Interior Home Issues That Can Affect the Outside of Your House

Although the interior and exterior of your home are separate, they are also quite closely connected. This means that problems on the inside of your home can cause problems on your home's exterior and vice-versa. Since you likely spend more time on the inside of your home, it's important to be on the lookout for the following interior problems so that they can be contained before they can cause issues with your home's exterior.

Excess Weight

When you install new elements in your home, it's important to ensure that your home can handle the weight of those new elements. For example, if you're planning on installing a new jacuzzi tub in your bathroom or an aquarium in your living room, you need to make sure that the subfloor and supports can handle the extra weight of the water. If your home isn't strong enough to support this extra weight, you can discover significant cracking on the exterior of your home as it compresses under the excess weight.

Excess Humidity

If you find that you have too much moisture in your home, your problems could extend beyond your home's interior. In fact, this excess moisture could rise to your attic and remain there for quite some time. This could cause your roof sheathing to become soft to the point that the sheathing between the trusses begins to sag. When you utilize residential roofing services, make sure that they check the sheathing for proper structural integrity.

Poor Planning

Renovating your home can be a great way to increase its value and comfort. However, you must plan properly for any interior renovations to ensure that they don't ruin the exterior of your home. One big problem you might run across is the routing of new plumbing and electrical lines. If you don't have a good plan ahead of time, you may need to run these lines outside, which can significantly detract from your home's appearance. Plus, since the lines will be running through your exterior walls, it puts your home at an increased risk of water damage.

Poor HVAC Maintenance

Your HVAC system has components both inside and outside your home. You must take care of the interior components to ensure that the exterior components don't suffer. One important step you must take is to replace your system's air filter regularly. If you don't, your system may not be able to push enough air through, which can cause the refrigerant lines on the exterior of your home to freeze.

For the most part, it takes a while for interior problems to cause problems on the outside of your home. Therefore, if you're performing ongoing maintenance to your home, you should be able to catch any issues so that you're not left with a big mess. The upside is that ongoing maintenance can help improve your home's efficiency so that you can enjoy lower costs overall.

Things To Fix Around Your House Before They Get Worse

If you notice areas in your home that need repairs, it’s wise to get on it before they get worse. Learn about some top things to fix in your home here.

Many things around our homes will require maintenance over time. Even if you keep work hard to keep everything in top condition, you’ll still run into appliances that break and parts of your house that need fixing or replacement. Learn some of the things to fix around your house before they get worse by reading below.

Clean Your Fridge and Coils

Refrigerators are common pieces of home equipment that can get incredibly dirty if you don’t maintain them properly. Many refrigerators have coils behind and underneath them. These areas commonly experience buildups of dirt, dust, and other types of debris. After a while, this buildup can block off the airflow the fridge needs to properly work. Use a refrigerator coil brush to get in and clean off the coils. It’s also wise to clean the inside of your refrigerators periodically.

Clean Your Dryer of Lint

The greatest risk of not ridding your dryer of lint buildup is that it could actually cause a fire. Unfortunately, lint is highly combustible, and it can build up in the vent and obstruct it, overheating the machine. When you clean out your dryer’s lint trap, check the vent. Make sure to unplug the dryer and pull it away from the wall first. Check the connector to see if it’s dented, cut, or kinked. If it is, you should replace it.

Fix Any Masonry That’s Crumbling

Mortar used in brick homes can start to deteriorate and crumble over time. If you start to notice deep cracks in the mortar, fix them before they continue to get worse. You can make repairs to the mortar by mixing up some Portland cement and using it to fill in the cracks. If you need more invasive repairs, you may have to use tuckpointing, which involves using an angle grinder and a plugging chisel to take out the old mortar. You’ll have to pack the new mortar into the joints once you’ve removed the old material.

Fix or Replace Your Windows

This is one of the major things to fix around your house before they get worse. There are many ways you can tell if your windows are having issues. If your rooms are really drafty, there might be leaks in your windows. They could be starting to rot, and it’s even possible they were fitted into the wall incorrectly. Some other signs your windows weren’t installed properly are squeaky noises or the window not shutting correctly. It’s best to get this looked at immediately; constantly running the heating because your home is constantly cold can increase your energy bill. Consider having your windows checked for gaps, and see if they need to be refitted.

