Tag Archive for: Home Inspection

Winter Maintenance Tips

It is that time of the year! The season of cold temperatures and snow. Knowing that life will slow down a little and there are things to do around the home, there are winter maintenance areas you can take care of. Now, don’t forgo the time with family or time in front of the fireplace, but on days you are looking for something to do, we will give you some tips. The five most important winter maintenance tips to take the time to take care of are: cleaning the clothes dryer, chimney cleaning, freezing pipes, HVAC and furnace, and storing and stacking firewood.

Clothes Dryer Cleaning

Most households use the clothes dryer several times a week. Sometimes the lint builds up and the dryer doesn’t work as well. Here is how to clean the clothes dryer.

  1. Dryer inspection – Take off the dryer cover outside your home and see if there is a clog.
  2. Remove the clog – If there is a clog, make sure you take out the dirt, leaves, debris, lint, and animal droppings.
  3. Go back to the dryer in your home – Remove lint and materials that are in the dryer vent hose.
  4. Dryer vent cleaning tool – Use this to get any of the lint that may be inside the vent pipes that you can’t reach without it
  5. Pull out the dryer – Check the area behind the dryer to make sure it is clean.
  6. Remove all lint – This is done by cleaning the dryer lint trap and drum to make sure the lint is removed. Also, the airflow will increase and this will keep the lint buildup at a minimum.

Why You Should Clean the Clothes Dryer Vent

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, dirty dryer vents are the leading cause of domestic dryer fires. Thus, it is important that they are cleaned out at least once a year.

  • Save energy – Cleaning the dryer vent each year will help you improve energy efficiency. This can save up to 30% on this utility bill!
  • Reduction in fire risk – Lint is highly flammable so keeping this out of the dryer will reduce the risk of fire.
  • Maintenance is reduced – When the dryer vent is cleaned regularly, it has less chance of clogging and overheating. Thus, this means less time for repairs and other technical issues.
  • Less strain on the dryer – There is less wear and tear on the dryer when it is cleaned on a regular basis and it is not overworking to dry the clothes.

Chimney Cleaning

Reach out to your local chimney sweep to have your chimney cleaned. Once your home inspection team determines that the chimney and chimney flue are intact, you can hire your local chimney sweep to clean the inner workings. If you feel like tackling this project on your own, you will need the following items.

Maintenance

Fireplace maintenance is something that can be done by most homeowners. Let’s take a look at what you can do to prepare your fireplace for winter use.

  • Gather as much firewood as you can store at least a year in advance.
  • Remove all ashes from the fireplace.
  • Open the damper and clean it so that it does not have any creosote or residue. Then leave it open as you begin to start your fire.
  • Take the larger fire logs and build a base. Then place smaller logs on top as you create your fire. Be sure to include sticks and newspapers for kindling and fire-starting.

If you can get away with using your fireplace as much as you can in the winter, you will save on your utility bills.

Freezing Pipes

When you live in an area that experiences freezing temperatures, it is important to make sure you insulate the pipes. Here are some tips for winter to hopefully make sure this doesn’t happen:

  • Faucets should be on a continuous drip when there are freezing temperatures.
  • Shut off the water to the hose outside and drain the pipes.
  • You should run your faucets on a drip so water continues to flow.
  • It’s a good idea to shut off the water to your outside hose and drain the pipes.
  • Maintain the temperature in your home above 55 degrees Fahrenheit, even when you go out of town.
  • Open cabinets that have plumbing for warm airflow.
  • Add insulation to the pipes.
  • Ensure that proper insulation takes place in your attic, garage, and basement.

HVAC and Furnace

When preparing your HVAC and furnace for the winter months there are a few steps that you can take. Let’s review the most important areas to maintain as you approach the winter months.

  • Maintain the area around your AC unit and Furnace – Keep all debris, grass, and shrubs away from your AC unit. Also, remove any clutter from around your furnace or interior AC unit.
  • Replace the filters – Be sure to replace your air filters in the AC unit and the furnace filter if you have one. It is recommended that you replace these filters every couple of months, depending on the type of filter you have purchased. Also, depending on if you have pets, smokers, or other contributors to high dust and debris, you might be replacing your filters more often.
  • Clean your exterior condensing unit – Taking a hose to the condensing unit to wash off dirt, pollen, and other buildups from nature allows the unit to continue working properly.
  • Maintain the condensate line – Pour the recommended solution down your condensate line every three months or so. Also, you can mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with a cup of water and pour the mixture down your condensate line. Let it sit for 30 minutes with the system turned off. After 30 minutes you can turn the system back on.
  • Check and set your thermostat – Double-check the thermostat to ensure that it is working properly. Then set the temperature to the proper heat levels to keep your home warm in the winter months.

