Spring Home Maintenance

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The grass is finally turning green, trees are developing their leaves for the season, and spring flowers are beginning to bloom. With Mother Nature issuing in spring you as a homeowner may be thinking about your spring home maintenance checklist. Below you will find a list of items to consider for your spring summer home maintenance.

Fall Home Maintenance

Exterior Maintenance Needs:
1. Your Roof – if you feel comfortable climbing a ladder inspect your roof. If not obtain a pair of binoculars. If you find any issues call a local professional to assess your roofing needs. Check your roof for:
a. Damaged or missing shingles
b. Signs of rusting
c. Crackling or leaking of shingles

2. Gutters – clean your gutters of leaves and debris to allow proper draining. Reattach any gutters that are sagging with new hardware.  Caulk and seal holes to prevent leaking. Make sure all downspouts are properly directed away from the foundation of your home.

3. Inspect Concrete – Check for cracking of your concrete driveway, sidewalk, walkways, and pool deck. Fill cracks with concrete filler or silicone caulk. If your drive or sidewalks are severely damaged you may need to seek professional help to have them properly                         replaced.

4. Faucets – inspect outside faucets for possible freeze damage from winter conditions.

5. Air Conditioning Units – clean your air conditioning unit by removing debris that has collected on it. Be sure to check all sides, this includes the back of the unit. Spring is an excellent time to contact your HVAC professional for an annual check-up and tune-up.

6. Deck – check your deck for signs of discoloration and warping. Check for loose nails/screws. Check your railing system to make sure it is secure. Replace rotting or lifting boards.

7. Woodwork – check fencing and all other wooden structures. As with your deck you may need to replace boards, secure loose boards and nails/screws.

8. Sprinkler System – turn your system on to check if the system is still working properly. Check for leaks or broken sprinkler heads.

9. Windows and Doors – check for cracks and other repairs that may be needed. Replace or patch screens that are damaged so they are ready for the seasons bugs that will want to seek refuge in your home.

10. Landscaping – clear your gardens and landscape areas of debris. Trim overgrowth of shrubs and weakened or damaged tree limbs.

Spring Home Maintenance

Interior Maintenance Needs:

1. Windows – open your windows and let the fresh air of spring in! Wipe down the interior of the window sills so your windows work efficiently.

2. Basement and Attic – look for water stains, mold, and leaks. Remove any moisture that can lead to mold issues or serious water damage. It may be necessary to call a professional to see what you must do to prevent further damage. For your attic this may be a roofing professional. For your basement you may need to check your downspouts location, landscape grade slope, water pipes, etc.

3. Home Safety – change batteries in all smoke detectors, check your fire extinguishers to make sure they are still fully charged and ready to use if necessary, check all exhaust fans to be sure they are clean – this includes your bath vents, clothes dryer vent and hose, range/cooktop hood vent.

4. Furnace – replace your filter and clean your system. If you are not comfortable doing this call a professional to check your furnace and be sure it is ready to work for you next fall and winter.

5. Updates and Upgrades – now is the perfect time to take a look at the age of appliances throughout your home. What is their age?  What appliances/utilities are nearing the end of their expected life? As a homeowner it is important to stay on top of this so you can properly budget for the new furnace/air conditioner, refrigerator, washer/dryer, hot water heater, roof, deck etc. that you may need to replace.

Remember, when you became a homeowner you took on the responsibility of home maintenance. As with anything else, the better you take care of your home, the longer it will serve your needs.

Are you looking for a new home or to sell your current home?  At Corspect Advanced Home Inspections we combine knowledge, experience and science to provide you with the highest level of inspection service. Corspect Advanced Home Inspections uses the latest technology to assess every detail of the homes systems. At Corspect Advanced Home Inspections we also have the unique ability, through Drone equipped HD Cameras, to inspect and photograph roof components. At Corspect Advanced Home Inspections it is our mission to make the home buying experience rewarding, informative and enjoyable for all. Contact Bob at Corspect Advanced Home Inspections to set up your home inspection.

