Maintenance troubleshooting tips

Please ensure you conduct any necessary trouble shooting PRIOR to reporting the maintenance to us.

We understand that when there is maintenance required on your property, you want things done ASAP! Quite often we find that some basic troubleshooting will:

Fix the problem instantly without requiring a tradesman to attend the property

Save you money in incorrect call out fees where the problem could have been fixed by yourself or was caused by your own appliances, etc

Identify more details on the problem so we can send the correct tradesman the first time and the item is repaired faster

Below are some of the commonly encountered tenant problems. Please ensure you try these BEFORE submitting your maintenance request.

― Find a solution for your problem

If you’re experiencing a maintenance issue, please follow the appropriate steps below.

No power
Perhaps the safety switch has been activated.

Reset the safety switch in the fuse/meter box.

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

Turn off the power points and unplug all the appliances in the house.

Reset the safety switch in the fuse/meter box.

Plug in the fridge (or other appliance) and turn on the powerpoint.

If the safety switch clicks off again, you know the problem is the appliance, which needs repair.

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.

Lights and powerpoints are not working
Has the safety switch been activated?

Reset the safety switch in the fuse/meter box.

You may have a blown light bulb

Replace the light bulb and try the light again.

You may have a faulty appliance.

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?

Ensure that the tap is turned on fully.

If you have an electric system:

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

Does the hot water system need refilling or topping up?

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.

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

If you have a gas system:

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)

Ensure that the valve on the gas meter has been turned on.

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

Try using Draino or similar product to free the blockage.

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.

Remove old food from the kitchen outlet and pour boiling water down the drain.

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.

Turn off the mains tap here and call the office or the urgent maintenance phone number if outside business hours.

Stove element not working
Electric stove
The connections may be loose or dirty.

Pull out the elements, clean and replace them.

The energy supply may not yet have been connected.

Ensure electricity has been connected to the property.

Gas stove

The gas igniter may be obstructed.

Ensure the element is correctly positioned on the stove top.

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.

Ensure that the taps are turned on at the wall, that the appliance is plugged in and that the power point is switched on.

The machine is overloaded or is out of balance.

If the machine stops halfway through a cycle, it may be overloaded. Rearrange the items evenly in the drum, and try it again.

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)

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.

Ensure the machine is plugged in and that the power point is on.

Tumble driers automatically shut down when the lint filter is overloaded.

Clean the lint filter every time you use the drier.

Garage remote not working
The remote control batteries may be flat.

Try a new set of batteries in the remote control.

The control settings may be incorrect.

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.

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.

Check that nothing obstructs the doors.

Air conditioning, heating or cooling
The unit may need to be reset.

Turn off at the switch and unplug – leave 5 mins to plug back in should reset.

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.

For more information about smoke detectors, check out our blog on the latest compliance news. 

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