Being a homeowner comes with many responsibilities. Those responsibilities include timely inspections and repairs. Keep up your roof, landscape, gutters, and so on. To make sure you don’t miss out on your list of family home inspections, use this guide as a helpful resource.
Roof
Your roof is the part of your home that protects it from the elements. So while your roof should be durable, it can also suffer from various wear and tear. After all, it has to deal with hail, rain, snow, and UV rays daily. Failure to include roofing in your list of family home inspections can have dire consequences. A roof that hasn’t been properly inspected can cost you in terms of your roofing insurance and allow elements into your home.
If you don’t repair cracks or holes in your roof, it makes it easy for water to get inside. Then your home can suffer from water damage. That water can get into your foundation, which will cause it to weaken. A weakened structure is an unsafe one that can collapse at any time, and it can also decrease your home value.
Did you know that a damaged roof can be responsible for major heat loss in your home? Unless you want to pay tons of electrical bills, make sure your roofing is insulated and free of vulnerabilities. Keeping up with inspections can ensure you save money on your energy bills. According to experts, energy expenditure can account for as much as 50% of your home’s bills.
Avoid these problems by hiring local roofing companies to inspect your roof and fix any issues they find. Roofers have the expertise and experience to handle any type of roof, whether it’s asphalt, metal, slate, tile, or wood. If you’re considering a roof replacement, they have the expertise to advise you on the best materials to use for your climate and your aesthetic.
Gutters
Gutters are essential for draining rainwater away from your home and preventing water damage to your foundation, walls, and landscaping. They can also become clogged with leaves, debris, and pests. When gutters become clogged, they can no longer do their job of ushering water away from your roof and foundation. They can eventually overflow, break, or sag. Without functioning gutters, your roof is at risk and can eventually rot due to moisture that can’t go away. if water doesn’t go away from your foundation it can also jeopardize the structure of your home
Prevent these issues with the expertise of seamless gutter services to clean and inspect your gutters regularly. Seamless gutter services can install seamless gutters that are more durable, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing than traditional gutters. They can also repair or replace any damaged or worn-out gutters.
You can get gutters and various designs and colors. So if you’re renovating your home, such as your roof and exterior, you can make sure that your gutters fit in seamlessly. Many people don’t think about gutter repair or installation, but keeping that on your list of family home inspections can ensure your roofing and overall property remains safe and moisture-free.
Pipes
Plumbing is an essential feature of any home. After all, could you imagine your house without running water? What if you couldn’t flush your toilets and get rid of water after washing your dishes or clothes? These things can happen if your plumbing isn’t up to par. That’s why it’s essential to hire a local 24 hour plumbers to inspect and fix your pipes at any time. Even if you can’t find emergency plumbers, you can get plumbers in different specialties to handle different things you may need. After all, some plumbers handle pipe installation and others can fix cracks and make other repairs. Some plumbers may specialize in drain cleaning, fixture updates, as well as sewer maintenance. Of course, most plumbers have several functions or specialties they can handle, so inquire beforehand.
The plumbing services are essential in case your pipes develop clogs, corrosion, leaks or end up bursting at the wrong time. When there’s an issue with your pipes, it can lead to water damage due to leaks or busts. As winter approaches, you should be extra mindful of your pipes freezing over if they’re not properly insulated.
If your home has water damage from piping issues, it could lead to the development of mold. Mold is a detriment to your home structure as well as your family’s health. According to CNET, mold can begin sprouting within 24 to 72 hours in a wet environment. If you have a leak that’s undetected anywhere in your home for weeks or months, that’s plenty of time for mold to wreak havoc and possibly destroy parts of your drywall and structure. For your family’s health, add plumbing inspections to your family home inspections list.
Wires
Electricity is convenient for both homes and businesses. After all, it ensures you and your family don’t have to live in the dark. Reliable wiring can power your appliances and your devices, and keep everything safe from electrical hazards. With so many American homes using several devices and appliances at the same time, you must have a strong enough circuit board to handle all of that wattage.
Wires can also get damaged, frayed, overloaded, or outdated, which can cause sparks, fires, shocks, or power outages. Electrical wires can get worn down by age, excessive usage as well damage from weather. Hire electrical installation services to inspect your wires and fix any problems they find. Timely inspections can ensure you don’t have a costly and inconvenient power outage. It could also ensure that your home doesn’t have a fire hazard by weight or frayed wires. You also don’t want someone in your home to suffer an electrical shock because they were using a malfunctioning outlet.
