Cooling: During extreme summer heat (95 degrees and above) your air conditioning system is designed to maintain a 20 degree indoor/outdoor differential.  Example: 97 degrees outside = 77 degrees inside.  The exterior air conditioning unit should never be moved or obstructed in any way (shrubs, trees, or leaves, etc.).  Verify that the exterior condensation line remains open and free from obstruction at all times.

Heating: During the winter keep the heat above 55 degrees. Shutting the heat off could result in frozen or burst pipes.  The cut-off power switch near the furnace should always be kept in the "on" position. 

Reducing utility bills: Your household's lifestyle is the largest single variable that affects your utility bills.  Identical homes on the same street may have utility bills that vary drastically.  By living "smarter" in your new home, you can maximize the benefits from insulation and other energy-saving features that your builder has installed. 

Common sense activities:

• It is recommended that air conditioning and heating systems be inspected annually by a professional service company.
• Clean and/or replace the filters in your new home regularly.
• Close windows and doors when heating/air system is working.
• Avoid using the dryer, stove or oven during the middle of a hot summer day.
• Adjust thermostat settings to 70-72 degrees in the winter and 78-80 degrees in the summer.
• Close drapes or curtains on hot days when the sun shines into your home during the summer.
• Keep furniture, drapes and other obstructions at least three (3) inches away from air supply registers and return air grills to maintain proper airflow for maximum system performance.

Using your units for the 1st time: Andujar Construction makes every effort to assure that your heater and/or air conditioner are fully functional.  However, sometimes the mechanical contractor will fail to check the function (either heat or air) that is not needed at the time of the final inspection.  For example, should your home be completed in the winter, the heater will obviously be checked out.  Since it is difficult to test the air conditioner in the winter, that function check might be circumvented.  The same is true of the heat during the summer months.  Should you experience an issue with either of these items, the mechanical contractor will return and thoroughly test the function under more desirable conditions.  Please notify Andujar Construction if this is needed in your home.  We do recommend that you test the equipment as soon as the weather permits and not wait until the function is necessary.

Read and follow all manufacturers' manuals about safe operation, care and maintenance of all appliances in your new home.  Also, remove, fill out and mail any return postcards necessary to record warranties. 

If a gas appliance does not work, please check to make sure the pilot is lit.  If you suspect there may be a gas leak, please turn off the main gas valve near your meter and immediately call the gas company. 

If an electric appliance does not work, be sure the appliance is securely plugged in and that no circuit breakers have been tripped. 

Always have cold water running when using the disposal.  NEVER put hands into the disposal.  If the disposal is not working, you may press the reset button located on the disposal.  You may use the disposal key to dislodge blockages in the disposal.  Grind lemon rind in the disposal to help eliminate foul odors.

Never turn on a microwave when it is empty or use any type of metal or foil in it. 

There is an anti-tip device under your range which prevents movement or forward tipping while the range door is open.  If the range is moved for any reason, be certain to replace the range back into the anti-tip device completely.  Range hood filters need changing or cleaning periodically.

For best dishwasher performance, run hot water at the kitchen sink until it reaches maximum temperature, then start the dishwasher.

The simplest way to maintain showers and baths is to not allow soap scum, body oils and hard water deposits build up.  Wipe down shower walls with a towel or squeegee after use if desired.  If soap scum build up occurs, a liquid cleaner such as "Lysol Base and Tile Cleaner" may be used to remove unwanted film. 

Some mildew-preventing products are also available.  If you already have a mildew problem, scrub with a commercial tile cleaner or fungicide. Special mildew stain removers are also available. 

When using water solutions, remember that the hotter the water, the more effective the cleaning action. 

The joint between the tub and tile wall is a potential problem spot.  As a new home settles, or the tub itself flexes and settles, the grout in the joint may crack and crumble.  If this happens, remove the old grout with a sharp-pointed tool.  Dry the joint thoroughly and fill with a white flexible caulking compound, if applicable.  Silicone rubber-type caulks are especially good for such application. 

Check for cracks and fill them with grout or tub and tile caulk on a regular basis.  Seal with a grout sealer monthly, following instructions on the product label.

Abrasive cleaners are not needed or recommended on glass or metal surfaces.  No cleaners are necessary if the shower is wiped down regularly.  Use cleaners with no ammonia to clean mirrored surfaces.  Spray cleaner on a cloth and wipe as necessary. This prevents cleaner from collecting on the bottom of the mirror and discoloring the finished edge.

The use of rubber mats in showers is not recommended because they cause surface blisters as well as trap fungus and mold.  A jetted tub should be run with only clean, clear water.  (No bubble bath products, bath oils, or soaps should be used in conjunction with whirpool motor.)

