Any good landlord understands keeping their Long Beach rental property in proper working conditions means general maintenance is required. Making sure your property is maintained can increase its curb appeal, tenant retention, and reduce larger expenses by preventing the early breakdown of important components.

There are some important maintenance items that some landlords occasionally forget about or are unaware of. Today we’ll go through some of the preventative maintenance that can save your property and your tenants from the unexpected.

Fireplace Cleaning

This will typically only affect single family homes with working fireplaces. Fireplaces are one of those features in homes that give off a “cozy” feeling, and sometimes are overlooked for maintenance because tenants don’t often use fireplaces in Southern California. Fireplaces come in a few styles: wood burning, gas, electric and ethanol. Ethanol and eclectic don't produce smoke and require little to no maintenance. Gas and wood burning fireplaces however, do produce smoke, meaning that maintenance needs to be performed  regularly.

Over years, a gas fireplace can begin to malfunction because the burners can become blocked with debris. If not cleaned annually, the burners can begin to fail causing more damage to the entire system. Damage to the gas hoses, burners or any other part of the system can lead to larger repair bills that would have otherwise been prevented.

Wood burning fireplaces need the most focus when it comes to cleaning, and it's recommended to hire a professional to do the work. Burning wood leaves behind debris, ashes and a flammable residue called creosote. Creosote can ignite and can cause house fires if left unchecked. If the fireplace is used often, it's recommended to have your fireplace professionally cleaned twice every year, and have the chimney inspected annually.

Cleaning HVAC Ductwork 

Just like the HVAC unit itself, the air ducts require maintenance on a regular basis to maximize efficiency. In Long Beach the air conditioning is used often, and it's recommended to clean your air ducts every 3 to 5 years. A few tell-tale signs that your ducts need to be cleaned are an unpleasant odor coming from the vents, a clogged air filter, the vents are filled with debris and dust, or an uneven or poor airflow. In extreme cases mold and mildew can be seen in or around the HVAC system.

Having poor air flow, or dirty air ducts can cause tenants health issues including:



• Headaches
• Fever
• Coughing
• Difficulty breathing

If allowed to accumulate uncontrolled for an extended period of time, the particulates in the vents can become a fire risk. Causing the ducts to spread flames throughout the HVAC system.

HVAC System Maintenance

An HVAC system is made up of many parts that need to be maintained in order to keep optimum performance. If the HVAC units are poorly maintained, a number of issues can occur that can range from an inexpensive fix to a fix in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Electrical problems are the most commonly lead to fire hazards. Older electrical connections can become loose, and can cause the furnace to work harder overheating and burning the wires. This can lead to a furnace fire. If you notice smoke or a burning smell emanating from the gas furnace, turn off your HVAC system and call a reliable technician to check the system.

Naturally a fuel leak is also a fire hazard, though without regular maintenance many home owners or tenants don't notice the leak until it is too late. The fuel used in an HVAC system is highly flammable, if it makes contact with the heating elements of the HVAC system the fuel can ignite and can cause a fire.

A damaged heat exchanger in your HVAC system is a major cause for concern. This can cause a carbon monoxide leak which can lead to many health issues for your tenants. It's recommended to do annual inspections of the heat exchanger to ensure tenant’s safety. 

Sewer Jetting

Getting your sewer lines cleaned out regularly is great as a preventative maintenance that can save you money and can help prevent sewage backups in the long term. Sewage backing up into the property is not only a health hazard for your tenants, it can be a financial hazard for yourself. As you may need to hire a plumber, replace carpets and potentially lose a tenant.

Generally speaking, you should have your sewer lines jetted every 18 to 22 months. This’ll keep your pipes draining smoothly and reduce the risks for clogged or broken pipes in the future. 

Maintenance should never be ignored, as it’s almost always better to prevent than repair. If you need help finding reliable tradesmen to do maintenance or aren’t sure where to start feel free to call us at (562) 888-0247 or feel free to fill out our free rental analysis to see what your rental could yield today.