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Owning a home is a significant achievement in someone’s life. It establishes feelings of maturity and responsibility. Some of this responsibility occurs due to problems seemingly appearing out of nowhere. To minimize these, here are seven signs that your home may have an underlying problem.
1. Doors And Windows That Don’t Close
Sinking foundations aren’t a common issue. Today’s houses withstand constantly shifting ground. On the other hand, poorly constructed or older properties could experience sinking foundations. The inability to close your doors and windows is a sign of this underlying problem. As your house sinks, the walls could become lopsided. As a result, you can’t close or open your doors and windows. Another sign of a sinking foundation is cracking walls. These are found above door and window frames. You also see them in room corners. It’s time to call in professionals when these occur.
2. Water Stains On Walls And Ceilings
There are a few reasons you see water stains on ceilings and walls. A primary reason is leaky pipes or fixtures. For instance, a cracked toilet seal causes water to seep through and potentially break the drywall. Brown stains or damp areas could mean a continual issue. Roof problems are another reason these stains appear, particularly on upper floors. The issue might be related to broken shingles or cracks in the soffit and fascia (areas near the roof’s eaves). Additionally, the flashing around vents and chimneys may be loose or broken.
Water seeps into these areas when broken. Instead of pooling on the attic floor, they could leak down the walls and onto the ceiling. If you think you are having a roofing issue, you will want to contact a Charlottesville roofing company to help repair or replace your roof.
3. Sagging Gutters
Gutters have a significant role in your home. They collect water from the roof and distribute it to the ground through downspouts. For this reason, you want to watch out for sagging gutters. The condition means leaves and other debris have clogged the water-collecting channels. For this reason, water can’t flow into the downspouts. Clean these immediately to avoid extensive damage to your home’s exterior.
4. Musty Odors
Damp, musty odors inside your walls and floors signal a problematic issue. They could be a result of mold volatile organic compounds (MVOC). These are chemicals released as the toxic material develops and spreads. Odors could partner with black & white spots on walls, floors, and other surfaces. On the other hand, a leak combined with warm hair could create mold and mildew pockets on your home’s frame. Don’t ignore these odors, because mold causes several medical conditions that worsen over time.
5. High Electric Bills
High electric bills combined with hot and cold interior areas signify underlying problems related to insulation and your HVAC unit. To the former, it means you don’t have proper insulation to control interior temperatures. In turn, your heater and air conditioner work overtime. Another reason for high electric bills relates to your doors and windows. Hot and cold air seeps through cracks without proper weather stripping. Request an efficiency audit from your power provider to help locate and correct the issues.
6. High Water Bills
Sometimes, water bills run higher in the summer due to a sprinkler system. However, excessively expensive invoices mean there’s a leak somewhere in the home. Start with an examination of your bathroom and kitchen fixtures to detect any leaks. If not found there, head to the basement or crawlspace and see if you can detect problems. If not in those two areas, then the problem could be behind the walls or the sprinkler hoses underneath your yard. These require inspection by plumbers to determine the difficulties and create a solution.
7. A Foul Smell From Your Drains
A foul smell from your drains means more than stuck food or hair. The odors could be related to a sewer line issue. You can verify the situation if you notice dirty seeping from your toilet, sinks, or shower. It’s difficult to determine the issue on your own. You need a plumber to perform a smoke test to see the leaks. From there, they can replace the damaged piece of pipe with minimal digging.
Conclusion
Keep this information available at all times to diagnose underlying problems that cause problems in your home.
