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03Dec
Radon Testing In Your Home

Radon Testing In Your Home

You’ve likely heard about the importance of getting a home inspection during the buying process. Whether you are a buyer or a seller, having an inspection done lets you know if there is an issue with your home, and gives you the chance to handle them before closing. Something most people don’t think about is doing a radon test. However, it is an important thing to schedule. While it can be done proactively, it’s better to get a test done by a professional. Here is what to know about radon testing and why it’s important.

What is Radon?

Before making an appointment to test your home for radon, it helps to know exactly what it is. Radon is a gas that is odorless and colorless and occurs naturally in the earth. It is released as various elements such as radium and uranium breaks down in the soil under your house. Radon can enter your home through small cracks or openings in foundations. In addition,

When kept to tiny amounts, such as in the air outdoors, radon is not a major health risk. As it builds to higher levels, however, those risks increase. This is especially true if it is allowed to build in a tightly sealed building. As a radioactive gas, radon can be very dangerous when someone is exposed to it for long periods of time. Inhaling radon at these extended levels can lead to an enhanced risk of lung cancer. According to scientists, 15,000 to 22,000 lung cancer deaths are associated with radon. This makes testing for radon an essential step for both new and existing homeowners.

How Radon Testing Works

A radon test is designed to collect radon gas and radioactive particles in the air. Once a sample is collected and measured, it is used to determine the exact amount of radon in your home. Inspectors usually place a tester on the lowest level of a home. This is due to the fact that radon rises from the ground. Home versions of a radon test do exist; however, they are not recommended as they are not as accurate as a professional test.

Two types of radon tests exist: active and passive. Passive tests are designed to collect materials over a set timeframe, usually 48 hours though some can last up to a week. These tests often use charcoal canisters that are placed in your home and the charcoal absorbs any radon gas. After the timeframe ends, the can is sent to a lab for measurement. Active tests consist of a device that is continuously plugged in and constantly measures data in real-time. They have the option of being used on a short-term or long-term basis, depending on your needs. Following the test, you will receive results that will determine if you need mitigation.

Other Things to Know

Scheduling a radon test can be beneficial for both buyers and sellers. For sellers, it’s recommended by the EPA to test for radon before putting your home on the market. A passing score can be used as a positive that can be advertised in a listing. For buyers, it’s a way to achieve peace of mind knowing that your home is not in need of mitigation. If a home does need mitigation, a professional will install a radon mitigation system. While it’s impossible to completely remove radon, a mitigation system can keep its concentration to low levels. A pipe is installed underneath the soil in your house and extends upwards. An exhaust fan is attached and is designed to draw any gas towards the outside of your home.

It’s also important to note that there are conditions where you will need an additional radon test. For example, if you had a test done during the summer, you want to schedule a second one for the winter months. Radon levels can vary depending on the season. Since radon levels tend to be higher in the winter, it’s the best time to check to see if gas levels can be highly concentrated. Another time to schedule an additional test is after you’ve made changes to your home. Any structural, HVAC, or exterior change can cause a spike in radon levels, so it’s wise to check upon completion.

Radon at high levels can be a dangerous situation that can lead to serious health impacts. However, by properly testing for the gas with the help of a professional, you can reduce the risk to your home.

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19Nov
Why a Foundation Inspection is Important

Why a Foundation Inspection is Important

For people that are either buying or selling a home, scheduling a home inspection is one of the first steps taken during the purchasing process. A completed inspection ensures that there are no major defects within the home.  In addition, any issues that do appear are noted and repairs can be scheduled without major repair costs down the line. However, there is another inspection type that is just as important to schedule. Foundation inspections can help determine if the home is structurally sound. Here are the reasons getting a foundation inspection can be valuable to homeowners.

Differences Between a Home and Foundation Inspection

Before scheduling an inspection of a home’s foundation, it’s important to note what separates it from a typical home inspection. A normal home inspection is done by an inspector. These inspections mainly focus on elements such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and anything else that impacts the safety of a property. On the other hand, structural engineers handle foundation inspections. They specifically target the foundation and structural integrity of the home. A key thing to note is that these two are not usually interchangeable; some home inspectors don’t offer structural reviews and vice versa.

