How to Protect Your Homes from Water Damage

Water is an essential part of life. We need water to keep our bodies running. We also use water to clean our stuff like our clothes, cars and things inside our homes. But left unchecked, water can cause a lot of damage to our homes. Water leaks can cause things made out of iron to rust, wood to rot and cause damage to our electrical wiring and electrical appliances.

A building or a house with water damage would drive its value down. Keeping up with the repairs would also need a lot of money. A damp home can also cause a lot of health issues. Molds like to live in wet and damp places, and their spores can bring about a lot of airborne diseases such as allergies, asthma and pneumonia.

And the best way to protect your house from water damage is by proper maintenance of your water and drainage systems as well as repairing damages brought about by old age, earthquakes and others.

Checking out places prone to water damage

Windows and Doors- check out if there are cracks in your doors and windows. Replace any broken glass panels.

Roof- Make sure that your roof is in good condition. Having them painted regularly can make them last long. Have the holes patched up immediately or have the panels replaced. Also check out the drainage system of your roof. Gutters should be free from debris such as leaves and twigs.

Foundation- Check your house foundation for any cracks. Also check the ground around your house’s foundation.

Plumbing - Check both your interior as well as your exterior plumbing system. Make sure that all the water pipes are well maintained and all faucets, showers and sprinklers are not dripping when closed. Also check out your drainage system regularly for any clogs.

Ventilation- Always check if your ventilation has the right humidity. A very humid atmosphere is very likely to be prone from mold infestation. It is also best to let your clothes dry outside to prevent additional moisture inside your house. Also check your air-conditioning units for any leaks.

Effects of Water Damage

·       Water damage can cause a lot of bad things if left unchecked.

·       Wet slippery floors can cause accidents, while a damaged foundation can literally bring the house down.

·       Water dripping from the roof can cause a lot of your things to get wet including your bed, appliance and furniture.

·       Water can also reach your electrical circuits, causing your appliances to short circuit and may cause fires or lead to electrocution.

·       Water damaged floors, carpets, and walls are also suitable environments for black molds and other house hold molds. Their spores can be very dangerous especially to those with allergies and respiratory problems.

·       Water damaged if left uncheck can lead to even larger problems, thus needing a lot more money for repairs and replacements.

How to Prevent Water Damage

One of the best ways to prevent water damage is to hire a certified home inspector to check out your homes. The professional home inspector can check out different parts of the building and give information on what keep your house in shape or what the things that needs repairs or replacements.

For certified home inspections accredited by ASHI in the city of Los Angeles and the nearby South Bay Area, please contact South Beach Home Inspections at (424) 210-7244.

South Bay Home inspections specializes in general home inspections as well as Pool and Spa inspections, and Air Sampling and Mold Inspections.

Tips for Buying 2nd Hand Houses and Pre-owned Properties

There can be a lot of reasons why a person sells his own house. Some common reasons why people sell their houses are: relocation, inability to continue payment on the mortgage, house not suited for their needs, house become too small for their family and others.

For some, buying a second hand house is one opportunity to buy a home at a lesser price as compared to buying a new one or building from scratch. Buying one also saves a lot of time, for you could move in as soon as all the paper works are done.

But there are a lot of things a buyer should consider first before buying a second hand property like a house since without proper planning and evaluation, instead of landing a great deal, you might purchase a nightmare of a house, for you may need to shell out more money for repairs and improvements.

Here are some tips on what to do before buying a 2^nd hand house

See the house for yourself

Don’t just trust your broker, agent or pictures of the house being sold. It is best to see the house for yourself. You should get to see and feel the whole house in order to determine if the house is really what you need. A closer look into the house could also lead for you to discover if ever there are changes to be done or repairs needed before pursuing the deal.

It is also best to talk with the current or last owners for they are the ones who really know the real condition of the house being sold. Ask them if they have any recommendations about home improvements or problems in the past.

Don’t go for price alone

Many people buy houses based on their prices. Houses that come with a very low price tag might hide troubles that can cost you a lot in the future. Better look around the area and research on the average price of houses and lots in the vicinity and compare it to your house of choice.

Look around the neighborhood

Location is also a key point in buying a house. Look for a house that is near public establishments such as schools, church, markets and bus and train stations. It is also nice to ask around the neighborhood about the peace and order situation of their locality. It is also recommended to research if the place is flood prone or has been visited by natural disasters such as tornados, storms and hurricanes in the past few years.

Check the landscaping

If the current or last owners of the house kept the lawn well maintained, chances are, the whole house is well taken cared of also. A neglected lawn and landscape however can cause some damage to the house.  Vines can destroy walls and ceilings while roots from trees can affect the house’s foundation.

Hire a Certified Home Inspection

This is the golden rule before buying either a brand new house or a pre-owned property. Calling the services of certified home inspectors is a must before you consider buying a house.

Certified home inspectors can detect problems you or the previous owners didn’t notice when you’ve conducted your own investigation. They can also give you expert advice on how to make the house safer before you move in.