Storing and Stacking Firewood

Making sure that you have enough firewood stored for the winter should be a priority. If you aren’t sure how to store it or stack it, then take a look below at some recommendations.

  • Store all firewood elevated off the ground and away from the walls. Use a couple of 4×4 beams or purchase a pre-constructed firewood holder from your local hardware store.
  • Expose the ends of the firewood that have been cut.
  • Stack the wood as loose as possible so that it can breathe and stay dry.
  • Keep the stack of firewood in direct sunlight.

Other Recommended Maintenance

Now that you know about winter maintenance tips, here are some other areas to look at. One of those is a roof inspection checklist. Roofs last about 15-20 years, but they do need maintenance. Take the time to check the flashing, shingles, vent pipes, and moss or lichen growing on the roof to name a few and this will help.

Another area is garage door safety. Repairs to the springs of garage doors should be done by a professional. This is because the springs can snap under the tension and break, causing injury or death. Also, making sure that the garage door opens easily is key. If it does not, contact a professional to fix it before it causes harm to someone.

Lastly, sometimes mold grows on the carpet. To take care of it, ventilate the room, cut out the piece if it is small, use baking soda, or vacuum the area to name a few. If it is a larger area, you may need to contact a professional.

When to Call a Professional

Conducting your annual winter maintenance is something that can be done by most homeowners. However, if you are a homeowner who cannot complete the checklist on your own, reach out to your local home inspection team. They can recommend all of the areas of your home that need some type of winterization maintenance. Also, they can recommend all of the reputable contractors that can assist you in getting your systems prepared for winterization.

Conclusion

Even if you are a homeowner who loves do-it-yourself projects, you should reach out to your local home inspection team. They can go over the entire winter maintenance checklist with you. This ensures that all systems are properly prepared for the winter. Reach out to Blue Guardian Home Inspections for a full home inspection in Kendall, Kane, Dupage, and LaSalle Counties of Illinois.

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Who Attends a Home Inspection

Home inspections are conducted for various reasons. For most, a home inspection occurs when you buy a home and the buyer would like to know if there are any issues with the structure and systems of the home. In other cases, the home inspection can be done by a homeowner who would just like to know the condition of their home after so many years of ownership. This allows them to save money for potential repairs. Who attends a home inspection? It is generally recommended for only the buyer’s agent and buyer attend the home inspection.

Let’s take a look below at some more information regarding a home inspection.

Why Do I Need One

Home inspections serve many purposes. In most cases, they are used when a homeowner is selling their home. The buyer will push to get the home inspected to ensure that all major systems of the home are in great working condition. Additionally, a homeowner that has lived in a home for 5 years or more, might decide to conduct a home inspection. This allows them to see what might be needing repairs soon and to save money for those projects.

What Is Inspected

Believe it or not, a home inspection is not always equal. Depending on the company, a home inspection can amount to a variety of categories being inspected. Additionally, depending on the type of inspection requested will determine what is inspected at that time. If you hire a company like Blue Guardian Home Inspections you can rest assured that 9 major categories will be inspected. Let’s take a look at what those categories are.

  • Roofing
  • Plumbing
  • Structural
  • Exterior
  • Attic Space
  • Insulation and Ventilation
  • Electrical
  • HVAC
  • Other interior systems

Getting the right company to conduct your home inspection is key to the success of any home sale or the longevity of a home. One of the many great things about a home inspection is that you get a very detailed report with hundreds of items checked and inspected as well as pictures to support the findings. Additionally, some companies will use a drone tool to gain access to hard-to-reach places, even by using a ladder.

How Long Does It Take

As a homeowner or buyer/seller of a home, you should anticipate a good 2 to 3 hours of your day dedicated to a home inspection. In order for a home inspection team to conduct a thorough inspection job, they will need that time. Also, if the home is larger, older, and in poor condition, the inspection time could increase. Always keep in mind that the size, age, and condition of the home will dictate how long the inspection will take.

Other Recommended Maintenance

Now that you understand who attends a home inspection and why you might want to have some questions ready for the home inspection team. Make sure to read up on some top questions for a home inspector.

Next, consider when to conduct the home inspection. In many cases, a home inspection will be conducted after a major storm. Most importantly a roof inspection should be conducted after a hail or major wind storm. This ensures that you know what damage might have occurred.

Lastly, many home inspection companies have upgraded their technology. As stated, Blue Guardian Home Inspections utilizes Drones to assist with their inspections. Additionally, many companies will utilize thermal imaging. This would be a great time to read up on how home inspectors use thermal imaging to assist with their inspections.

