Finding your dream house can be a wonderful and ground-breaking achievement, which is why, if you buy a house that ends up having problems such as structural damage or faulty plumbing, it can hit you hard and be devastating news. Not only do you have to find the best ways to fix these issues, but it can also be costly.
However, housing issues should be rectified as soon as possible as ignoring or prolonging the issue can only make the problems much worse and could even cause serious and long-lasting damage (or even damage that cannot be repaired).
Knowing how to identify common housing issues should be your number one priority. By learning the signs, you can act a lot quicker in fixing them so that minimal damage occurs. Here are a few of the most common hosing problems and how you can fix them.
1. Plumbing Issues
Plumbing issues can be very troublesome. This is because it can cause damage if left ignored or undetected. Typical plumbing issues include:
- A leaking faucet
- Boiler breakdowns
- Clogged pipes
- Toilet blockages
- No hot water
- Slab leaks
Although plumbing problems are typically common, they can be costly and infuriating. Most people don’t think much about their building’s piping—it’s out of sight and out of mind. However, piping plays a vital role in your indoor plumbing.
Therefore, you will want to enlist the help of a professional if you are ever to encounter any sort of problem, especially if it is a large-scale problem such as a slab leak. Repipe specialists help you with single pipe in your water line to installing new piping for the building’s entire plumbing system.
Slab leaks can be caused from pipe erosion, resulting in the need to replace such pipes. This is when you would need to call in the professionals, such as those at Restore My Pipes. They can provide slab leak repair epoxy lining so that the damage is limited and the issue is fixed as soon as possible. Such companies also use the best tools to help detect exactly where the issue is.
2. Electrical Problems
While electrical problems can be common, you will want to refrain from trying to fix any electrical issues yourself as it can be incredibly dangerous. Instead, you will need to call for an electrician so that they can use their skills and expertise to safely rectify the issue and your house can return back to normal.
Typical electrical issues that you may encounter include:
- Electrical surges
- Dips in power
- Faulty light switches
- Tripping circuit breakers
- Dimming lights
- Electrical shocks
You may also want to learn the common signs of faulty wiring as this can be incredibly dangerous and cause a fire within your property, which is both expensive and devastating. Here are some things to look out for:
- Keep an eye on your circuit breaker. While your circuit breaker tripping once in a while is fine, if it is happening a couple times a month or a week, this may signify something deeper.
- Are your lights dimming, buzzing or flickering? If so, you may have outdated wiring throughout your home. Check to see if your lights flicker when you are running multiple appliances at once.
- Frayed or fraying wiring is incredibly dangerous. Not only is this a safety hazard as an exposed wiring can cause an electrical shock, but it can also signify that a rodent or animal is in your home and chewing on your wiring. Not only should you contact a trained electrician, but you should also look for any other signs of an animal nesting within your home.
- Be careful when testing this, but feel for warm wall outlets. While you want to refrain from touching the wall or outlet, you can hover your hand over it and see if there is any heat being given off. You may also want to keep an eye out for any usual vibrations.
Even if you are unsure as to whether you are experiencing faulty wiring, you can always get peace of mind by asking a trained electrician to take a look at your property. They will be able to determine whether your property needs updating or whether your home’s electrical work is safe and okay.
3. Damp
Damp is when there is moisture or condensation within a property. You can usually see damp on the walls or ceiling of a property, and usually, damp occurs and is common when there is poor ventilation or if you live in an ambient climate. While small patches of damp may be normal, larger patches are not and can be a huge sign for concern.
Damp is an issue because it can cause damage to your property’s structural integrity. Furthermore, damp can cause respiratory issues and infections, and it can even trigger asthma. It could also impact your immune system, making you more prone to other illnesses.
One way to treat walls that are prone to damp is to invest in paint that is designed to protect your walls and ceiling from moisture. Such paint stops damp from settling and can protect your property’s walls for up to five years! However, you may wish to fix the cause of the issue and improve your home’s ventilation.
Other ways to treat damp include:
- Wiping down walls and windows every morning
- Opening windows after you have cooked or used the bathroom (to reduce moisture build-up)
- Buying a dehumidifier
- Drying clothes outside rather than inside
- Keeping your home warm (cold air is what causes condensation)
- Not allowing steam from cooking to linger
4. Faulty Appliances
Appliances that malfunction without warning can often be the bane of many homeowners. While it could be because of faulty wiring, there may be other issues that you are unaware of. Luckily, you can hire professionals to come and take a look at your appliances and determine the overall issue.
As a homeowner or someone who lives on their own, it is in your best interests to realize that if something were to go wrong within the house, you need to get the issue fixed as soon as possible. This is because it can cause greater damage to your home if ignored. What’s more, electrical issues can even cause a fire, which is extremely dangerous.