Home Inspection - Omaha and Lincoln and surrounding areas

Home Inspection – Radon Inspection

Home Inspection – Radon Inspection

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                        How Radon Enters Your Home

Let’s begin with what Radon is. Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and chemically inert radioactive gas. It is formed by the natural radioactive decay of uranium in rock, soil, and water. It can be found in all 50 states. Why is Radon a problem? The problem occurs when radon gas enters your home and gets trapped within it. Long-term exposure to high levels of radon can cause lung cancer. In 1998, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) released the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR VI) Report, “The Health Effects of Exposure to Indoor Radon.” The study reviewed and evaluated data from many prior studies and drew conclusions. It fully supports estimates by the EPA that radon causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year. Though some people debate the number of deaths, it is widely agreed that radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Only smoking causes more cases of lung cancer.

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        Highest Levels in Nebraska by County

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    Radon Concentrations by County in Nebraska

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   Generalized Geologic Radon Potential of the                                   United States

So, how does Radon gas enter your home and create this exposure? Radon gas moves from the soil your home was built upon and seeps into your home through pores in concrete, gaps in walls and floors, your opening in your sump pump basin, etc. It is important to note that any house of any age is susceptible to radon gas – a new home just built or a home 100-years-old. It should be noted that one out of every fifteen U.S. homes have a radon problem. The only way to know what your home’s Radon level is is to test it.
According to the EPA and the Surgeon General testing of all homes below the third floor is recommended. The purpose is to identify the need for mitigation or reducing the radon level found in homes. Ideally, the test should be conducted in a regularly used room on the lowest level of the home, such as the living room, playroom, den, or bedroom. While testing, do not disturb the device being used to take the radon sample. Keep in mind that high humidity and drafty conditions can bias the results from some test devices.

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                                Radon Test Kit

EPA recommends that you hire a qualified professional to test for radon when you are buying or selling a home. Some states, including Nebraska, require radon measurement testers to follow a specific testing protocol. If you hire a contractor to test your residence, protect yourself by hiring a qualified individual or company.

 

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             4 picoCuries per liter or higher

What should you do if you find high levels of radon in your home? If you discover levels of 4 picoCuries per liter or higher, the EPA recommends doing a second radon test. Once you discover levels that are at or above 4 picoCuries per liter mitigation should be considered. Mitigation will either require an active or a passive system that will vent the radon of your home. Active systems will require a fan to move the gas from the home. Passive systems do not require a fan but will require a vent system to allow the gas to escape from the home through the vent system.

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         Passive Radon System

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                            Mitigation

The EPA provides more information about health effects from radon in their publication, A Physician’s Guide to Radon, as well as their booklet Reducing the Risk From Radon: Information and Interventions (A Guide for Health Care Providers).
For More Information:
• National Radon Hotline: Purchase radon test kits by phone.
1 (800) SOS-RADON (767-7236)

• National Radon Helpline: Get live help for your radon questions.
1 (800) 55-RADON (557-2366)

• National Radon Fix-It Line: For general information on fixing or reducing the radon level in your home.
1 (800) 644-6999

• Living Healthy and Green Hotline
1 (866) 730-4733

• National Radon Hotline En Español
1 (866) 528-3187

Home Inspection - Omaha and Lincoln and surrounding areas

At Corspect Advanced Home Inspections we combine knowledge, experience and science to provide you with the highest level of inspection service. Corspect Advanced Home Inspections uses the latest technology to assess every detail of the homes systems. At Corspect Advanced Home Inspections we also offer Radon Inspection to the prospective home owner at an additional fee for testing. At Corspect Advanced Home Inspections it is our mission to make the home buying experience rewarding, informative and enjoyable for all. Contact Bob at Corspect Advanced Home Inspections to set up your home inspection.