When Do I Call A Professional

Having a home inspection done is a vital part of maintaining the structural soundness of your home. Knowing ahead of time what repairs might be needed allows you to save money. Whether you are buying a home and the inspection finds a major issue that saves you thousands, or you are just looking to find out how your older home is holding up, a home inspection is a great idea. Call on your local home inspection team to come out and assess all major systems of your home.

Conclusion

Although homeowners have the ability to inspect their own homes. Often they are unaware of what to look for and how various systems work together in a home. In order to ensure that all systems are properly inspected, hire a local home inspector. Reach out to Blue Guardian Home Inspections for a full home inspection in Kendall, Kane, Dupage, and LaSalle Counties of Illinois.

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What Does Hail Damage on Roof Look Like

Imagine coming home from the store and just getting settled back into the house. You start hearing loud bangs and bounces off your roof. A quick look outside and you notice that hail is dropping all around your home and on top of your roof. Balls of ice are scattered everywhere. Your yard looks like a winter wonderland full of ice. You begin to wonder, how much damage will these balls of ice cause you. Once the storm finishes, you decide to go outside and check the damages. What does hail damage on a roof look like? You will see dents, missing shingles, bruising of shingles, or some pretty heavy-duty dings.

Let’s take a look below to learn more about hail and how it causes damage to your roof.

How Does It Happen

Damage to your roof can occur in a variety of ways. Depending on the type of roof that you have, will determine the damage that you can incur. Let’s take a look at what causes this to happen.

  • The slope of the roof – the slope of the roof varies by the type of home.
  • The age of the roof – an older roof will incur more damage to it than a newer roof might.
  • Materials – depending on if your home has a metal roof, wood shingles, tile shingles, or other styles of roof materials the type of damage and signs of hail damage would be different.
  • Wind speed – if the winds are very strong they could loosen up your roofing materials. This allows the hail to create more damage as it would have access to the underlining of the shingles.
  • Wind direction – a constant pounding of wind from the same direction toward the same section of the roof for an extended period of time could cause more damage to the roof.
  • Hail size – the larger the hail the bigger the damage. Most hail ranges from the size of a quarter to a tennis ball.

For the most part, you will notice the puncturing of a shingle and dents before you experience any other major damage. Broken edges, loss of granules, and bruising are all common issues that occur as a result of a hail storm.

What Does It Look Like

If you have never experienced a hail storm then it is not likely that you would understand what cosmetic damage could look like or hail impacts. However, looking for some obvious signs of damage would be a great start. Let’s look at some of the damages that you might notice after a hail storm.

  • Damage to the seal – if a seal stripping is weakened by the strong winds, your shingles could blow right off. After a hail storm has ended, check for loose shingles to ensure they will not blow off during the next wind storm.
  • Cracked shingles – having cracks in your shingles can expose your roof to the elements. This promotes a potential for water damage.
  • Fiberglass mat damage – damage to the fiberglass mat will expose the roof sheathing This is the last layer before the roof decking. If the shingles are this damaged you could experience a leaky roof.
  • Fiberglass mat exposure – hail is known to loosen a shingle and slide it around. If the shingles are moved, the roof sheathing is exposed.
  • Loss of granules – the more common damage to roof shingles is loss of granules. Hail will pounce so hard that the granules will chip away.

Other Recommended Maintenance

Now that you know about hail damage to the roof, take a look at a few other areas of maintenance.

One of those is knowing when you need a new roof. It is a good idea to contact a professional roofer if the repairs you need such as damage to shingles, leaks, bowing or sagging or daylight coming in can be fixed or not. A roof is very expensive so finding someone who is professional and honest to diagnose the issues is important.

Next, while we are on the topic of roofs, you will want to know how to kill moss on the roof. This can be done by hosing off the roof, using a cleaning solution, and adding zinc strips to keep it from coming back.

Lastly, you will want to also take care of the HVAC in the home. There are some maintenance tips for the HVAC such as changing and replacing the filter. Also, there are different types of filters such as HEPA, pleated, fiberglass, and electrostatic.

When Do I Call A Professional

After a major hail storm, it is a great idea to reach out to your local home inspection team. They can inspect your roof and provide you with a list of damages. Additionally, the report that they provide you will assist you when filing an insurance claim with your insurance company. Also, the inspection report allows you to negotiate with a professionally licensed roofing contractor with regard to what roof repairs are needed and how much they might cost.

Conclusion

Homeowners that have the ability to assess roof damages from the ground should do just that. Getting on a ladder and climbing onto your roof is not ideal. Make sure to hire your local home inspection team so that your roof can be fully inspected. Also, the home inspection team can recommend a reputable professionally licensed roofing contractor. Reach out to Blue Guardian Home Inspections for a roofing inspection during a full home inspection in Kendall, Kane, Dupage, and LaSalle Counties of Illinois.

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