Electrical installation contractors have the training and certification to handle any electrical project. They can install new outlets, switches, or fixtures. These services can you save energy and money by installing LED lights or smart devices.
Appliances
Isn’t it great that you don’t have to wash clothes by hand? You don’t even need to wash your dishes by hand if you have a dishwasher. By having an appliance repair company on your list of family home inspections, you can ensure your home remains convenient. In addition to making washing clothes and dishes easier, you’re appliances also make it easier to heat and cool your home as well as cook your meals. However, like any other feature in your home, your appliances can eventually break down or get worn out.
While your first instinct may be to replace your appliance, that’s not always necessary. If you get the right professionals on board, an appliance repair company can look at your existing appliances and see what needs to be done. Having regular inspections can also prevent smaller problems from turning into bigger ones that can lead to an earlier replacement. These professionals can handle any appliance brand or model. If you decide on a replacement, they can always give you the right recommendation for your needs and budget.
Septic Tank
Your septic tank is responsible for treating and disposing of the wastewater from your home in an environmentally friendly way. Thanks to your septic tank, you have an area that can hold your wastewater until it’s properly pumped out. According to Bob Vila, your septic tank should be pumped at least every three years. However, if you have a home with a lot of people, your separate tank may begin to overflow before the three-year mark is up and you may need to call your septic system professional ASAP.
When septic tanks get full, they overflow or leak which can cause odors or backups. Can you imagine your home smelling like sewage or having to deal with a septic tank contaminating the soil or local water supply? Prevent these issues with regular septic system maintenance by inspecting your septic tank and pumping it out regularly. These professionals can also advise you on how to maintain your septic system properly by avoiding flushing harmful substances or using too much water.
Well Pump
If you decide to live away from the city, you may have your own well. Having your own well water is a great resource since you’re in control of your water safety. Since you’re in control of your water safety, you must maintain your well to avoid contamination or a loss of water. That’s why you should always include a well pump specialist on your list of family home inspections.
Your well pump is responsible for pumping water from your well to your home at a consistent pressure and flow rate. When these pumps wear down it can result in no water, low water pressure, or poor water quality. A well pump replacement specialist can inspect your well pump and replace it if needed. They can also help you choose the best well pump for your well depth,
water demand, and budget.
HVAC Units
As fall turns into winter, could you imagine your home without proper heating? With a reliable HVAC system, you don’t have to sit in a cold home just because it’s cold outside. HVAC units are responsible for heating, cooling, air filtration, and circulation in your home. A local HVAC company can come to inspect these units and service them regularly. They can check for minor issues before they turn into big ones. After all, the last thing you want is for your HVAC unit to shut down in the middle of summer or winter.
Problems in your HVAC unit not only affect the level of heating and cooling on your property, it can also affect your overall air quality. While people often emphasize going outside for fresh air, you should also be mindful of having fresh air inside your home. If you don’t have HVAC technicians clean and change the filters and ducts and make other repairs, you may end up breathing in worse air in your home than outside.
According to Bob Vila, your HVAC system should have a regular inspection at least once a year. However, depending on the area you’re in, you may need more regular checkups, especially when it comes to the filter. If you live in an area that’s very dusty or has heavy pollution, you may need more filter updates and family home inspections from your technician than normal.
Garage Door
Your garage door is responsible for securing your garage and providing easy access to your home and vehicle. However, these doors can also get dented, stuck, or noisy, which can cause inconvenience, damage, or safety risks. Hire a garage door service to inspect your garage door and repair it if needed. Rely on these professionals to install a new garage door to enhance the appearance and functionality of your garage as well.
Air Ducts
The air ducts distribute the air from your HVAC units throughout your home. Unfortunately, they can become filled with dirt, mold, mildew, and other contaminants over time. That means whenever your unit is turned on, anything in these ducts will filter throughout the air in your home. If you end up breathing in dirty air from poorly maintained ducts, it can make you and your family sick and affect your respiratory health. So don’t hesitate to add this feature to your list of family home inspections.
Luckily, air duct cleaning services can inspect your air ducts and clean them thoroughly.
Air duct cleaning services not only help you breathe better but also reduce your energy consumption by sealing any leaks or gaps in your air ducts. The more energy you save, the fewer bills you’ll have to pay, which is good for your overall home budget.
As you can see, you have several things to consider when it comes to your family home inspections list. Staying on top of things can protect your home from potential problems, save money on repairs or replacements, and enjoy a more comfortable and healthy living environment. You, your family, and your property can benefit from this upkeep. Hopefully, this guide has served as a good resource to find the best professionals to handle your family home inspections this year and beyond.