If You See These Things In Your Home Get Immediate Help!

Foundation Issues!

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One of the most important things to check for in your house is that there are no holes or cracks in the foundations of your beloved home! This can cause moisture and water slowly (or quickly) seep into your basement! If you spot this one make sure you get someone out to help ASAP!

Mold...

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Mold is one of those things that many people (especially when selling a house) will temporarily solve the problem, but very few deal with the issue permanently. If you discover mold, try and nip it in the bud early on, but if it persists, make sure you get an expert out to deal with the problem for good!

Radon...

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Radon gas is a super serious issue! It is the number one cause of lung cancer for non-smokers and the second leading cause of cancer in America! Radon is not something you can see, but you easily get it tested, and radon mitigation systems are super effective and accessible.

Leaking Boiler!

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Leaking boilers can be very serious, and even if it is a small leak, it is crucial to get repaired as soon as possible. Leaking boilers emit very dangerous gasses such as Carbon Monoxide, so it is important to get the boiler repaired or replaced by an expert.

Asbestos...

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Mostly in old homes, the majority of the time asbestos in your home won't have major effects. However, if you find asbestos in your home, and the asbestos is not fully intact anymore, and there is a possibility that you are breathing in the fibers of it, you should get immediate help.

Termites!

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Termites are a real pain. They can cause absolute carnage to a home, and are famous for being very difficult to get rid of! If you do notice any of these tiny homewreckers, it is important to get them dealt with immediately, before they have the chance to ruin your home!

Carbon Monoxide!

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CO is an odorless, colorless by-product of combustion. Symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to the flu; headache, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, general confusion, etc. It is also apparently the leading cause of death in homes and is especially dangerous for children, the elderly, and people with breathing difficulties.

Efflorescence On Chimney Brick...

Image Source: Full Service Chimney

This is the white material that sometimes appears on brick and it occurs when moisture moves through masonry. The actual efflorescence is not harmful, however, it does mean that there is moisture inside your chimney which is something that needs to be dealt with!

Sewer Issues!

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Sewer scans can be done by a company that specializes in them, and it is important to get them checked every now and then! Most sewer scans reveal tree roots slowing things down, which isn't a major issue, but there can be some very serious issues that are revealed.

Roof Issues...

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Many roof issues are very sneaky, because they are so hard to spot, or are so small, but cause major damage! Many roofing issues come from tiny holes, maybe left over by a satellite or nails being removed, but these tiny holes can be the cause of major leaks in your home!

Water Damage Around Windows...

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If any water is actually leaking through your windows, it will usually show up as a stain at the corners of your window sills. If you spot this it is important to know if the stains are still damp, and to do this you would need to call out a home inspector to use a moisture meter.

Buried Oil Tank!

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Most places won't have this issue, and oil tanks aren't always easy to spot but if there are pipes sticking out from the house, or underneath the house that is a telltale sign! A buried oil tank is an environmental disaster waiting to happen, so if you have a suspicion of this get someone to come check it out!

Melted Grommets On Water Heater...

Image Source: Reddit

This one is super easy to miss but super important to catch! Why? Well because it means that deadly gasses may be entering your home. These gasses are meant to flow through the pipes out of the house, but if your grommet is melted, they may be coming straight into your living space!

Cracked Heat Exchange At Furnace!

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This one is not as serious as many people make it out to be - but only because people make it out to be deadly. If you find a cracked heat exchanger you need to deal with it and the sooner, the better as there is a possibility that it is leaking Carbon Monoxide!

Electrical Mistakes!

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Many people miss electrical mistakes, especially in D.I.Y jobs, but they could end up being lethal. Unsafe knob and tube wiring, unprotected wires, open spliced wiring, overloaded electrical panels, and aluminum branch circuit wiring are very common and frequent mistakes that could cause electrocution and death in serious cases.

Stains Around A Bath Fan...

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Stains around bath fans are common and might mean nothing at all, but they also could mean that there is a leak in your roof. The more likely cause would be condensation inside the duct. Either one of those is best to get sorted out, but the roof leak is more urgent!

Back Drafting Water Heater!

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Some of the time, the reason for back-drafting is obvious, such as a vent pipe disconnecting, or a vent may slope downwards. But, even a properly installed vent could backdraft, so the best way to protect yourself and your family is to install carbon monoxide alarms.

Rotting Surrounding Shower...

Image Source: Reddit

Many times, especially in D.I.Y jobs, the surrounding that is put into showers, is not put in properly, meaning water seeps through into the walls, tiles, and structures of the house. This causes rotting, especially in wood, and can become a very big problem if not dealt with properly.

Bath Fan Venting Into Attic...

Image Source: Reddit

Bathroom exhaust fans need to vent outside. This can either be through the roof or the side of the house. When this is not the case the warm moist air will be vented into your attic, causing rotting in the roof structures. Stick your head into the attic to see how yours is vented!

Frost In Attic!

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In the middle of winter, the last thing you want is a poorly insulated house. Well one way of finding out if yours is, is sticking your head up into the attic and seeing if there's any ice up there! Getting your roof and attic properly insulated will save you a fortune in the long run!

Cables Through Fences...

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This one is super dangerous... High voltage cables should not be anywhere near head height or even house height! If you have any cables that are drooping low enough that they could be accidentally touched call someone out immediately to get them made safe!

Bulge In Washing Machine Hose!

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A bulging washing machine hose is an absolute emergency... why? Well because it means it is about to burst. This burst won't just be a small leak you will have to mop up, instead, it will fully gush, possibly causing thousands of dollars of damage! If you see this, get it sorted!

Leaking Walls!

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A leaking wall often happens in a bathroom but can happen anywhere. Many people make the mistake of waiting until the leak gets worse before getting it looked at and sorted, but this will become a complete bathroom remodel very quickly if it's not fixed!

Water Line Issues...

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Most of the time, any kind of clogging, leaking line, or supply line issue is a reasonably simple repair. But, if these issues start to mount, and add up, you need to get a professional out to look at your pipes as soon as possible! Leaks, creaks, and seeps are not fun to deal with all at the same time!

Kitchen Hood Vented Into Chimney!

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It's not common, but if you have your kitchen hood vented into your chimney, please do not use your fireplace! The kitchen hood catches grease and removes it, meaning that there is real potential for a grease fire, which spread extremely quickly and is very hard to put out.

A/C Without Drain Pan...

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An A/C without a drain pan is like jumping into the oven... Just don't do it!! You'll very quickly end up with the foundations of your house completely moist, meaning chances of flooding, leaking, and worst of all it means the foundations are not stable!

Unsafe Decking...

Image Source: Reddit

Unsafe decking can be the cause of serious harm! Decking can be a very important part of the foundations of a house, and if not built properly, can cause major headaches and more seriously if left alone for long enough can be the cause of a collapse.

Missing Vents!

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If you have parts missing from your venting or parts of pipes that are not joined or missing, seek immediate help. This could mean that there are seriously dangerous gases leaking into your house, and could also mean there is the potential of leaks within your house as well.

Improper Grounding...

Image Source: Reddit

Any D.I.Y. electrical grounding can end up being lethal. Very many electricians get called out to jobs where they see electrical wires grounded very poorly, or completely incorrectly. If you aren't sure if your grounding is done properly get an electrician out to have a look!

Chimney Issues!

Image Source: Reddit

Very often, a chimney issue is the cause of a host of other potential problems. If your chimney has not been built properly it can cause poor insulation, leaks, fires, foundational issues, and many more! If you have an issue and you can't figure out why it might be worth getting someone out to have a look at your chimney!