What a Foundation Inspection Covers

During a foundation inspection, a structural engineer will typically review both interior and exterior elements before putting together a report. For interior examinations, inspectors will first look at elevation levels of the house to ensure they are consistent. From there, an inspector looks at other elements.  These include isolated cracks to determine if they threaten foundation integrity. They also monitor load-bearing devices and support beams and see if there is prevalent mold or water damage.

From there, inspectors look at the exterior foundation. The main areas of focus for an engineer include checking drainage, irrigation, and landscaping systems. In addition, they look for any signs of damage to walls, concrete, or any other materials used during construction. Once an inspection is completed, the property owner receives a full report which lists any issues found. They also receive details of any costs and repair time associated with any known problems.

Problems to Look Out For

The best possible outcome for a foundation inspection is to have zero issues. This indicates that the home’s structure is sound. However, there are times when problems will occur, and recognizing potential trouble spots early can prevent higher repair costs as well as damage to your home. One of the most notable warning signs is when a house has sloping floors. This is due to the wooden joints in the home structure bending. While some sloping can occur naturally due to a home’s age, more expansive sloping is a problem to investigate.

Another thing to look out for is observing if the walls of a foundation look uneven. These walls can appear as bowing, bulging, or leaning. These can indicate structural problems, and if left unchecked for long periods of time, can cause substantial damage, and can even lead to collapsing walls.

Cracks in the foundation are another issue you need an inspector to look at. Typically, cracks form over time as the soil located underneath the home settles. It can be difficult to determine which kind of cracks are minor and which indicate a bigger problem. On average, those cracks that are ¼ inch are not a major issue in terms of impact on a home’s foundation. A crack that is wider than ¼ inch, however, could be an early sign of problems with the foundation.

Costs of Foundation Repair

Getting a foundation inspection has many benefits. The primary one is to avoid costly repairs as a result of significant foundation damage. While a normal inspection can average anywhere from $200 to $600, depending on location and other factors, the cost to repair a foundation that has suffered damage can greatly vary. For minor issues that only require patchwork, repairs can typically go for around $500. As the damage increases, so does the costs to fix it. Major structural damage will need to have steps taken to strengthen the foundation in addition to needed repairs. These collectively range from $4000 to $10000 when everything is factored in.

A foundation inspection may not seem like a necessity at first. However, scheduling a foundation inspection alongside a traditional home inspection can provide both buyers and sellers with peace of mind. Knowing that a home is built with structural integrity adds a level of comfort, as well as the knowledge that expensive repairs can be avoided.

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05Nov
Why You Should Get A Pool Inspection For Your Home

Why You Should Get A Pool Inspection For Your Home

A swimming pool can be a fantastic addition to any home. During the summer it can serve as a gathering place for friends and family. It can also be a personal cool-down spot in the middle of the hottest days. Many homeowners don’t think of their pool as something that needs an inspection. However, scheduling one can save you from major headaches down the line. Here are some of the primary reasons to schedule a pool inspection.

What Pool Inspectors Look For

An inspector looking at a swimming pool reviews all aspects from both the inside and the outside to check for potential problems. An inspection outside of the pool typically starts with a walk around it to look for any visible issues. From there, they check specific elements of the pool. For example, they review decks for broken drains or damaged grout. In addition, inspectors check the coping, which is the area around your pool. Doing this checks for any further grout issues such as chips or cracks. From there, exterior parts like pumps, filters, or pipes are all checked for wear and corrosion, which could cause leaks.

Examining the inside of the pool is just as important as the outside, and most pool inspectors will do thorough checks of the interior to ensure it is in peak condition. Inspectors will look at the plaster and tile to check for any leaks, as well as vinyl lining for tears and creases. They also look at external hardware with metal components such as railings or ladders for potential corrosion. Inspectors drain and clear areas such as drains and skimmers. For pools that have a lighting system installed, an inspector can review and verify that it can safely function. They check pools with electrical systems to verify necessary components are correctly installed. However, licensed electricians with pool equipment experience repair any frayed wires or any other issue.

