Contrary to popular belief, most materials do not last forever. With the winter winding down (contrary to the groundhog) it is a good idea to go around the home and see what needs to be replaced or repaired from the damaging effects of the weather. A common area is around vent pipe boots and chimneys where tarring has occurred. The flashing cement that is applied doesn't have a lifetime warranty. It will shrink, expand, and crack causing leaks and water damage. Sometimes we get into the mindset that if it doesn't leak than it doesn't need repair. That changes when a bedroom ceiling needs to be replaced.
Another common area is the foam insulation on the suction line for a condenser in a central air system. For $1.50, you can save a tremendous amount of money on your electric bill and save the life of the condenser as well.
This is minimal advice, but a step in the right direction!
One very small but important item that is included in every inspection is the dryer vent. Every year fires are started from a lack of maintenance with this particular item. Some people feel that cleaning the lint screen is sufficient. This is far from correct. The actual vent that leads to the outside is where most blockages occur. This happens when the moist warm air from your dryer escapes with lint from the clothing. The damp lint is in perfect condition to stick to the walls of the vent pipe and eventually itself which deters proper venting. Several industry leaders recommend installing a rigid metal pipe instead of the accordion plastic or foil vents to allow lint to pass more freely. This will help, but a periodic cleaning is recommended. There are numerous companies that will do this service for you; however a dryer cleaning kit is only around $20 and is fairly simple to use.
Now that the heating season is approaching several areas of concern arise. The main one being carbon monoxide exposure. The best way to approach this potential problem is by having your fuel burning heat source serviced at least once a year. This service should not only be for cleaning, but also determine proper operation and a carbon monoxide test should be performed. This service is offered by many local HVAC contractors and is rather inexpensive for having proactive maintenance to your system.
Carbon Monoxide has many hidden dangers to a persons' health. For this reason alone I am offering carbon monoxide testing at a reduced cost for any client that purchases a home inspection package.
Carbon monoxide links
Recent issues have arose in the recall of a very popular smoke alarm. The Kidde Dual Sensor Smoke Alarm have been recalled with manufacture dates of August 1, 2008 through May 2009. If someone is in possession of this particular model the you may contact Kidde for an immediate replacement.
One misconception is that as long as the batteries are changed then smoke alarms are in good working order. This is not true as most smoke alarms only have a shelf life of 8-10 years and should be replaced before hand. A good piece of advice is to change them whenever purchasing a new property and upgrading to a combo smoke/ Carbon monoxide detector. Below are some links that you can pass on to your clients.
I provide full service Home and Commercial Inspections for all of Northeast Pennsylvania utlizing years of construction experience. Visit www.careyinspectpa.com to see all that we offer.
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