Just like a car that sputters when something under the hood is amiss, houses
send out warnings of their own. Protect your investment�not to mention your
security�by learning some of the warning signs and seeking out help. Be sure
not to blow off the red flags: Left untreated, these small problems can become
big, expensive disasters.
| Red Flag |
What's Going On |
Get Help |
| 1. Your water bill suddenly increases for no obvious reason
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If you haven't left the hose running for a few days by mistake, you may have a
water leak someplace underground where it can't be seen. To confirm, shut off
everything in the house and check the water meter reading over an hour. If the
flow continues, you have a leak.
|
Plumbing How-Tos |
| 2. Slow flushing toilets and sluggish drains |
Because toilets dump a lot of water down waste lines quickly they are usually
the first to exhibit signs that there is a clog or trouble with a septic
system. If other drains are slow too, you can be sure that it is the whole
system that is not working properly and not just one cranky fixture. Untreated
clogs can become a big, smelly mess.
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Unblocking a Cleanout
Emergency Drain Fixes
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| 3. Rusty nails, dark wall stains and musty odors, but no leaks |
Water damage does not need a leaky pipe or roof to occur. In many homes,
problems with poor ventilation can cause water damage that is every bit as bad
as a leak from a burst pipe. In fact, it can be worse because it often goes
undetected longer and can cause health problems.
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Reducing Moisture Problems
Environmental Protection Agency
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| 4. Doors and windows that will not close or keep opening, and mysterious
cracks that keep getting larger |
Sure your house could be haunted, but it's more likely that your home is
settling unevenly. Small expansion cracks in concrete or plaster are usually
nothing to worry about but if there are more problems you should call a
structural engineer.
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When
it's time to call a structural engineer ... |
| 5. You continually have to relight a pilot light on an appliance |
The thermocouple is probably bad. (This is the safety device that shuts off the
gas to an appliance when it senses that the pilot light is no longer burning.)
A thermocouple is a "fail safe" device�that is, when it goes bad it performs
its intended function regardless of need. So although your pilot may be on, the
wayward thermocouple will still shut it and the gas off.
|
Find
someone to fix your furnace |
| 6. Your clothes come out of the dryer too hot or still damp |
Often lint will clog dryer vents that are too long or kinked. In some cases
this will even lead to fires. To solve the problem dryer vents should be kept
as short as possible and cleaned at least once a year.
|
Dryer Vent Maintenance Could Save Your House |
| 7. Flu and allergy like symptoms whenever you are at home |
Dirty air filters and dirty ducts in your home's heating/cooling system can
fill your home with sickening mold and bacteria. Other causes may include
adhesives and chemicals in furniture and rugs and a lack of fresh air
circulating into your home.
|
Environmental
Protection Agency |
| 8. Hot switches and plugs, sizzling electric boxes, dimming lights and
tripping breakers |
These are symptoms of a seriously overburdened electrical system. Switches and
plugs that get hot when you use them, sizzles and buzzes in electric boxes,
lights that dim when you turn on other appliances and breakers and fuses that
continually need to be reset or replaced are red flags saying you need to
upgrade your electrical system. Unchecked, this problem could escalate into a
fire hazard.
|
Charting Electrical Circuits |
| 9. Small holes in wood surfaces, mud tunnels along foundations, and
sawdust |
Sounds like termites are taking over. These pests are a problem everywhere, but
especially in southern states. Because termites do most of their damage where
it cannot be seen�inside the wood�you should always be on the lookout for
warning signs. Have your home inspected if you suspect these monsters are
present.
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Warm Weather Pests |
| 10. Small piles of sand around roof drains and gutters |
Just like sand in an hourglass, when an asphalt composite (tar paper) roof
starts to go bad, the little grains of sand stuck to the paper start to fall
off and flow down. When enough grains have fallen off that you see bare
patches, it's time for a new roof.
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Roof Maintenance Tips
National Roofing Contractors Association
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