Marble Tops and Surfaces:  For marble tops and surfaces, periodic applications of paste wax or products like "Gel Gloss" may be applied to maintain a high gloss luster and to make cleaning easier.  Mild abrasives like automatic polishing compound or baking soda will remove simple scratches and stains.  Fingernail polish remover can be extremely harmful to this product.

All cabinets should be cared for just like wood furniture.  

• Do not use water to clean cabinets; use a furniture polish. 
• Do not store heavy objects or stack excessive weight on the shelves. 
• Do not store wet cloths or sponges in cabinets.

If young children are at home, "tot locks" can be purchased to use on cabinet doors.

Floor mats should be used at all entrances to absorb soil and moisture.  Mats should be cleaned on a regular basis, especially during inclement weather.

Move heavy furniture occasionally to avoid excessive pile crushing.  When moving heavy, wheeled furniture (pianos, buffets, etc.) prevent damage by placing heavy cardboard or plywood between the wheel and the carpet.  Do not use chairs or appliances with rollers/casters on carpet.

If you use area rugs over your carpet, be sure to remove and clean them regularly. 

Protect your carpet from prolonged periods of direct sunlight with blinds, shades, etc. on your windows.

The most important step in caring for your carpet is vacuuming.  Vacuum thoroughly and frequently, particularly in high traffic areas.  Bear in mind that walking on soiled carpet permits the soil particles to work their way below the surface of the pile where they are far more difficult to remove.  Cross-pattern vacuuming is necessary for good care.  A good vacuum cleaner is vital to prolonging the life of your carpet.  An inexpensive machine will remove surface dirt but will not effectively remove the hidden dirt and particles embedded in the carpet fibers.

No carpet is absolutely stain proof.  Some carpets have stain resistant treatments to improve their ability to remove stains, not to prevent stains.  After a spill, absorb as much liquid as possible with white paper towels, replacing them as they become saturated.  Use a blotting action, never a scrubbing motion, to prevent fuzzing the carpet surface.  Remove as much of food spills as possible by gently scraping with a spoon or dull knife.  Always follow up with water to remove detergent residue that may become sticky and cause rapid re-soiling.

It is recommended that a hot water extraction system be used for carpet cleaning.  This system is commonly referred to as the "steam cleaning" system.  Whenever this system is used, it may be necessary to reapply the stain-resistant treatment that comes standard on your carpet.  This process should take place once a year or on an as-needed basis.  For extremely soiled or stubborn stains, a professional cleaning service is recommended. 

Certain products found in most homes can cause irreparable damage to your carpet.  Bleaches, tile cleaners, mildew removers, oven cleaners and drain openers are very strong chemicals that can discolor or dissolve carpet fibers.  Acne medications containing benzoyl peroxide are capable of permanently damaging your carpet, even just by contact with face or hands covered in acne medications.

Do not use salt or commerical ice-melting products or any other minerals, which may damage concrete surfaces.

Do not drive heavy vehicles such as moving vans onto your driveway.

Keep all expansion joints free of vegetation.

Oven cleaner or "Greased Lightning" is good for removing oil stains from concrete.

Smooth, finished concrete, as in garage floors, is as slick as ice when wet.  Therefore, when washing autos, etc., take caution.

Keep all countertop seams free of moisture and re-caulk as needed.

Do not cut directly on countertops.  Direct cutting will damage the surface.

Use non-abrasive cleaners to avoid scratching countertops. 

Do not set hot appliances, coffeepots, or other hot items over countertop seams or directly on the countertop surface.

Keep all countertop seams dry.

Maintain caulking between wall and countertop backsplash to prevent moisture from accumulating behind cabinets.

It is highly recommended that approximately six (6) months after closing and when the deck is dry, that you seal your deck with a water seal.  This seal should be reapplied at manufacturers' recommended intervals.  This will promote the longevity of your deck.  Paints and full-cover stains are not recommended, as they will void the wood manufacturer's warranty.

Cleaning products are available to renew the look of your deck.  Follow manufacturer's instructions. 

Heavy loads such as hot tubs will need additional bracing or supports.  Hot tubs on a deck void the structural warranty.

Periodically check and set nail heads in deck. 

Decks can give splinters.  Shoes should be worn on deck to avoid this problem.

Due to the finish of your front door, it is recommended that neither nails nor tape be used to attach items to the door.  

Thresholds need to be checked periodically in order to maintain an airtight seal.

Exterior doors should be re-painted or re-varnished as needed, depending on weather and sun exposure.

Finishing of the door, as needed, is the homeowner's responsibility.  Modification to exterior doors may void the manufacturer's warranty.

