Common Issues to Fix Before You Move Into the House
A home inspection is extremely important before you buy a house, or you will spend a lot of money on fixing problems you could have identified before. Some of the most common problems are plumbing issues. On the other hand, sellers may conceal a problem in order to secure a sale. However, even though you carefully inspected a house before buying, there are some things you should check regardless of the house.
Pest-proof your house
Before you move into the new house, hire a professional pest control company to make sure you get rid of pests. Then you can start pest-proofing your house. First of all, install door sweeps at the base of all exterior doors. Caulk the bottom outside edge and sides of door thresholds and any cracks around window and doors. Seal all utility openings where pipes and wires enter the house with urethane expandable foam, steel wool, caulk, cement, or copper mesh. Invest in wire mesh over the roof, the attic and crawl space vents and install a chimney cap.
Fix squeaking and creaking
You can de-squeak your doors by applying surfboard wax, petroleum jelly, or lubricating oil on the hinges. You can also use vegetable oils. However, avoid canola oil as it can attract pests. The main cause of creaking floors is wood shrinkage around the nails on the floorboards. You should locate the creaking floorboards and re-screw and tighten the nails.
Water pipes can become noisy due to a water hammer. Shut off the main valve. Turn on the lowest tap in the house in order to drain all water from the pipe. Turn off the lowest tap and reopen the main valve. Another reason for banging water pipes is high water pressure. Invest in a water-pressure regulator, or a pressure-reducing valve.
Change the locks
You should change the locks because you do not know who might have a key to your house, but also because you should burglar-proof your house, especially if you are moving to a new neighborhood. There are a variety of the locks on the market, including entry lock-sets, deadbolt locks, surface-mounted deadbolts, mortise locks, night latches, passage lock-sets, privacy lock-sets, handle sets and key-less entry systems. Research about the possibilities to make your house safer. The type of lock you can install depends on the level of protection it provides and the type of door it is installed onto.
Fire safety
Statistics indicate that almost half of all residential fires are started in the kitchen and that around 40% of fire fatalities happen in winter. Professionals can inspect your house and assess the fire risk. They will advise which precautions you can take. You should have a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket in your house. Next, gather your family to start practicing fire drills and buy basic first aid.
Have the heating and cooling systems cleaned
You should have the heating and cleaning systems cleaned once in a year. When it comes to the heating system, you should definitely call professionals if you can smell mold, if you notice excessive debris in the ducts, or if you and your family members experience allergy symptoms. You should also clean an air conditioner by cleaning and replacing a filter, keeping condenser and evaporator coils clean and by keeping outdoor equipment clear of debris.
These issues are usually overlooked when moving in. Make sure you fix all the problems before the furniture comes in. If you cannot handle a problem yourself, contact professionals immediately.
Source: Diana Smith for Sol Vibrations; free to use as per Creative Commons.
Please contact RJ Home Inspection to schedule a professional home inspection for your home or business: 800-253-4402 or email info@localhost
