Top 5 Home Repairs You Cannot Ignore
- A water leak anywhere should not be ignored. Whether it's a stain on your ceiling, a toilet that leaks or white powdery stuff that grows on your bricks or foundation the culprit is water and damage can be severe. Left unchecked, it can lead to rot, dry rot, or mold. Water may cause a roof to collapse, foundations to buckle and any number of expensive repairs. And the water damage may get you in trouble with your insurance company. The answer is to stop the leak by any means necessary, repair the damage and take the required steps to make sure the problem doesn't reappear.
- A smokey chimney may lead to some serious repercussions. A chimney that isn't properly cleaned and maintained can catch fire placing your family in significant danger. Creosote, a by-product of wood burning, can build up in the flue and ignite unless removed. Get your chimney swept and inspected annually; the cost is about $100.
- Rodent Invasions: If you're hearing the pitter patter of little rodent feet, then you may have a serious problem in your house. It's not just that they carry disease, but rats, mice and other vermin love to chew through insulation and wiring which can cause a house fire. Use traps and bait products or call an exterminator.
- Soaring fuel bills can be caused by more than just price hikes. The culprit could be problems with your furnace. This is more than a pocket book issue, since poorly functioning systems can cause deadly carbon monoxide buildup in your home. Have your furnace professionally cleaned and inspected annually, including the flue. Install carbon monoxide detectors which cost $25 to $50 each to keep your family safe.
- A ground fault circuit interrupter is an electrical outlet with distinctive red and black buttons designed to prevent deadly short circuits. Outlets in bathrooms and those in kitchens within six feet of the sink should be replaced with GFCI outlets. If there is an accident where an appliance may short out, the GFCI will trip the electricity to turn off. It will be the best $7 you ever spent. The exception is the refrigerator. Do not put your fridge on a GFCI. Its normal on-and-off surges can trip the interrupter and leave you with an icebox full of spoiled food.
