Fall Inspection Guide for Your Home

Posted on November 1, 2007 by Joyce Benson   Add a Comment |
Tag(s): Money Saving

Autumn is a great time to do a little detective work around your home to check for anything that might be deteriorating or in need of improvement before minor issues escalate into costly problems. Here’s a list of what to do:

• Take a good look at the exterior for anything broken, cracked, crooked, curled, stained or missing.
• Check for water infiltration around doors and windows to make sure caulking, weatherstripping, and glazing are still properly in place. Head on up to the attic during the day (with lights off) to see if sunlight is infiltrating the rafters. If light is coming in, so is the rain! Make sure insulation is dry and is enough to keep your home comfortable. Also, watch where water pools around your house after a heavy rain to determine where water is coming into the basement and to make sure the sump pump turns on when needed.
• Turn your attention to the interior to spot sagging floors, walls, and ceilings, as well as peeling paint, sticking doors, and loose floorboards. Check those ceiling fans to make sure they haven’t worked their way loose. Check the attic, basement, crawlspace, fireplace chimney (chimney caps prevent this problem), and inside cabinets for any signs of mice or other creatures.
• Check plumbing pipes for leaks, rust, pits, and excessive green patina on brass and copper fittings, which indicate corrosion.
• Make sure radiators and toilets are stable. Loose tile and caulk in the bathtub allows water to get behind it and cause damage. Change the hoses on your washing-machine and dishwasher if it’s been more than 5 years to avoid a flooded room. Look for dripping faucets too.
• Schedule your annual furnace maintenance (before you need heat!). Change filters when suggested. Keep a look out for leaks around the furnace or water tank. Check your home’s electrical system…look for scorch marks around the circuit breaker and outlets. Make sure GFCI receptacles work properly. Put fresh batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• It’s not a bad idea to have your home professionally inspected every 5 years, or before major renovations too.

For all the details, visit This Old House.

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