Benefits of a Pool Inspection

Whether you are in the process of buying a home or if you’re a current owner, there are many good reasons to have a swimming pool checked by an inspector. One of the biggest benefits of this is overall safety. Homeowners avoid serious injury by having a pool that is inspected and with major issues resolved. For new home buyers, an inspection can indicate how much attention a pool needs, whether it has regular wear and tear or something more serious. In addition, homeowners have peace of mind knowing their pool is updated for safety and brought up to a regular code.

As for current homeowners, an inspection can serve as early prevention of potentially major issues. With a swimming pool, it will eventually need repairs at some point depending on how old it is. A regular inspection can catch issues sooner, which can keep the property owner from having to pay higher repair costs. It can also detect issues that are harder to see at first glances, such as slow leaks or a faulty deck.

What is the Best Frequency to Have a Pool Checked?

Depending on the age of your pool, how often you need to have your pool inspected can vary. Many experts suggest a yearly inspection of a swimming pool, which ensures that most of the hardware runs in top condition during the season. Some inspectors will offer annual reviews of specialized services as well. These include filtering and heating systems, or polls with automation and remote systems, which are repaired for insufficient water levels.

What Pool Inspections Do Not Cover

Swimming pool inspectors cover the majority of internal and external features of a pool. That said, there are some areas and conditions that they do not normally check during an inspection. For example, during bad weather, inspections do not occur due to the possibility of damage to equipment as a result of a storm. In addition, inspectors don’t test water in the pool. A pool specialist handles this or a homeowner does it manually. The sustainability for external accessories such as a diving board or a slide. Equipment that is already damaged or not working properly is also not tested.

The key to having a working swimming pool that is ready for use during the peak of summer is regular maintenance and review to make sure that all parts are working properly. By scheduling an inspection, new and existing homeowners can ensure that their pool is safe, secure, and ready for the season, all without major repair bills.

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13Oct
3 Things to Avoid When Hiring a Home Inspector

3 Things to Avoid When Hiring a Home Inspector

So, you are planning to buy a house? Well, it is a big investment and you don’t want to end up making the wrong choice. So, your first step should be hiring a home inspector. 

A house inspector will inspect your house. It helps in assessing the house before purchasing it and avoiding any unwanted or costly surprises. Starting from the ceiling to flooring along with plumbing and air supply has to be checked to ensure it is functioning efficiently. 

If you don’t have the right experience and training, you should not perform a home inspection all by yourself. But if you hire a professional home inspector, an experienced and qualified person will check out each system and area of the house that is often missed by a real estate agent or a home buyer. 

When you get the home inspection report from the home inspector, you can be confident about buying the house or renegotiating by taking into account the repair cost. In fact, a majority of the homeowners depend on the home inspector to tell them whether to buy the house or not. The report from the inspector is sure to point them in the right direction. 

Buyers or sellers tend to look for a home inspector who they think will tell them just what they want to hear. However, it is the responsibility of the homeowner to sway the client in a certain direction. They inspect the house and report while leaving the decision in the hands of the clients. 

However, to make sure that you are getting a legit report, you need to ensure you are hiring the right home inspectors. If you fail to hire the right inspector, it will lead to improper assessment or inspection of the property you are willing to purchase. 

In order to select the right home inspector, here are some basic errors you need to avoid. 

1. Hiring on the Basis of Price

In case you select the home inspector quoting the lowest price on a home inspection and is considerably lower than the average price, you should expect a below-average inspection of the property. Obviously, this is not something you want. 

A professional home inspector is certified by a personal home inspector association. They have to be registered with the regional real estate board, have the needed tools, inspection camera, and reporting software. In order to be certified, a professional inspector has to spend a lot of money. So, you need to consider this when you are hiring a home inspector. Avoid hiring the cheapest inspector. 

2. Hiring Your Realtor’s Preferred Home Inspector 

Since you are the buyer, it is your choice and responsibility to choose the home inspector. Be that as it may, when you are working with a realtor, several agents keep a list of the home inspectors that they recommend to their clients. 

