As you probably know, cold climatic conditions can harm your plumbing, which is why most people think of frozen, busted pipes when it comes to weather-related plumbing problems. However, winter is not the only season hard on your plumbing, and you should stop to think about how the warm summer weather can also have adverse and negative effects on the plumbing in your home.
Because you would not want to hassle with plumbing concerns when you could be relaxing during the summer months, and since Seattle is prone to hot weather conditions during the summer as late, it is necessary always to keep an eye out for the most common hot weather plumbing issues. Listed below are a few tricks and tips for such plumbing issues. Plumbing or water leak For your plumbing, garden hoses, pools, and sprinklers, all add up to quite a workout, making it quite important that you always keep an eye out for water leaks. Check all your toilets, shower-heads, and faucets for any drips, fixing them either immediately or as soon as you can. Leaks and drips can quickly add up the amount of wasted water, significantly increasing your water bills. To check for hidden leaks with the potential of turning into major plumbing issues, inspect your water meter when you are not using any water, which will most likely be at night and note the readings. If your water meter reading has changed in the morning, your plumbing might have a leak that needs immediate attention. Contact a professional plumber for an extensive examination to effectively diagnose any water leak and for repairs. Clogged drains During the hot summer months, most people host cookouts, and as a result, garbage disposals and drains get more of a workout this time of year. Although you might get tempted to use your garbage disposal to assist with the cleaning and clearing necessary after a cookout, remembering that not all types of food are meant to go down the disposal is important. Foodstuffs that retain water such as fibrous vegetables and fruits, rice, bread, celery, and cornhusks can quickly clog your drains and garbage disposals. You should also ensure eggshells, potato peels, and cooking oil stays away from your garbage disposal. Run cold or lukewarm water before, during and after use of the disposal to help prevent the clogging of drains, especially during summer that is when you need them the most. Sewer line leaks and backups Sewer leaks and backups are some of the most common plumbing problems during the hot summer months. Sewer line leak and backups can be the cause of serious problems for your home, making it important for homeowners to take note. Additional rainfall and new tree root growths can wreak havoc on your sewer lines, causing sewer leaks. If you have a backed up or clogged sewer line, you might notice some of the other drains in your home such as the shower and toilet drains either gurgling or backing up whenever you flush your toilet or run water in the shower. Whenever you notice such symptoms, contacting a professional plumber to conduct an extensive inspection and diagnosis of your plumbing is a necessity. Damage from UV rays Hot weather conditions and UV rays can also cause extensive damages to exposed plumbing pipes, and as such, any exposed plumbing must be appropriately covered with insulation. Such measures will not only protect the pipes from the cold during winter but will also shield them from the harmful UV rays during the summer. By Brendon DeSimone on 22 May 2018
When you're trying to make your offer as attractive as possible, skipping the inspection may seem like a good idea. Here's why it's not. If you’re buying a home in a competitive market and your offers keep getting beat out, you may be tempted to resort to desperate measures. In addition to offering more than the asking price or a quick closing, some buyers agree to waive inspections. This is never a good idea. The home may look OK to the naked eye, but it’s what’s beyond the surface, or items that you can’t identify as problematic, that cause the biggest issues. For example, the typical buyer won’t be able to spot asbestos, nor will they see evidence of termite infestation or a leak inside the HVAC system. No matter how badly you want the property or how emotionally attached you are to it, you don’t want to buy a home without having it thoroughly inspected. Just imagine six months down the road, when you’ve closed on the sale and moved into your new home. You will kick yourself when you go to turn the heat on and realize it doesn’t work — and the fix is $20,000. When you’re in the thick of a bidding war or in your seventh month of searching for homes, you might not be able to see or think clearly. Don’t get caught up in the hoopla. Waiving an inspection can cost you a fortune. Here are some alternative solutions to satisfy your need to inspect, while remaining competitive. Pre-sale inspectionIf you love the home, inspect before you make an offer or sign a contract. Worst case scenario, you spend a few hundred dollars delving deeply into a home you don’t purchase. Better to be safe than sorry. If you do inspect the home and it passes muster, then you can waive your inspection contingency because you’ve inspected already. The seller’s inspectionOften, the seller will have the property inspected before listing. They do this so that they can either iron out any issues in advance of listing, or so buyers know upfront exactly what they’re getting. It protects the sellers from future negotiations, and allows them to price the property correctly from the start. The only issue is that the inspector is liable only to the person who paid for and ordered the inspection. That is the seller. If that inspector missed something, you don’t have any recourse. Move quicklyOften there is a small window of time between when offers are due, and a deal starts to go forward. Sellers don’t want to lose momentum, particularly when there are multiple offers. If the market moves fast and you need to get your offer in so quickly that there isn’t time to inspect, pre-schedule an inspection for a day or two out. If you work with a good local agent, they will have relationships with an inspector who will do that. Writing a one- or two-day inspection contingency into your offer gives the seller comfort that they won’t lose momentum if you walk away. You get peace of mind in the meantime. Don’t get caught up in the drama of a bidding war. If you’re getting frustrated, keep in mind the larger picture. You’re purchasing the biggest asset of your life. Markets change, and you don’t want to find yourself in a home you can’t afford or, much worse, can’t sell because of structural or engineering issues you missed by waiving inspections. As winter transforms into spring, homeowners head outside to evaluate their property and consider ways that they can improve their homes. One of the most important things to inspect is your roofing. You may have incurred damage to it throughout the winter. Now is a great time to inspect it and determine what needs to be done to get it back in great condition. As you inspect your roof, complete the following actions:
