Buying a home can be daunting, especially if you aren’t experienced in identifying issues with home maintenance. You want your choice to be a solid one, so a comprehensive home inspection is a great way to put fears to rest and learn more about the maintenance that may be needed.
Home inspectors will detail the strengths and concerns of a house through a thorough evaluation of the house. Discovering a need on your home inspection isn’t the end of the world. Instead, this knowledge is power and helps you to prepare for the process of being a homeowner. Here are some of the potential issues your inspector might find and put in the report, and how to mitigate them.
Debris in Gutters
Buying a home can be daunting, especially if you aren’t experienced in identifying issues with home maintenance. You want your choice to be a solid one, so a comprehensive home inspection is a great way to put fears to rest and learn more about the maintenance that may be needed.
Home inspectors will detail the strengths and concerns of a house through a thorough evaluation of the house. Discovering a need on your home inspection isn’t the end of the world. Instead, this knowledge is power and helps you to prepare for the process of being a homeowner. Here are some of the potential issues your inspector might find and put in the report, and how to mitigate them.
Improper Installation of Hot Water Heater
From showering and bathing to cleaning dishes and doing laundry, hot running water gives us the ability to take care of our daily tasks with comfort and convenience. Despite this, it’s easy to take our water heaters for granted. It can be hard to identify improper installations when you aren’t a trained professional, so a home inspection can identify dangerous aspects of a quick or simply slightly incorrect installation. The inspector can also work with you to identify the kind of professional to have come out and re-install the hot water heater correctly.
Old Smoke Detectors
Keeping your home safe from a fire should be at the top of homeowner priorities, but so often, smoke detector safety falls to the back burner. We’ve all heard the signature tweeting of smoke detectors that are low on battery, but even with fresh batteries, smoke detectors get old and less effective. The easy fix is to get new smoke detectors and make sure you take note of when their effective life is over so that next time you’ll know.
Poorly Maintained Furnace
Furnace maintenance or corrosion removal is often necessary in older furnaces, and should be completed by a qualified HVAC contractor. However, if the main issue is the need for a new furnace filter, it is possible to do yourself, as this Family Handyman article shows.
Cracked Firewall in Fireplace
Firewalls in fireplaces are the main protection to the structural integrity of your chimney long-term, and it can be dangerous to have holes or cracks in them. The best solution is to get an evaluation by a fireplace repair professional and take their advice to ensure that your chimney remains sound and toxic fumes don’t leak into your home when the fireplace is in use.
Outlets Not Grounded
All electric outlets are not created equal – especially if your home was built in the 80s or earlier. You’ve probably seen newer style outlets but maybe you aren’t familiar with how they are different. Grounded outlets protect people and appliances, and some older homes don’t have all outlets grounded with that characteristic third prong spot. To replace non-grounded outlets with grounded ones, you can follow these steps if you are handy with electrical work, or you can contract this task out to a certified electrician.
Tree Overhang
Trees overhanging the roof are another issue that isn’t technically connected to the house but poses a threat to it. Tree overhang threatens the natural flow of drainage water off the roof and can cause damage to the roof itself if they are too far over, besides also posing a threat in the case of severe weather. Tree care specialists are able to analyze which elements of the tree need to be cut to maintain strong drainage while keeping the tree safe and healthy.
Downspouts Drain Near House
Downspouts bring a lot of moisture to the foundation if they are too close to the house, so it is generally recommended to reroute downspouts at least 6 feet away from the house. With a few tools and lengths of pipe, you can make the necessary changes to protect your foundation from moisture that could shift it or damage it, and This Old House will show you how.
Remember: most homes are solid and strong, even if one or two of these issues are present. The home inspection is your chance to get some answers about common home concerns, and allows you to budget for any minor issues that need to be resolved. Hoffman Home Inspections is your trusted resource in Wichita and southeast Kansas – feel free to reach out with questions!
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