How to handle urgent home repairs after-hours

*This article strictly addresses urgent home repair needs such as plumbing, HVAC, or electrical problems. For situations involving an immediate threat to life or property, please call 911.

Plumbing leaks, furnace malfunctions, power losses, and a handful of other issues are all obstacles you may face at some point during you time as a homeowner. And while these issues are rare, especially in newly constructed homes, it doesn't mean you can't prepare just in case. That's why we're here to help!

In this article, we'll review what classifies as a Holt home emergency, what you as a homeowner can do, and when the Holt team will be able to step in and help.

Overview

At Holt we define an emergency as loss of all power, plumbing leaks or backups, or an HVAC issue during excessive hot or cold outdoor temperatures.

If you're here as a precautious homeowner, then kudos for thinking ahead! Holt Home emergencies can be addressed by our experienced team during regular business hours. If you have an urgent home repair need during our regular business hours or have a non-urgent request for warrantable items, please call our daytime customer care team at (360) 892-0514.

If you're here because you're experiencing a home emergency outside of regular business hours, we'll be on call. Please contact our customer care team by using our After-Hours Emergency Phone Number (360) 787-7411. In the unlikely event that you reach our voicemail, please leave a message, and a Holt team member will get back to you shortly. 

While our team is more than happy to help with any home repair concerns, remember that our after-hours emergency hotline is truly designed to address the types of situations defined above. It is staffed 24/7 by a real Holt employee, so it's important to be mindful when calling.

Please bear in mind that home warranties don't cover every situation. The cost of resolving certain issues might fall on you as the responsible homeowner. This would include any 'oops' situations such as non-flushable materials likes wipes or toddler's toys down a drain. We've seen it all! We can't always control what life throws our way, but we can prepare with a plan. Some homeowners opt to keep a little emergency fund for unexpected situations. Hopefully, all runs smoothly, but if you do need to use it, you can feel much more confident knowing you're ready. Now let's go over some specifics...

Plumbing Problems

Plumbing problems are only classified as Holt Home emergencies if you have an active leak that has the potential to cause long-term damage. This means you won't want to call our after hours number for a drippy faucet or shower head, but certainly would if your toilet was overflowing onto the floor, or there was water seeping from your cabinets, or leaks in any areas that you otherwise wouldn't expect to find water.

It's a great idea to review the location of your water shut-off valves for each plumbing fixture, and for the whole house. This will help you stay calm if you do ever need to stop the flow of water. If you're experiencing an emergency leak after-hours, the very first thing you should do is shut off your home's water supply at the main shut-off valve in your garage, then contact the Holt after-hours team.

HVAC Malfunctions

HVAC issues can be caused by a handful of factors, but malfunction due to a lack of maintenance is by far the most common. That's why it's important to change your air filters at least every three months, and to have a licensed contractor out to assess your heating and cooling systems at least annually. 

If your heating or air conditioning fails to work after-hours and the temperature outside is below 45 degrees or warmer than 90 degrees. this absolutely warrants an after-hours emergency phone call to Holt Homes.

Pro tip: To maximize efficiency, help prevent system overload, and even save on energy bills, keep your furnace at a fairly consistent temperature throughout each season. You can look at your energy supplier's recommendations for minimum and maximum temperatures if you need more direction.

Electrical Loss

Electrical losses can have a variety of causes. Oftentimes, it's caused by running too many appliances at once, causing the GFI's to become overloaded. While power trips are a but of an inconvenience. this does not warrant an after-hours emergency phone call. Instead, this issue can likely be resolved by simply resetting your breakers. If you have trouble, you can reach out on the regular customer care line for assistance. 

If, however, your entire house loses power after-hours and is the only home in your neighborhood experiencing an outage, please call the after-hours emergency phone, and our team will promptly respond. 

As a reminder, the builder backed warranty program does not include coverage for power outages or damage due to natural disasters. However, 2-10 HBW, among other insurance companies, offers many different types of insurance options that homeowners can purchases for their homes.

Pro Tip: We always recommend making the most of your homeowner orientation by asking your superintendent about how to handle various homeowner emergencies. However, the 30-day check-in and your 1-year walkthrough appointment are both great opportunities to ask questions and refresh your memory.

Smoke or Gas Leak

If you smell burning or see smoke and are not able to find or address the problem, please contact our after-hours team right away so we can help you find a solution. In the event of a fire, please call the fire department by dialing 911.

If you smell gas, immediately vacate everyone in your home and contact your gas company as soon as possible to further address the situation.

Homeowner Preparedness

Aside from knowing the ins and outs of your home, there are other techniques and methods you can use to be prepared.

There are a handful of reputable organizations online that have great tools and techniques to help you plan for an emergency. 

One example from our team members is a 1-2-3 approach, which is all about getting to safety and then identifying the right person to help solve your problem. In the event of the emergency:

1st: Assess the situation then take action if it is safe to do so.

2nd: If there is a true emergency, vacate your family. We recommended establishing a game plan that covers protocol for multiple scenarios.

3rd: Call for help. You can write down the appropriate phone numbers to use in each emergency by downloading our

We also recommended programming these numbers directly into your phone using concise contact labels such as "non-emergency police", "gas company", etc.

Let's Recap

Home emergencies or urgent repair needs shouldn't occur often, but it's best to have a solid plan in place for if or when they do. 

If these incidents are caused by defects related to building to installation as outlined in your 2-10 booklet, your warranty should be a great help to cover the issues at hand. Be sure to read these materials all the way through to truly understand your responsibilities as a new homeowner.

You should know that you can actually purchase additional or extended warranty coverage via 2-10's website if you prefer. The Holt Customer Care team is here to service your initial coverage for the first year (and 10-years for the structural coverage). If you ever have a question about your home at any point in your tenure as a homeowner with Holt, don't hesitate to reach out to our team directly at our care line: (360) 892-0514. if there's something we can't fix, we are happy to point you in the right direction.

Once more, remember that the after-hours hotline ensures that someone from Holt is available to you 24/7 for a real emergency (major water leak, HVAC in severe temperatures, or total electrical loss). Please be mindful when dialing, so we can prioritize any real emergencies. 

*Issues addressed by our after-hours team caused by something other than warrantable defects could be subject to a fee at the homeowner's expense.

About Holt Homes

For more than three decades, Holt Homes has built new construction homes for families in Oregon and Southwest Washington. The quality and experience of our people, the ease and efficiency of our approach, and the livability of our communities works hand-in-hand to make Holt Homes the largest locally-grown home builder in the region. For more information, live chat or call us at (971) 231-5560.

*All selections subject to change depending on availability