Eco Friendly Home Inspection Tips
January 1, 2013 
1 Comment
If there’s one thing that every home owner should make it a practice to do on an annual basis, it would have to be to perform a personalized home inspection. It’s one of the best ways to assess any potential problems before they become serious ones. Plus, if you consider yourself to be pretty eco-friendly, then it can save you money when it comes to avoiding the need to hire a professional energy auditor to come and check your house.
So, what if you’ve never done a home inspection before? That’s OK. We have and so we can provide you with five tips on how to thoroughly examine your home:
Check your plumbing. There are many homes that end up having foundational damage and it’s all because of slow leaks caused by faulty plumbing. That’s why it’s a good idea to check all exposed pipes to see if there are any possible leaks and to check for corrosion around them as well. Pay close attention to the water pressure coming out of your sinks and shower (and even laundry room) because that could be the sign of sediment build up in your water lines. Also look to see if you have any slow drainage in your sinks (which could indicate some kind of clogging).
Inspect your heating. A lot of people do not think to have their central air and heating unit serviced unless it goes out, but if you are more proactive in caring for it, that could save you a couple of thousand dollars (the price that it costs to replace it) in the long run. While it is good to have a professional come out once a year, in between that time, check your heating system by shining a flashlight on your furnace flue to check for any kind of soot or rust build-up. Use a combination of dishwashing liquid and water to wipe down the ductwork joints. Check your radiator for signs of leaks and check your vents for any missing covers or screws.
Look at your windows. You’d be surprised how much energy is wasted on there being leaks in people’s windows. For the most part, they are relatively easy to check. Simply turn out the lights in the rooms where they are (it’s best to do this in the evening) and look around the seals of the windows for any holes. If they aren’t too big, you can cover them up yourself with caulking.
Go through the kitchen. If you happened to speak with a couple of title companies about what would be a wise room to inspect, probably the first one on their list would be the kitchen. After all, that’s where a lot of individuals spend a significant amount of time (which would include spending water and energy). Make sure that your stove burners are working properly, turn on your disposal and listen for if there are any malfunctions, check for leaks under your refrigerator and dishwasher and make sure that your water filters have been changed in less than a year’s time.
Test your smoke detectors. Clean air is pivotal when it comes to having an eco-friendly home. That’s why it’s important to check both your smoke and CO2 detectors and if you see that they are not working, make sure to replace your batteries. The better the air quality in your house is, the better for everyone.
Related posts:
Author Info
I’m impressed, I have to say. Really hardly ever do I encounter a blog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me inform you, you might have hit the nail on the head. Your idea is outstanding; the problem is something that not sufficient people are speaking intelligently about. I am very joyful that I stumbled across this in my seek for something referring to this.