter, etc.)

Problem: Toilet seems to run all the time or every once in a while

Possible Solutions:

  1. The flapper chain has become bunched up on itself and does not permit the flapper to seal in the toilet tank.
  2. The flapper is not sealing on the tank drain opening (usually requires replacement or repairs).
  3. The water in the toilet is level with the overflow and requires the toilet float to be adjusted down. The water level should be indicated on the overflow tube, or about an inch below.
  4. Toilet float supply valve is not functioning properly (usually requires replacement).

Problem: Clogged Bathtub Drain

Possible Solution:

  1. There may be a hair clog trapped in the strainer of the drain and restricting water flow. To fix, remove handle part of tub stopper, which unscrews. This does not remove tub stopper. After removing handle, a pair of pliers or screw driver may be used to unscrew tub stopper, which gives access to tub strainer, which makes and "X" in the tub drain. Remove hair from drain or foreign object.

Problem: Disposal Does Not Work

Possible Solution:

  1. The disposal has a safety switch that may have tripped and needs to be reset. On the bottom of the disposal there is a red button, which can be pushed to reset the disposal. There still may be an obstruction in the disposal. Look inside of disposal and try and remove visible items. If disposal will run after reset button has been pushed, run ice through disposal and this will force any food items through the disposal. Plenty of water must be used when putting food in disposals and when using ice method.

Problem: Disposal Runs But Sounds Rough

Possible Solution:

  1. There is a foreign object in the disposal that must be removed. Objects may include but are not limited to the following: Pop/Beer tabs, bottle tops, coins, dish rags, silverware, bones, etc. Try to remove any items visible in disposal and use extreme caution. A method of cleaning out disposal and keeping disposal odors down is to run ice cubes through disposal on a weekly basis.

Problem: Disposal Hums When Switch is Turned On

Possible Solution:

  1. There is a foreign object in the disposal that must be removed. Objects may include but are not limited to the following: Pop/Beer tabs, bottle tops, coins, dish rags, silverware, bones, etc. Try to remove any items visible in disposal and use extreme caution.
  2. If an object is found, try disposal again and if disposal does not work, maintenance must be contacted to service the disposal.

Problem: Dishwasher is Dripping Suds Onto Floor

Possible Solution:

  1. Wrong detergent has been used in dishwasher or too much soap has been used. Regular concentrated dish soap cannot be used in dishwashers.

Problem: Dishwasher Has Standing Water and Won't Drain

Possible Solution:

  1. Garbage disposal is plugged and must be cleared for dishwasher to drain into disposal.

Problem: Washing Machine is Spilling Water Onto Floor

Possible Solution:

  1. Washing machine has been overloaded and has overflowed tank.
  2. Washing machine load is off balance and water spills over side when water moves from side to side in the tank.

Problem: Water is Leaking Under Bathroom/Kitchen Sink

Possible Solution:

  1. Drain pipes have become lose and are not sealing. Tighten with hands as much as possible.
  2. If leak persists, call maintenance immediately

Problem: Water Coming From Underneath Fridge

Possible Solution:

  1. Roll fridge out away from wall and make sure water supply line for ice maker (if applicable) is not leaking. If leaking, call maintenance immediately.
  2. If water is found in bottom of fridge underneath crisper drawers, the freezer defrost drain line has become frozen due to overloading of freezer or fridge/freezer setting turned too cold.

NOTE: Fridge/freezer setting should be left on setting "3" to avoid freezing defrost drain line. If this problem persists, food will spoil. Call maintenance immediately.

Problem: Bugs and Other Insects are Being Found

Possible Solution:

  1. Residents are required to attempt to take care of insect problems or rodent problems on their own. For 99.9% of all insect problems, use Ortho Home Defense bug killer. Spray every access point in residence to prevent insects from entering and it will also kill any existing problems. Home Defense is safe for indoor use.

Problem: Trouble Programming your Thermostat

  1. Solution: Most manuals are available on the Web. Here's a partial list below:
    White-Rodgers Thermostats