Why Putting Off Those House Repairs May Be A Bad Idea

Home, sweet home. If you’re one of the more than 75 million homeowners in the United States, you probably already understand the satisfaction that owning a home can provide. Your dwelling is more than a place to live. It’s where you share time with the people you love; where you make memories; a respite from the rest of the world. Your residence is where you likely spend most of your time. When you feel good about where you live, you’re likely to be happier overall. 

What can dampen that satisfaction? The upkeep that a property can require. Maybe it’s a leaky faucet, a cabinet door that won’t close all the way, or a malfunctioning light switch. You may notice a repair and delay it. In other occasions, something breaks or stops working — such as a clogged toilet or a doorknob that comes off in your hand. 

Among work, family and other responsibilities, it’s not surprising that it’s sometimes hard to find the time to tackle those home repairs. After all, who wants to do repairs at the end of a long workday, or burn a weekend morning running to the hardware store? Fortunately, some types of issues — such as a squeaky door or misaligned kitchen cabinet drawer — may be more of a nuisance than a matter that needs to be addressed immediately. That’s not the case for all house repairs, though. Some should be redressed as soon as possible. 

These types of repairs may appear minor (at least at first), but can cause major damage to your residence or even present a danger to you and your family. Those repairs include roof and foundation issues, plumbing problems, and electrical malfunctions — among others. The accompanying infographic lists 10 repairs that should never be averted — as well as how they can affect not only the structure and safety of your home, but possibly your health and well-being. 

While house repairs can take time to address, the good news is, often a small investment of time and money can prevent a seemingly insignificant problem from becoming a bigger one. In many cases, you can perform the repairs. In others — such as in the case of roofing and electrical problems — it’s smart to hire an expert to be sure that the problem is fixed properly and safely.

10 Don’t-Wait Home Repairs from Ace Roofing Services

Top Home Maintenance Tasks You Didn't Know You Should Be Doing

Homeownership comes with unique challenges. You have rooms to clean, systems to service and outdoors to maintain. What about those home maintenance responsibilities you didn't realize you should be doing? If not addressed, those tasks could cost you time, energy and money that would have been saved otherwise.

Here are five home maintenance tasks you'll want to add to your yearly routine.

1. Check the Sump Pump and Generator

When your house floods or your power goes out, the sump pump and generator can act as lifesavers. That's why it's crucial to test them both throughout the year. If they don't work when you need them, there can be minor — or major — consequences.

When examining your sump pump, check for dirt and debris that could lead to a clog. You should be able to hear a hum to indicate it's working, but there should not be any irregular grinding, rattling or gurgling.

When testing the generator, be sure to check the fuel levels. You'll also need to change the oil to ensure everything runs smoothly. Follow the instructions and complete routine maintenance as necessary.

2. Drain Your Water Heater

Water heaters should be drained at least once a year to lower energy costs and extend the appliance's lifespan. Sediment builds up inside of the tank from natural minerals in the water. Over time, this can cause it to work less efficiently or malfunction. Draining it will take very little time but can save you a lot of money.

3. Inspect Your Roof

It's important to inspect your roof seasonally and after storms. A standard shingle roof lasts between 20 and 25 years before needing to be replaced. Keep an eye out for damaged shingles that have begun to curl or buckle. Objects that penetrate your roof — like vent ducts — frequently lead to leaks. Inspect your attic for signs of mold or water damage. You can use the water markings to guide you to the site of the leak.

Also, remember to check the gutters for signs of rot or blockages.

4. Clean the Dryer Vent

Cleaning the lint trap after a load of laundry probably seems like a no brainer — but did you know that some of that debris ends up in the dryer vent? With time, the lint accumulates until there's a mass blocking the ventilation system. This buildup is extremely hazardous because just one spark could catch it on fire.

Almost 3,000 home clothes dryer fires are reported each year. That amounts to $35 million worth of damage and property loss.

5. Inspect for Pests

Pests can include any plants, animals or insects that are harmful to humans. Inspect the interior and exterior areas of your home to look for damage. Carpenter bees can burrow into wood, causing extensive damage to your deck and house. Mice are known to infiltrate homes and basements. They carry bacteria, chew through wires and leave fecal droppings.

Look for areas where these pests have the opportunity to enter and plug the holes.

These Tasks Could Save You Precious Dollars

Implement these five home maintenance tasks into your yearly routine. While easily forgotten, these household chores have an immense impact. You won't want to put off these responsibilities now that you know the time, energy and money you can save.