The weather stripping on your exterior door will occasionally require adjusting to maintain a good seal.  A well-sealed door should be somewhat hard to open and close.  A slight air crack around the door, however, is normal.  A hard wind may cause a weather-strip howl.  This can be adjusted as above but is not adjustable for very hard winds.

Never attempt to repair any part of your electrical systems by yourself.  Use only a licensed electrician for repair work.

• Do not overload your power outlets by having excessive amounts of plugs on one circuit.  This will either cause your breaker switch to trip or, under continued abuse, may result in damage.
• Do not allow water or liquids to penetrate your plugs or switches.
• Do not allow children to insert pencils, pins or any type of object into power oulets.
• Smoke detectors should be tested and batteries replaced as needed.

Dead Plugs: Your home is equipped with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters, typically referred to as GFCI or GFI plugs.  This is required by code, and therefore is beyond the control of your builder.  It is common for moisture to cause these circuits to trip. Even steam from a shower has been known to trip the GFCI circuit.  Please locate and reset your GFCI breaker before calling for service on your home. 

Further, it is common for some outlets to be connected to a light switch in order for a lamp or other appliances to be operated by that switch.  Please test all light switches in a room prior to calling for service.

WARNING!!  Do not use a GFI receptacle for an appliance that requires a continuous flow of electricity, such as a refrigerator or freezer.

(NOTE: Garage circuits are typically GFI circuits.  If you want to operate an appliance in the garage, it is recommended that you have a dedicated circuit installed for that appliance.)

Over time, fireplace refractory panels will develop hairline cracks.  These pose no danger.  To help prevent cracks from occurring, the first two (2) fires built should be small ones to allow the air trapped in the panels to escape slowly and help prevent excessive cracking.  To further prevent excessive cracking, it is recommended not to build "roaring fires".  Always open the damper. 

Use dry seasoned hardwood for firewood and do not use any flammable liquids to start a fire. 

Have your flue inspected and cleaned once a year by a qualified chimney sweep.

Atmospheric conditions (such as wind), large trees and other obstructions may adversely affect fireplace smoke drawn up the chimney.  The fire screen should always be closed during fireplace operation. 

Slate or marble is a brittle, natural material and is subject to natural grains, textures and fracture lines.  Care should be taken not to harm these surfaces with fireplace tools, logs or by walking on them.

The firebox needs to be cleaned of ashes after every four (4) or five (5) fires.  Make sure ashes are entirely extinguished prior to removal.  Use a fireproof container to store ashes.  Do not store ashes in the house or garage.

Do not use any flammable liquids in fireplaces.

If you have gas logs in the fireplace and there is ever a smell of natural gas, call your gas company and turn off the valve to the fireplace.

Optional fireplace fans should not be turned on until the fireplace has been preheated for 20-30 minutes.

Always light a piece of newspaper to warm the flue and create an updraft in the chimney.

We do not recommend the use of manufactured fire logs. 

If applicable, DO NOT CLOSE glass doors during fireplace operation - glass could shatter due to high heat.

Never clean your hardwood floors with water.  Do not use any wax cleaner that must be mixed with water, such as Murphy's Oil Soap, as this may result in a finish damage. Water can dull the finish and permanently damage the floor.

If your floor abuts exterior doors, put outside doormats at the entrances to keep dirt and moisture from being tracked in.

Inside, you may want to add an area rug to further prevent dirt and moisture from being tracked onto your hardwood floor.  To prevent slippage of area rugs, use an approved vinyl rug underlay.

Sweep or vacuum your floor as often as required to remove loose dirt or grit before it can scratch the surface of the floor.  Wipe up spills immediately before they get sticky or dry.  Remove dried spills with a dampened cloth.

Use floor protectors on the feet of furniture to avoid scratches. When moving heavy furniture or appliances slip a blanket or scrap of carpet, face down, under each foot and slide the furniture carefully.  This will help avoid scratching and gouging.

Certain types of casters on furniture may damage hardwood flooring.  Barrel type caster wheels or wide flat glides are best for protecting your hardwood floor.  If your furniture does not have the right type of caster, we recommend that you change them.

Spike or stiletto high heel shoes, especially those in poor repair, may cause denting and related damage to hardwood floors due to the extremely high compressive force they generate and may not be covered under your warranty.

Pet's nails can damage hardwood floors.

Oil all moving parts on the garage door every three (3) months and tighten bolts on tracks every twelve (12) months.

Keep small children and pets away from garage door tracks.

Never attempt to adjust the garage door spring in any way.  If the opener does not close, check the sensors to make sure they are lined up.  Nothing can be in the way of the sensors.

When cleaning locksets and other hardware, use only a soft, damp cloth.  Silicone spray is available at many hardware stores and can be used on hinges to help eliminate squeaks. 