But a real estate agent who is ethical will not try to sway you towards a specific inspector. In fact, if the buyer asks, they are going to provide a short list of inspectors that they have already worked with and are confident recommending. But the list of the inspectors by your real estate agent might leave out many qualified inspectors. Moreover, if they are maintaining a list of vendors, there is a possibility that the vendors have paid a fee to the broker or the real estate agent. 

Hiring the inspector suggested by the real estate agent might not be the worth thing to do. However, it is always better to do your due diligence and look for an inspector on the basis of your expectations and needs. 

3. Not Having an Idea about What to Expect from the Inspector

You might be hiring a home inspector for the first time but you need to know what to look for in a home inspector. 

For instance, a standard inspection takes about 2-3 hours but it might take more time based on the home size. So, when you are looking for a home inspector, you should ask him/her for an adequate timetable.

Buying a home is a considerable home investment and you have to be sure of how well the last owners have taken care of things. Thus, it is understandable to expect a thorough inspection from the home inspector. It should cover every little of the property, including the mold or lead paint. 

Before hiring an inspector, you need to ensure what the inspection covers. Usually, a property inspection isn’t accompanied by foundation analysis, checking of termites, or completes roof inspection. You can ask the inspector you are considering to provide you with a sample inspection report. It will help you to learn what standard inspection is. Also, it will help in understanding the questions you should ask the inspector you want to hire. 

Bottom Line

The home inspection industry has transformed and evolved with time. So, before you hire the right inspector, you need to take several things into account. Gut inspection tends to reveal a lot when it comes to the instant of the person. However, basing your decision just on instincts might not be a good idea. To avoid making mistakes, you should check references. After reading this review, you might have a wealth of information but it always helps to find what the previous customers of the inspector have to say about him/her. Check the referrals and then reach out to them. If you want, you can also check out the testimonial section. 

To hire the right home inspector to make sure that you avoid the mistakes given above. It is always recommended that you only purchase a home after getting it inspected. It helps in finding the outstanding problems that have to be addressed before the property deal is complete. Also, after hiring the inspector, do not simply leave the inspection to him/her. Make sure you attend the inspection along with a professional. This gives necessary insight into the results.

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24Sep
What To Look For In A Home Inspector

What To Look For In A Home Inspector

Finding the right home inspector for your house’s home inspection is no easy feat. From price to training and experience, there is a variety of variables one should consider when it comes to choosing a home inspector. Choosing the right home inspector can be the difference between having a quality home inspection and having a subpar inspection. But in order to find the right home inspector, you must know what to look out for. Here are a few things to look for in a home inspector. 

Certifications 

Every home inspection agency should have a variety of certifications that prove their efficiency in home inspections. These certifications can be earned in various fields, such as certifications to inspect homes in certain states, mold certifications, and even a certification for a radon inspection. Over the past several years, Sound Structure Home Inspection has earned a number of certificates that prove its efficiency and experience within the home inspection field. Their certifications include but are not limited to: 

  • Florida Home Inspection License 
  • Certified Mold Inspector
  • Community Association Manager 
  • Florida Wood Destroying Organism Inspector 
  • Home Advisor Certified 
  • HVAC 2-Year Certification 
  • Wind Mitigation Inspector 

These certifications prove that Sound Structure Home Inspection is truly an industry leader when it comes to home inspections. 

Don’t Let Your Real Estate Agent Sway You 

Sooner or later, everyone will need a real estate agent to help them sell their house. But that doesn’t mean that real estate agents always have your best interests in mind. When it comes to selling a home, real estate agents only want to make a final successful deal, and sometimes this involves choosing a home inspector. A home inspection may bring up issues that may not have been discussed or realized previously. This can sometimes delay the sale of a house and thus delaying your real estate agent’s payday. Unless you deeply trust your real estate agent, you should choose a home inspector on your own. 

