A recent Ipsos survey on homeownership in America found something unsettling. Around 52% of homeowners worry about staying updated with home maintenance. Almost half of them are anxious that a trivial issue could blow up into permanent damage. Unfortunately, the modern reality of climate change lends validity to these fears.
As climate change becomes more severe, much of the US suffers from unexpectedly inclement weather, from heavy rainfall to storms and cyclones. Earlier this year, Hurricane Helene brought gusty winds and rainfall to East Tennessee, with cities like Knoxville facing flooding threats. California is also under frequent bad-weather spells, with rains and storms becoming more frequent.
Houses that brave such severe weather conditions can develop structural problems that go unseen for a long time. Aging houses are prone to more challenges, from foundational concerns to mold and toxic constituents in paint.
Responsible homeowners can mitigate the risks of snowballing problems by scheduling essential home inspections. Experts can check for hidden issues and chart a rectification plan. Doing this in advance can help you arrange the finances for home repairs. You won’t get this kind of time in the face of a broken roof after a storm.
#1 Electrical Wiring for Faults
After COVID-19, more people are working from home. This means you typically have several electronic devices plugged into sockets all day, taxing the fuse box. An expert inspection will let you know if the wiring in your house is capable of handling your everyday load.
Outdated electrical systems can present the most problems, from sparks to short circuits. In an old house, an expert might unearth suboptimal things like fabric-based insulation. Aluminum wiring, popular in erstwhile years, is prone to more expansion when overheated.
Another concern is old-fashioned, ceramic-based knob and tube wiring. While it worked fine when most houses had few electronic appliances, it is certainly not up to modern usage.
You must be extra cautious if you use appliances like space heaters. The New York Times Wirecutter recommends plugging them into wall outlets and avoiding extension cords. Does your home wiring not support enough wall outlets, forcing you to use extensions to reach the adjacent room? It might be time to reconsider things. An expert electrician can thoroughly inspect and recommend corrective measures to prevent a short circuit.
#2 Roof Inspection for Damage
The roof of a house may not get as much attention as the interiors. It is just there – a calming, reassuring presence keeping us warm and safe. However, roofs can see considerable damage in regions exposed to bad weather, like excessive precipitation and strong winds.
Heavy rainfall and turbulent winds can mess up the gutters and cause clogging with water and leaves. The shingles in the roof can suffer the consequences of aging, which causes deterioration and breakage.
Winters in cities like Knoxville can bring plenty of snow, changing into slushy accumulation for homes located at higher elevations. Many roofs across the area endure seasonal damage.
Seeking professional roofing services is the best way to deal with such damage. A seasonal inspection is a proactive move. These experts will warn you of potential problems and let you plan a solution carefully. Roof repair and replacement can be time-consuming and expensive. Warning helps make sense of things.
An expert can advise you on the least intrusive and most value-for-money approach. At this point, compliance with health, environmental, and city-specific safety regulations is imperative. It is sensible to explore flexible financing options while considering roof repair.
#3 Plumbing Inspection for Leaks
A floorboard that creaks mysteriously at midnight. Banging pipes. A strange sound whose origin you cannot trace. Lest you suspect it is the plot of a kitschy horror film, you can breathe. These are just some signs of a plumbing problem in your house.
Older homes often encounter bursting pipes in winter. The plumbing isn’t winterized, i.e., it doesn’t have antifreeze. Even new homes may experience clogged drains and toilets. Or, you may have noticed a persistent drain-like smell in the kitchen.
These problems arise because of failing or outdated plumbing. Even if you got new fixtures when you bought the house, you may not have replaced them in years.
An expert inspection can diagnose these problems for you. Advancing technology has made more accurate detection possible through acoustic techniques that assess the sound of water. It is better to tackle these challenges promptly as drainage issues can rapidly become a health and cleanliness risk.
#4 Ventilation for Fume Buildup
We don’t perceive the air we breathe at home as polluted. However, indoor pollution has become a concern in many houses in America.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences finds that the air inside homes can get contaminated due to smoking, fumes from cleaning solutions, and biological agents like mold and allergens. Breathing in polluted air can make you vulnerable to respiratory problems. It might even trigger more severe conditions, like lung cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Scheduling an expert inspection for your home ventilation can locate these risks. An expert will conduct a complete assessment of your exhaust fans, vents, and filters. They will also look for signs of mildew and undue condensation.
Besides identifying potential health hazards, another benefit of this home inspection is saving energy costs. You can find leaks you didn’t know existed. Fixing them will reduce your heating costs.
The US Department of Energy recommends caulking and weatherstripping to create an air seal. It will improve overall air quality and also manage energy bills.
A home inspection is generally part of the deal when you buy a house. But some homeowners decide to waive it off in a rush to close the sale. Unless you conduct an expert inspection, you won’t be able to identify problems with serious repercussions, like a foundational hole, termites, or sewage explosion.
Owners must be tuned to home maintenance needs to keep their dream home alive and blooming. Some things are better left to experts.
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