Archive for Basement
Winter Home Maintenance Tips
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As winter approaches, your home is susceptible to more hazardous conditions. This includes pipes freezing, damage from the cold weather, and high heating costs. If the home is not prepared properly, the value of the home can decrease due to wear and tear. Staying up-to-date with winter maintenance activities will keep it as good as new.
Here is a checklist of things to do to keep your home safe and maintained in the cold winter months:
- Check the roof. Watch for damage from ice and remove icicles.
- Avoid frozen pipes. Keep cabinet doors open for the heat to reach pipes, such as below sink areas. A slow dripping faucet can help pipes that are vulnerable to extreme weather, such as pipes that run through an unheated or unprotected space.
- Prevent leaks. Check the basement area for leaks and water, especially during a winter thaw.
- Test the electrical system. Check all ground-fault circuit interrupters to make sure they are working properly and offer shock protection. These outlets can cut off power to an electrical device; they should be tested especially after an electrical storm.
- If you are going out of town, prepare the home. Keep the heat turned on, even if you are leaving for an extended period of time.
- Keep heating costs down. Clean and check or replace furnace air filters every month. Install storm windows or use plastic-film sheets from a hardware store on windows for the winter season.
- Prepare for an emergency. Check the pressure gauge on all fire extinguishers and replace if necessary. Also, make sure to have a 72-hour kit on hand in the case of blackouts or snowstorms.
A home that is ready for winter will remain in good condition, keep costs down, and allow you to enjoy a cozy winter without worry.
Prevent Water Damage and Keep Your Home in Good Repair
Posted by: | CommentsA home that has water damage can bring problems to homeowners that go beyond the cost of repair. Water damage is destructive to homes and buildings, causing a loss of value, higher maintenance costs, and even a liability with a loss of proper indoor air quality. These problems can be prevented by properly inspecting your home for damage and taking the steps to fix problems as soon as they occur. If you detect the presence of moisture in your home, be sure to take action right away.
Places to Inspect for Water Damage
There are a number of places in the home where water damage might occur. Some of these are areas you might not regularly notice, so consider keeping a running list of places to check. Some of these less-often-seen areas include: attics, storage areas, pipes, basements areas, and heating and cooling systems.
You might also notice more obvious things inside the home like damaged ceiling tiles, carpet, and water stains on drywall or plaster. Outside the home, make sure to check any cracks in the foundation or exterior walls, as well as the roof and windows. These are all places where water could leak in and should be are checked regularly.
Make Sure Your Home Is in Good Repair
Keep in mind that not all water damage is totally obvious. Sometimes you have to go looking for it to realize you’ve got an ongoing problem. Keep your home in good repair by sealing any cracks or holes in the exterior walls and foundation, making sure you have good ventilation in moisture-prone areas inside the home, and keeping up with inspection and maintenance of your home.
Finally, if water damage does occur for any reason, act quickly to fix the problem. Be sure to remove all standing water and moisture evidence. Consult with a home repair expert, if needed, to correct any leaks or water damage for good.
How to Keep Your Basement as Good as New
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As a home inspector I find that basements are susceptible to water damage and that homeowners might not realize there are some simple fixes that can sometimes prevent this problem. This problem of water leakage happens most often when the exterior parts of the home are draining improperly.
There are a few simple ways to keep water out of your basement and keep it as good as new. The key is to start with the outside of the house and pay attention to where water is draining. If it appears to be flowing inward toward the foundation of the house, it’s important to fix this problem before it gets worse. Here are some tips:
- Fix the Grading: When the ground slopes around the house—called grading—it causes rain water to spill toward the basement, rather than away. The cure is to get the water flowing in the opposite direction. This can be easily fixed with simple landscaping fixes. You don’t need a big slope to get the water to flow in the right direction, but a small adjustment in the grading, such as using dirt, rocks, and woodchips does the trick. These elements can create an angle that is better suited to keep water out of your basement. Read More→