Consider The Services Offered 

Usually, home inspectors offer a variety of services that exceed the initial home inspection. From mold testing to radon testing, home inspectors can be certified in a number of areas. Sound Structure Home Inspection offers numerous services for its clients. These areas are service include: 

  • Initial Home Inspection 
  • Mold Inspection
  • Radon Inspection 
  • Wind Mitigation 
  • Home Advisement 
  • HVAC Maintenance 

These services further prove the amount of hard work and experience that Sound Structure Home Inspection has in the world of home inspections. 

Pricing 

A home inspection shouldn’t break the bank or put a dent in your wallet. Taking pricing into consideration when choosing the right home inspector is incredibly important when examining the worth and value of your home. Sound Structure Home Inspection offers a variety of financing options that will help you get the best possible home inspection at an affordable and reasonable price. Pricing changes depending on the amount of square footage for your home, but they always come in at an affordable price. 

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10Sep
Fireplace Safety Tips For Families

Fireplace Safety Tips For Families

When winter comes around, there’s nothing quite like gathering around a breathing fire to keep warm. It’s the perfect setting for a romantic night in or for some late-night smores with the entire family. And while a fireplace is a perfect centerpiece for any living room, it can also bring a handful of hazards and dangers to your home. From a potential fire to tainted air supply, a fireplace needs to be taken care of in order to avoid certain risks. Here are a few fireplace safety tips to keep you and your family safe and secure. 

Keep A Window Cracked Open 

It’s no secret that fires create smoke. And it doesn’t take a genius to recognize that it’s harder to breathe in a room filled with smoke. It’s usually recommended to keep a window close to the fire cracked so that the smoke from the fire has some sort of exit within your house. Keeping a window cracked open while starting a fire is an excellent way of keeping your home’s air clean and safe to breathe in. 

Inspect Your Chimney Periodically 

You can’t have a fireplace without a chimney. This is why your chimney should be checked and inspected on a regular basis. Before winter comes around, it’s usually recommended to have your chimney inspected for any cracks in the foundation, loose bricks, or even missing mortars. If not appropriately inspected, all of these problems could lead to future hazards for both your chimney and fireplace. A roof inspection is typically included in most home inspections. 

Trim The Limbs Off Your Wood 

Most homeowners use tree branches and outside twigs as firewood to fuel their home fires. But while this is a free option that can save you money on firewood, most branches come with multiple limbs hanging off the central branch. It’s important to trim these limbs off before placing your wood in the fireplace due to the fact that they can result in a fire hazard as well as restricting proper draft airflow in your fireplace. Trimming the limbs of your firewood is highly recommended when it comes to using outside branches as firewood. 

Use A Fireplace Guard 

Sometimes, while tending to a fire inside, embers and pieces of wood will fly out of the fireplace, resulting in a possible fire. A fireplace guard is used to keep your home safe from these wayward embers. It is usually recommended that you never burn wood without a fireplace guard to avoid a possible fire hazard. A fireplace guard acts as a sort of protection for both your house and your fireplace. It eliminates the possibility of embers or pieces of firewood from falling out of your fireplace and into your house. This reduces the chances of a possible fire or any other hazards. 

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27Aug
Preparing For A Home Inspection

Preparing For A Home Inspection

Everyone likes to be prepared. Whether it’s prepping for an interview for a job you really need or studying all night to ace your algebra final, being prepared has always helped anyone out in a bind. But there’s one thing we forget to prepare for: our home inspections. No matter how stable or clean your home is, every home will need a home inspection at one time or another. A home inspection is used to determine the value and worth of a home being sold. Aspects of a home such as mold, stability, and even radon levels are examined during a home inspection. But how does one make sure that their home is up to standard before the examination? Here’s everything you need to know when it comes to preparing your house for a home inspection. 

Provide Open Access 

Home inspections or thorough and detail-orientated. So it’s best to make sure that the home inspector has easy access to the entire house. This means clearing the clutter away from areas such as the basement, attic, and even under all of your sinks. A home inspector’s job is not an easy one, so make sure to make it easier for them by doing the proper cleaning beforehand. 