 

Certified and professional inspectors such as the experts from South Bay Home Inspections can also offer you specialized inspection packages on top of the ordinary generalist home inspection package.

South Bay Home Inspections also provides special packages for:

·       Air and Mold Sampling

·       Pool and Spa Inspections

To learn more kindly visit us at www.SouthBayHomeInspections.com

or call us at (424) 210-7244.

Carpet Molds and the Danger They Posses

Carpet molds are not just eye sores inside your house. Like most household molds like the common Black Molds carpet molds can pose as a serious risk for everyone inside your house. Carpet molds belongs to the category of molds that produces allergens that, when inhaled can cause serious heath problems such as asthma attacks and other respiratory ailments, skin rashes, soreness of the nose, mouth and eyes and others.

One of the most common places in where you can find molds inside your houses is the ones with carpets on it. Carpets are one of the best places for molds to grow because they can hold moisture for long period of times and the carpet provides the molds protection from direct sunlight and fresh air. Carpets can get infested by molds from spores coming from the air or from shoes of the inhabitants or from their pets.

Looking out for Carpet Molds

Your carpet might look fresh and dry on the surface but it can have mold colonies already in the bottom portion. It is best to be always on the look out for mold growths in your carpet especially in the underneath portions of your carpet. Here are some signs that you have carpet molds:

Visible Mold Growths

You can actually see some patches of growth in the surface of the carpet. These patches can be of any color from black, green to brown. Carpets in these conditions are very hard to save or salvage for there is a possibility that there are already a lot of mold colonies that took hold of the bottom of the carpet. It is best to dispose of these carpets less they cause serious health illness to you and your family.

Carpet Mildew

If you see patches of mildew in your carpets, chances are, you also have a mold problem in your carpets.

Musky Odors

Some molds produce musky odors. If you smell something out of the ordinary better check out your carpets and rugs for molds.

Carpet Mold Prevention

Wet Carpets

If you noticed that your carpets are wet, it is best to remove them and let them dry outside or have the carpets cleaned. It is also best to determine the source of moisture for it may come from water leaks. Wet carpets are ideal environments for many household molds. It is also best to keep a regular cleaning schedule of your carpets and rugs.

Reduce Indoor Humidity

Carpets can get additional moisture from a humid indoor atmosphere. It is best to use the help of indoor air humidifiers to control your indoor’s humidity. It is best to keep your humidifier’s controls at 30-60 percent humidity.

Install Carefully

Do not install carpets to moisture prone areas in the house such as kitchens and basements.

Use carpets with high quality padding

Modern carpets now a day have rubber padding that helps them free from moisture. Some more extensive carpets have micro bacterial properties that prevent molds from growing on them.

To know more about carpet molds and other types of molds that can infect your homes, please contact South Bay Home Inspections.

South Bay Home Inspections can also help in your mold problems you by offering you special packages such as:

• Mold and Air Sampling Package and
• Pool and Spa Inspection Package

Contact South Bay Home Inspections at (424) 210-7244 or check our website at www.SouthBayhomeInspections.com

Energy Saving Tips from South Bay Home Inspections

Our last newsletter covered taking care of your pool and spa, this time we are giving out energy saving tips especially that the Christmas holidays are fast approaching and with it comes the usual spike in the usage of energy and electricity during this season.

You can cut your electricity bills just by replacing some of your electric equipments and lighting fixtures. You can also save a lot of money by improving your cooling, heating and ventilation systems. Upgrading your home’ systems and devices will not only let you save on your electricity bills; you also contribute in keeping our environment safe.

Here are the other best tips to save on electricity:

Use CFL Light bulbs
Replace your old incandescent light bulbs with modern and more efficient light bulbs such as Compact Fluorescent Lamps or CFL. CFLs are 50% more efficient than your traditional light bulbs. They also last longer, and they do not contain mercury.

Seal and Insulate your Homes 

Sealing your homes can save you a lot from your air-conditioning expenses. Plug in holes and crevices that allow air to escape. For those who are using heaters, it is best to do some repairs and maintenance work in your attic. Hot air rises, making your attic the most logical part of the house where hot air may leak. It is also best to insulate your windows and doors. Insulating them with rope caulk is a cheap way to do the job.

Use Natural Light during Daytime

Maximize natural daylight. Install sky lights in some portions of your house. It is also best to keep your windows open to let sunlight and fresh air in.

Energy Savers in the Kitchen 

Using the microwave or convection ovens are more energy efficient than your conventional ovens. If you need to use your conventional oven, use the top rack, for this portion is hotter, making food cook faster. Pressure cookers are also very handy for they can reduce cooking time dramatically.

Tank-less Water Heaters translate to better savings 

Demand type water heaters only provide water when it is needed. They don’t consume electricity when they are on stand by. They will only be activated when a hot water tap is turned on.

To learn more on how to save on your electric bills, please contact South Bay Homes Inspections. We also conduct certified home inspections to let you know if your water, heating and electrical systems are still safe to use or needs improvements or replacements.

Stay safe and be safe!