Maintainance Troubleshooting

Maintainance Troubleshooting Tips

Maintainance Troubleshooting Tips

Welcome to our Maintainance Troubleshooting page. Here, you will find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about maintainance we receive here at Engine Property. We understand that lodging a maintainance request can be tedious, we find that some basic troubleshooting can make the process a lot easier by:

 

  • Helping you resolve the issue without the need for a professional to visit the property.
  • Reducing tenant expenses by avoiding unnecessary call out fees for problems that can be fixed by you or are caused by your own equipment.
  • Helping you gain a better understanding of the problem so that we can ensure the correct tradesman is sent on the first visit and repairs are completed efficiently.

 

From tips on how to handle common maintenance issues to guidelines for reporting problems, we've got you covered. If you don't find the answer you're looking for, please don't hesitate to reach out to our support team for assistance. We're here to help!

Maintainance Troubleshooting Steps

Finding a Solution

If you are experiencing a maintainance issue, please refer to the following steps:

No Power

Perhaps the safety switch has been activated.

  1. Reset the safety switch in the fuse/meter box.

 

Perhaps one of your appliances is faulty (for example, your fridge).

  1. Turn off the power points and unplug all the appliances in the house.
  2. Reset the safety switch in the fuse/meter box.
  3. Plug in the fridge (or other appliance) and turn on the powerpoint.
  4. If the safety switch clicks off again, you know the problem is the appliance, which needs repair.
  5. If not, test another appliance in the same manner.

* Note if you call out an electrician and your appliance is at fault, you will be invoiced for the call-out charges If none of these tests fix your problem perhaps your street is suffering a temporary interruption or fault. Contact your electricity company. If you live in a townhouse or apartment, there may be an interruption or fault that affects the complex. Check with a neighbour to ascertain this. If the problem is complex-wide, contact the Body Corporate manager.

 

If none of these tests fix your problem perhaps your street is suffering a temporary interruption or fault.

  1. Contact your electricity company.

 

If you live in a townhouse or apartment, there may be an interruption or fault that affects the complex.

  1. Check with a neighbour to ascertain this.
  2. If the problem is complex-wide, contact the Body Corporate manager.
Lights and powerpoints are not working

Has the safety switch been activated?

  1. Reset the safety switch in the fuse/meter box.

 

You may have a blown light bulb

  1. Replace the light bulb and try the light again.

 

You may have a faulty appliance.

  1. Try plugging the appliance into a different power socket. If it still does not work, the appliance is most likely broken.
No hot water

Did you remember to arrange your Gas/Electricity supply company when you moved?

 

Perhaps the tap to fill the system has been turned off?

  1. Ensure that the tap is turned on fully.

 

If you have an electric system:

  1. Ensure that the safety switch in the fuse/meter box is engaged.

 

Does the hot water system need refilling or topping up?

  1. Avoid this by checking the overflow pipe approximately every 6 months.

 

Usually, there is a copper valve on an electric hot water system and an overflow pipe.

  1. Pull up the lever until water begins to come out of the overflow pipe.

 

If you have a gas system:

  1. Check the pilot light. If it has gone out, follow the user instructions to relight it. (Some systems may require a tradesperson to do this but in most cases, self-lighting is easy if instructions are followed)
  2. Ensure that the valve on the gas meter has been turned on.
Blocked sink or shower

Report a major blockage to your property manager. However, if your sink or shower takes a long time to drain:

  1. Try using Draino or similar product to free the blockage.
  2. Clear hairs and old soap from the waste pipe and U bend by putting a bucket under the pipe, unscrewing it and removing the debris. Re-attach the pipe and pour boiling water down the drain.
  3. Remove old food from the kitchen outlet and pour boiling water down the drain.
  4. Never put fat and oil into a drain as these clog up the pipes.
Tap will not turn off

If a tap won’t turn off and water is gushing go to the mains which are usually situated near the garden tap.

  1. Turn off the mains tap here and call the office or the urgent maintenance phone number if outside business hours.
Stove element not working

The connections may be loose or dirty.

  1. Pull out the elements, clean and replace them.
  2. The energy supply may not yet have been connected.
  3. Ensure electricity has been connected to the property.

 

Gas stove.

  1. The gas igniter may be obstructed.
  2. Ensure the element is correctly positioned on the stove top.
  3. Ensure gas has been connected to the property and you have paid your most recent gas bill
Washing machine not working

The machine may not be correctly connected to water and electricity.

  1. Ensure that the taps are turned on at the wall, that the appliance is plugged in and that the power point is switched on.
  2. The machine is overloaded or is out of balance.
  3. If the machine stops halfway through a cycle, it may be overloaded. Rearrange the items evenly in the drum, and try it again.
  4. Check the pilot light. If it has gone out, follow the user instructions to relight it. (Some systems may require a tradesperson to do this but in most cases, self-lighting is easy if instructions are followed)
  5. The machine’s lid/door may not be shut fully or properly.
Tumble dryer not working

The machine may not be connected to the power.

  1. Ensure the machine is plugged in and that the power point is on.
  2. Tumble driers automatically shut down when the lint filter is overloaded.
  3. Clean the lint filter every time you use the drier.
Garage Remote not working

The remote control batteries may be flat.

  1. Try a new set of batteries in the remote control.
  2. The control settings may be incorrect.
  3. Check the number code on the back of the remote control and ensure that they match those on the control box panel in the garage.
  4. Check that the lever (which is usually situated next to the control box) inside the garage is set to ‘auto’, as opposed to ‘manual’ (which allows you to open the door with a key or lift the door manually

 

The doors will not close if anything is in the way.

  1. Check that nothing obstructs the doors.
Air conditioning, heating or cooling

The unit may need to be reset.

  1. Turn off at the switch and unplug – leave 5 mins to plug back in should reset.
  2. Check the batteries in the remote (in some cases the remote may need replacing and the unit is not syncing with the remote correctly).
Smoke detector

If your smoke detector is beeping, it is usually an indication the battery is low or that the unit has an issue. If the latter is the case, please submit your request immediately.