Check Your Roof Beforehand 

A roof is one of the most important aspects of any home. Without it, we would all be susceptible to the exterior forces outside our homes. Hiring a roof inspector before a home inspection is an excellent way of ensuring that your roof is up to date and in tip-top shape. Whether or not you get a roof inspector before your home inspection, a home inspector will spend a considerable amount of time inspecting your roof, so it’s best to make sure that your roof is presentable. 

Replace All Of Your Dead Light Bulbs 

Home inspectors will check all of your light bulbs, and if they find any dead ones, they may suspect that it is due to faulty wiring, which will lead to points against your home’s value. Avoid this by taking time out of your day to making sure that all of your home’s light bulbs are working fine and that they are all in order. 

Make Sure All Of Your Toilets Are Running Properly 

One of the most annoying problems a home can have is a running toilet. And you better expect your home inspector to inspect each and every toilet in your home thoroughly. While running toilets are common problems that we tend to ignore, they can also take away from your home’s overall value during a home inspection. Fixing a running toilet is easy and inexpensive, so it’s a good idea to make sure that all of your toilets are fixed before your home inspection. 

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30Jul
Sound Structure Home Inspection Services

Sound Structure Home Inspection Services

Every business is just the sum of what they offer their consumer base. It’s the products or services you offer that make your business stand out from the competition. This is why Sound Structure Home Inspection takes great pride in the variety of services we provide for our clients at affordable and reasonable rates. From radon testing to the actual home inspection, Sound Structure offers services for homeowners of any kind. We strive to be the best and to deliver the best possible service matched with excellent customer care. Here are just a few of the services that Sound Structure Home Inspection has to offer. 

Radon Testing 

In the past, we’ve discussed the dangerous side effects and hazards of radon and the importance of a radon test. There is a wide range of hazardous effects of radon, such as coughing, shortness of breath, and even lung cancer. For those unaware of the sometimes lethal gas, radon is a gas that naturally occurs outside and can seep into your home through cracks and holes in the foundation. While radon is seemingly harmless outside, when it becomes compacted in the confines of a small house, it can become deadly. What makes radon so scary is that it cannot be seen or smelled, so a professional test is necessary for determining your house’s radon levels. Sound Structure Home Inspection offers its service of radon testing at a one-time fee of $170. Keep your family and home safe with Sound Structure’s in-depth radon testing. 

Mold Inspection 

Mold exposure is sure to deplete your home’s overall value and worth on the market. Unfortunately, mold is incredibly common in both homes and apartments. It usually grows in areas with a lot of moisture, such as leaks and pipes. Mold grows especially well on objects such as cardboard, ceiling tiles, and even wood products. Like radon, mold can lead to a number of health side effects and other dangerous hazards. Some of these side effects include heavy sneezing, runny noses, and even asthma attacks. Mainly those with chronic lung disease, children, and the elderly are most affected by mold exposure. Unlike radon, mold can be both smelt and seen, so this gives you an ample amount of time to figure out a solution for the problem. Sound Structure Home Inspection offers a mold inspection for two different prices. It is only $225 when you purchase both a mold inspection and a home inspection but $325 when you purchase just the mold inspection. 

Home Inspection 

The service that Sound Structure is most known for is our home inspection service. As we’ve said before in previous posts, a home inspection is vital to determining the true worth and value of ones’ home. A passing home inspection can be used as leverage whenever it comes time to put your home on the market. Many aspects of a home are examined during a home inspection, such as roofing materials, crawl space safety, and even cracks and holes in the home’s foundation. Depending on your home’s square footage, Sound Structure offers home inspections for a variety of prices. 

 

 

 

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14Jul
Preventing Drowning And Other Pool Dangers

Preventing Drowning And Other Pool Dangers

It’s every parent’s worst nightmare. Kids running around everywhere, making it impossible to watch them all. The loud screams and splashes of water synchronizing to the point where you can’t tell if those screams are happy anymore. It’s a scene that would make even the strongest of us a complete nervous wreck. Yes, we’re talking about your typical backyard pool party. What’s supposed to be a relaxing act of leisure ends up becoming a stressful, frenetic mess. So why do we put ourselves through it then? 

