Knowing signs of trouble
Signs are an important part of life. They tell us where we are heading—they warn us about what is going to happen next.
Our forefathers used to interpret various signs to tell that the rains are nigh. If you are driving, road signs warn you of the features and environment that you are about to encounter.
But signs are not restricted to weather and roads. Our assets also give us signs about what is going to happen next. Electrical gadgets, computers in particular, have clear messages that explain the problem you may encounter after you have a series of commands. In some cases the computer gives you possible solutions or ways of averting disaster.
This is, however, not the case in many assets that are not clearly interactive in nature. Many have found waken up one morning to find their assets not in usable state when a few days earlier they were usable.
Take the DVD player, for example. If it starts showing messages such as: “No disc” or “Cannot read disc”, it is possible that the lens is dirty or has developed some scratches. Cleaning it with a moist cloth can save you from the embarrassment of failing to treat your guests to that award winning movie.
Another sign of trouble is on the door. If your key is no longer easy to turn when locking or unlocking the door, it may be a sign that the lock needs lubrication or total replacement. Once you observe these signs, solve them as soon as possible as there can be a bigger inconvenience in store when you shall fail to either get in or out of the house because the lock is refusing to ‘cooperate’.
It is not only about gadgets, the walls and wooden furniture also have their signs of ‘fatigue’. That coat of paint will tell you that it has outlived its usefulness when it starts accommodating moulds. Apart from moulds, the walls may not be as bright as they were at the time the coat of paint was applied. If you do not heed these signs, it may be expensive to regain the attractiveness of the walls as more litres of paint may be required to hide the blemishes.
Furniture with vanished surfaces also require applying a new coat of vanish once in a while to maintain their original appeal. Delay in taking action after furniture has given the early warning signs of wear and tear, may involve scraping the surface, which may have given way to dirt and oils.
The list of warning signs is endless. Do you know the meaning of the strange sounds on your car when turning left or right? What about that sudden rise in fuel consumption? These are discussions for another day.
If you want it perfectly done, do it yourself.
