Taking care of a home is an ongoing job that requires a bit of hard work, perseverance, and foresight. Here is a quick glimpse at a few of the potential problems you might encounter in your home that you should keep an eye out for if you want to avoid health issues and property damage down the road.
Leaks
Studies have revealed that the average home leaks nearly 10,000 gallons of water per year, and that excess moisture can result in a myriad of problems. Luckily, most leaks can be fixed with nothing more than some basic tools and a few supplies from a local home improvement center. Some of the areas that you might want to check for leaks include under sinks, around toilets, and near any outdoor spigots that are on your property.
Some insurance companies even require an independent “4 point inspection” that documents these potential leak locations to ensure that they are Okay before they will issue you a policy.
According to the USGS Drip Calculator one faucet dripping 60 drips per minute is 86,400 drips per day. Which is an unbelievable 7 gallons a day or 2,777 gallons a year. If one drip a second is that much just imagine how many gallons that small stream in the faucet above is wasting!
Drafts
Drafts throughout your home can impact your family’s comfort as well as your monthly utility bills. Those are just a few of the reasons why you should ensure that there are no drafts around windows, doors, vents, or your roof. While you should be able to deal with small openings around doors and windows on your own, roof drafts should be taken care of by a licensed and insured company that offers roofing repair services.
Pest Infestations
After living in a home for a few years, you will most likely have to deal with at least a few pest infestations. Unwanted rodents and insects can be aggravating, but those critters can usually be taken care of in a single pest control service call as long as you catch the problem early on. It is also a good idea to minimize their access to any food or water that might draw them into your home.
Mold
When there is lingering moisture in your home, a mold outbreak can happen in the blink of an eye. Small patches of mold typically aren’t dangerous, but the spores can quickly spread and settle throughout your home causing respiratory issues for you and your family. The easiest way to prevent mold in your home is to catch plumbing leaks early on so that there isn’t any excess moisture for them to thrive on. If you do find a mold issue it is critical that you get professional help immediately or you may end up with all sorts of “unexplained” health issues.
These are just a few of the issues that a homeowner might run into, and there may come a point when you want to hire a professional inspector to look over your property. A licensed inspector can search for a wide variety of issues with your home and give you a detailed list of repairs and replacements that you might need.
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