There is a variety of precautions one can take in order to make their pool a safe environment for the whole neighborhood. From building a fence alongside the edge of your pool to installing a pool alarm to prevent your kids from swimming at any time, there are multiple ways of protecting your loved ones from the dangers of a pool. Here are a few tips on preventing drowning and other pool dangers. 

Take Swimming Lessons With The Whole Family 

The best way of avoiding accidental drowning is to ensure that your entire family knows how to swim in the first place. Taking swimming lessons is an excellent way of learning how to swim safely and efficiently. It’s also a great opportunity to share a fun activity with your entire family. Swimming lessons are constantly offered at affordable rates at local and public pools, your local YMCA, the USA swimming chapter, and even the community parks and recreation department. So beat the heat for next summer by getting prepared with local swimming lessons. Not only is it fun, but it may just save a life as well. 

Install Proper Barriers And Covers For Your Pool 

Installing barriers around or over your pool is another great way of preventing accidental drowning. Whether it be a simple four-foot-high fence or an extensive covering to put over your pool when not in use, installing a proper and sturdy barrier is the only way of preventing smaller kids from using your pool when you’re not around. There are specific rules and recommendations that come along with building a fence around your pool. First off, it’s usually recommended that your fence is no taller than four feet and is entirely climb-proof from young children. It’s also important to carefully consider where you install your fence’s door latch. Most builders recommend installing the door latch at least 54 inches from the ground. This way, most young children are unable to reach the latch to open the fence door. 

Install Pool Alarms 

Most drownings go unnoticed until it is too late. This is because young children who drown are unable to scream or yell for the help of their parents or chaperone. Installing a pool alarm is the perfect way to be alerted to any accidental drownings before it is too late. Most swimming pool alarms can detect the waves coming off the water’s surface and alert you when any disturbances or strange occurrences. 

 

 

 

 

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02Jul
Types Of Home Inspections You Should Be Aware Of

Types Of Home Inspections You Should Be Aware Of

Every home soon after a while will need a home inspection. But depending on the issues at hand, you might not know what kind of home inspection your house will need. There is a variety of problems that every home experiences from time to time. Issues such as mold, radon, and even pest control can occur within any house. And the type of home inspection your house needs depends entirely on the sort of problem your home is experiencing. While there is always the option of having one extensive home inspection cover every base of your home, it’s crucial to have singular inspections for specific problems periodically. Here are some of the home inspections that every homeowner should be aware of.

Roof Inspections 

The one thing every home has is a roof. And the one thing they all share is that they experience normal wear and tear from time to time. From broken gutters to poor installation and blistering to leaks, various problems come along with roof installation. Water leaks are one of the most common and annoying issues that come along with ceilings. These leaks can result in damage to both your walls and roof, leaving behind nasty water stains that are next to impossible to cover up. Leaky chimneys are another common problem with most roofs. Leaking chimneys can result in water stains and other markings on both your chimney and walls. Having a roof inspection every so often is an excellent way of avoiding these roofing problems and ensuring that you have a stable roof over your head. 

Mold Inspection 

Whether you want to admit it or not, no home is perfect. This is especially true with homes that find themselves infested with mold. In the past, we’ve spoken extensively about mold and the side effects it can have on you and your home. Mold can result in multiple health defects as well as diminish the value and worth of your home. It is usually recommended that you get a mold inspection the moment you spot mold within your home. The quicker you solve your mold issue, the least amount of damage the mold can cause. For more information on a mold inspection, click here.

Radon Testing 

Like mold inspection, we have spoken about radon testing extensively in a previous blog post. And like mold, radon is a dangerous breakdown of radioactive elements from the earth. However, what makes it worse than mold is the fact that radon can neither be seen nor smelled. Usually, radon is released by well water and can enter your home through the cracks in your foundation. The results of radon can be dangerous and can even lead to cancer for you or your loved ones. It’s usually recommended to have your house tested for radon twice a year in order to ensure the safety of your loved ones and your home. 

 

 

 

 

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