December 20th, 2008 — Air Conditioning, House Damage, Inspection, pipes, plumbing
If you are considering buying an older property to renovate or repair, it is very important to make sure that you get an inspection done on the home before you complete the deal. Every year, homeowners end up with homes that are beyond repair, simply because they did not take the time to get an inspection. Whenever you buy any property, you will need to get this done. Here is a quick guide to understanding home inspections and what you can expect from the process.
1. Physical Structure –
The inspector will go through the foundations and all the exterior features of the home to see if there are any potential problems. They will also check for drainage and any other issues that may affect the home’s safety. By checking to make sure that everything is up to code, they can save you a significant amount of money on repairs.
2. Heating and Cooling System –
Many older homes will have heating or cooling systems that are incredibly out of date, or even possibly dangerous. It is very important to make sure that the inspector completely goes over the duct work, the furnace and the air conditioning unit, if any, before completing the inspection. If the home has a very out of date system, it may be subject to leaking and this can be very dangerous.
3. Plumbing System –
Once again, older homes may not have the best plumbing in the world. If the owners did not keep up on regular repairs, you can be stuck with pipes that leak into the walls, or even lead pipes that can cause a health risk. The inspector will check the materials of the pipes as well as their integrity.
4. Electrical System –
This can definitely be a major problem with many older homes, especially the ones that were built at the turn of the century. It is no easy task to rewire an older home and it is very costly. Your inspector will make sure that all of the wiring is up to code and that it is not dangerous to operate. For example, if the lights dip when something is plugged in, this is a very bad sign and could be the cause of a dangerous fire if the wiring gets too hot.
5. Interior Construction –
The inspector will also go over the interior of the house to check for water damage, or out of code features that might endanger the new inhabitants of the house. They will be looking for mildew and mold as well as other potential health hazards during their inspection.
You can save tens of thousands of dollars by spending the money on an inspector before purchasing a house. We always recommend that the buyer hire the inspector instead of letting the home owners do it, to make sure that there are no problems with the results. Before you close on any property, have it completely inspected and wait for the report.
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Originally posted 2008-08-21 05:25:30. Republished by Old Post Promoter
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November 20th, 2008 — Heating, Windows, pipes
Whether you have a vacation home that will not be in use for the winter, or you will be gone from your home for an extended period of time this season, it is a good idea to properly close up your home for the winter. This is not difficult and the steps you take here can save you thousands of dollars by preventing burst pipes, water damage and other damage. Here is a quick checklist to help you get prepared.
1. Drain the water heater and the pipes.
This is something that many homeowners forget, but it is the most important step to take and should be done before anything else. If you don’t get rid of excess water in your pipes, plumbing and water heater, there is a chance that they could freeze. Since you won’t be at the home, you may never know what happened until it is too late. If you are not used to flushing your home’s plumbing system, you can easily hire a plumber to help with this job. Once everything has been flushed, double check to make sure that the main water line to the house has been shut off.
Some people recommend adding antifreeze to toilet water, but this is a hazard, particularly if you have pets and small children. It is best simply to flush the house system and close down the water line for the winter.
2. Seal all the windows.
In order to keep the temperature at a constant level, it’s a good idea to seal up and winterize all of your windows and doors. This can save you money on heating an extra home throughout the winter and will help keep the interior less dusty. You can purchase window and door sealing kits at your local hardware store and do this on your own.
3. Set your furnace to the desired level.
If you don’t mind heating the house all winter long, or if you haven’t completely flushed the house water system, you will need to make sure that you leave the heat on. Most people prefer to set the heat at about 50 to 60 degrees to keep it above freezing. This should reduce the cost for heating the house throughout the winter. If you prefer to just turn everything off, double check and make sure that no water is left in the pipes before you do.
4. Turn off the electricity.
If you will not be using the heating system, you can simply turn off the electricity for this portion of the year. Many people feel more comfortable doing this, since they won’t have to worry about electrical fires if something happens when they are not at the house. Talk with your power company about shutting down for the winter. If you have propane or natural gas lines in the home, you should also have those shut down for the winter.
These easy steps will help you make sure that your house is safe and sound for the winter and will be ready for you next spring.
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October 3rd, 2008 — Book Review, Handy Man
If you have ever looked at a sink, a lamp or anything in your house and wondered how does that work this book has your answers. Any homeowner can benefit from learning more about how specific appliances and fixtures work, but there are not many resources that put it all into one easy to read format. The book, How Your House Work has changed all that and we were very excited to get a chance to review this book.
By far, this is the most exhaustive resource we have ever come across on the interior of a house and everything in it. The first chapter covers the plumbing system of a home, discussing everything from your basic drain, toilets and showers. Every imaginable kind of drain is covered, and just about every fixture you could have in your house as well. The illustrations do a great job of making all the instructions very clear and they were very easy to follow.
The second chapter on wiring demystifies your home’s electrical system and explains in easy to understand terms how everything is powered in your home. From light switches to the circuit box, you’ll have a clearer understanding of just what goes on when you flip that switch and how power gets back to the lamp. We found this section absolutely fascinating.
Chapters three and four cover home heating and cooling, and offer rare insight into how everything works together for climate control. The chapter on air quality is also a must read and provides life saving information on how to tell when your home’s air quality may be compromised. Chapter six goes into detail on every home appliance known to man and was worth the cost of the book alone. Whether you consistently have trouble with your appliances or just want to know more about what goes on inside, this is truly the best guide.
Chapter seven and eight get into more structural items in your home, such as doors, windows, framing and foundations. You’ll be learning a ton about how your house holds itself up, how to find problem areas in your foundation and many other valuable tips. While it may not be a book that everyone would sit down and read in one sitting, it is a great reference tool and is perfect for the curious.
We highly recommend How Your House Works not only to homeowners, but also to renters that are interested in keeping their properties well maintained and maybe one day getting into home ownership. It’s easy to feel like an expert after you read this book and you’ll find plenty of ways to impress friends and family with your newly acquired knowledge. From the top notch illustrations to the way everything was presented, this is the absolute best book we have read on the subject. Makes a great housewarming gift, but don’t forget to get a copy for yourself. This is one book that really should be read.
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