Clean Gutters When they are clogged, gutters can become a huge issue for your roof. You may have had a lot of leaves, twigs, and other debris clog the gutters in the fall. Then, with the snow and rain during the winter, the clogs can damage your roof. Using a ladder, check your gutters. Clean out any debris using gloves and a bucket. Then, you can run a hose through your gutters and down your downspouts to make sure that they are free of debris. Examine Gutters While cleaning your gutters, examine their condition. Look for any signs of damaged. Damaged gutters should be replaced or repaired right away, so water can flow unimpeded through them. Inspect the Roof's Exterior Check the exterior of your roof. You may need to get a ladder and get on your roof to see everything. This can be completed by a professional who takes the proper safety precautions. While inspecting the roof, you should look for signs of the following:
If you notice any of these things, you need to make the necessary repairs or replacements to get everything back to great condition, so your roof will be able to continue to protect your home. Check Your Roof's Interior Once you've checked the roof from the outside, it's time to head indoors and check out the condition of it from the inside, typically by peering around your attic. Some of the things that you should look for include cracked roof sheathing, ventilation issues, sagging, light coming through cracks, or leaks. Any of these things signal that you need repairs right away. As you inspect your roofing material, it's important to take note of any area that is damaged and in need of repairs. These repairs should be made as soon as possible. Otherwise, your roof will not be able to properly protect your home from the conditions. It could also open up your home to pests, and water damage. Snow, sleet, hail and more all have the potential to cause substantial damage to your home. And, although some damage is inevitable, it’s important to inspect your home and the surrounding area in spring to see if any repairs are needed.
Here are five areas around your home to inspect after winter:
By Laura Agadoni | Apr 07, 2016 10:42AM Cracks or problems in a home’s foundation might seem intimidating, but they’re not always as bad as they seem — for sellers or for buyers.
The foundation might not be the most exciting part of the house, but it is arguably the most important.When you’re buying a home, there are plenty of fun things to focus on, like putting in an outdoor fire pit, chilling a bottle in that fancy new wine fridge, or relaxing in a soaker tub, to name a few. But before you start envisioning organizing your clothes in that fabulous walk-in closet, drop your eyes down a bit to focus on the home’s foundation. It holds up the house, after all. If what lies beneath isn’t good, it can cause lots of headaches (and cost you big). Whether you’re a buyer with concerns about your potential new home’s foundation or a seller who has noticed some cracks, you’ll likely need to take some kind of action to resolve the issue (or at least know what you’re dealing with). Here’s what to do. Over the years, home inspector Chris Perry has made some eye-popping discoveries on the job.
One house’s 60-amp electrical panel was channeling 200 amps—a fiery disaster waiting to happen. In another, the water pipes had been stolen for their copper. And he’s seen more than one scorched water heater, a sign of potential trouble ahead, says Perry, a licensed inspector in Little Rock, AR, and author of “The Official Guide to Home Inspections: Knowing and Playing by the Rules.” But aside from missing water pipes, here’s the real problem: Not all home inspectors may have the chops to catch all the stuff that can truly mess you up. By RealEstateRama - January 17, 2017
There are many steps in the home buying process, even after the contract has been signed. Many real estate agents would agree getting a signed contract is only half the battle. Then you have a month or two to get everything lined up and approved before the deed can be transferred. Among the many to-dos are inspections. Which inspections will be needed depends on the financing method, condition of the home and preference of the buyers. When you’re writing up an offer on a home keep in mind which inspections may be needed and what they’re likely to find. Our kitchen looks clean, and it’s hard to hide dirty in a white kitchen. But, I found a way! I hid it in the oven! The inside of the glass door on our oven was in need of some serious spring cleaning.
A home inspection isn't just about identifying problems with the house. A thorough inspector considers the appointment a master class in your new home.
Getting a home inspection? Here are the 5 mistakes to avoid. Wet Weather Drives Rats and Mice to Seek Shelter. The wet weather across the Puget Sound area is likely to induce rats and mice to move indoors seeking shelter and food.
The long mild summer has allowed rodent numbers to remain high and take advantage of the fruit, grain and nuts available. As these food sources dwindle and the wet and cool weather takes hold, rodents must find warmth, shelter and a new food source to survive. All too often they find their way into our homes. Here they find shelter and access to food that we have spilled or not sealed out of their reach. |