Abrasive cleaning agents will ruin the finish on your hardware.

DO NOT use Brasso as it will remove the factory-applied finish.

Interior walls are painted with latex paint and are not washable. Touch-up paint is required to keep walls looking clean.  Doors and trim can be washed with water to remove dirt.

Interior doors and trim are painted with an alkyd (oil based) enamel paint which provides a hard, durable and washable finish.  To minimize yellowing, Sherwin Williams uses only the highest quality resins and other raw materials.  However, due to the state of current technology and the effect of varying environmental elements, some yellowing will occur with all alkyd or oil base enamels, regardless of the supplier.

Cold weather plumbing precautions should be taken when extremely cold weather is predicted:

• Open vanity base cabinet doors on exterior walls to allow warm air to enter.
• Keep all exterior wall faucets dripping inside the home overnight during extreme cold weather to keep water lines from freezing as moving water is less prone to freeze.
• Under no circumstances should hoses or other attachments be allowed to remain connected to hose bibs during cold weather. Whenever hoses are left on the bibs, water comes back into the bib from the hose, freezes and may cause the bib to shatter.

During extremely cold conditions, the possibility exists that water meters and supply lines are susceptible to freezing even though they are correctly installed.  If the caulking around your bathtub, shower or sink appears dried or cracked, remove the old caulking and replace it.  If you do not have a caulking gun, caulking material can be bought in applicator tubes or in disposable caulk guns.  It is a good idea to fill the bathtub before caulking. 

Use a non-abrasive cleaner and sponge to clean all plumbing fixtures. 

Alterations, modifications or improvements to plumbing should be done by a licensed plumber. 

Sink traps are finger-tightened so that clogs or items dropped down the sink can be remedied without a plumber's assistance.

Bathtubs and sinks made of vitreous china or porcelain on cast iron or steel will chip or scratch.  Do not drop heavy or sharp objects on them. 

Do not pour grease down drains or disposals. Use cold water to flush excess grease from drains.

A normal condition that exists as the home goes through the settling cycle is hairline sheetrock cracking.  The most common locations for these cracks to appear are the corners of the room, in the window returns, and at the ceiling.  Uneven watering of the soil around the foundation can also prompt these cracks. 

It is recommended that the appropriate fastener be used to attach mirrors, pictures, or any decorative items to the drywall.  Also, take caution to avoid internal mechanical systems and pipes when installing fasteners.

Keep doorstops adjusted to eliminate doorknob damage to the drywall.

Homeowners can make drywall repairs easily by using joint compound, sanding and painting.

Do not apply pressure on windows when cleaning. 

Use silicone spray on tracks to aid in the easy movement of sashes.

Do not lean ladders against windows.

When a drastic difference between the interior temperature of the home and the exterior air temperature is present, it is common to experience some "sweating" or condensation on the window frame. 

Make sure windows are closed and locked around young children as window screens are not designed as a safety screen and will dislodge or tear when pressure is applied.

For safety reasons, tempered glass is used in certain places in the home.  These are indicated by a tempered stamp on the glass.

It is suggested that the hot water heater be drained every six (6) months. 

Water heaters normally collect small quantities of scale and dirty water.  To remove this material, first close the water intake valve and turn off the power source for your water heater (gas, electric, etc.).  Failure to turn off the power source could cause the heat element to burn out.  Open the valve at the bottom of the heater and completely drain the tank.  Consult the manufacturer's literature for more specific information.

Every six (6) months check the temperature and pressure relief valve on your hot water heater to be certain the lever works properly.  If the thermostat should fail to operate properly, this valve would prevent a dangerous increase in water temperature and pressure.  Consult your owner's manual for more detailed information.

Your hot water heater is equipped with a thermostatic water control, which allows you to set the temperature of water supplied for the needs of your household.  It is recommended that water be maintained at 125-130 degrees in order to sterilize dishes in the dishwater.  See manufacturer's data in order to understand how to select the proper temperature on your particular model.  It is recommended that you use caution to avoid setting the temperature so high that it could scald as it comes out of the faucet.  It may be economically feasible to set your thermostat on low or "vacation" setting whenever leaving the home for an extended period of time.

Gas Water Heaters Only - If at anytime you should smell natural gas fumes in your garage, turn off the gas supply at the cock valve on your hot water heater.  Lighting and turning off the pilot on your hot water can be accomplished by explicitly following the manufacturer's directions as listed on the side of the hot water heater tank. 

Do not place any combustible material on or near your hot water heater. 

Design and cost make it impossible to position a hot water heater near all locations in the home that require hot water delivery.  You should be aware that the further a point of delivery is from the hot water tank, the longer it will require for the hot water to arrive.  This condition is beyond the control of your builder and will not require service.