home maintenance: "It Sounds Like The House Is Vibrating" The Crushed Vibration Damper
- 11/27/15 05:12 PM
When I turned on the furnace my client said, "It sounds like the house is vibrating."
The crushed vibration damper.
A vibration damper does just that. It is intended to dampen, or eliminate, any furnace vibration transferring through the house via the metal duct work.
And in this house there was a noticeable vibration.
Things settle over time.
Supports that hold up a heavy metal duct tube, like the one to the right, can sag, or come loose.
When that happens gravity takes over!
The vibration damper is a rubber membrane that separates two sections of duct work.
In the case to the right it would be on the … (13 comments)
|
home maintenance: I'm Hidden And I'm Important. What Am I?
- 11/14/15 07:14 PM
Look at the photo and think - I'm hidden and I'm important. What am I?
Some things only a home inspector would look for or see.
Some things only a home inspector would think to test.
In this older house the water main had been replaced. Not uncommon. Do you know why?
Because the older valves get stuck! The house was built in 1962. Lots of valves at that age will be stuck. Not all, but lots. If the water main valve got stuck, what do you bet that other valves might be stuck also?
Do you see the hidden handle up behind the other? That … (18 comments)
|
home maintenance: Can You Tell Me If I Need A New Roof?
- 07/16/15 08:49 PM
While I was driving I was asked to stop by a house and the voice asked, "Can you tell me if I need a new roof?"
Quickly I told this homeowner what to look for and suggested that the roof can be evaluated by looking at it, and seeing the presence of the signs I was going to give him.
"Signs?" I was asked.
"Sure. Severely curling, broken or generally damaged shingles. Shingles that break off every time the wind blows. Missing sections. Roof leaks in the house. Bad flashing around a chimney. Leaking through windows. Things like that. Does the roof look to … (20 comments)
|
home maintenance: HVAC Air Filters MUST Let Air Flow Through Them!
- 03/21/15 07:22 PM
If you want heating or air conditioning HVAC air filters MUST let air flow through them!
There are two philosophies on HVAC air filtration -
1. Use the real cheap ones, let air flow more easily, and the system operates more efficiently.
2. Use the expensive, high filtration ones, which restrict air flow, but keep the system cleaner.
With the second choice you MUST replace or clean your filters very regularly. I treated that subject in a blog many years ago which you can read by clicking here.
HOWEVER, it isn't often that you can find a high-filtration filter which ALSO allows great … (47 comments)
|
home maintenance: ... Where You Can Check Out, But You Can Never Leave ...
- 11/22/13 06:37 PM
Pulling into the driveway I could not help but notice that the neighborhood looked like a Hitchcock movie scene. There were crows everywhere! On the roofs, in the trees, walking around in the yards and road.
And not a few! Well over 100! They were even flying above in dozens.
From the subject house my client, the Realtor and I looked out a window and saw black things stuck on the siding of the house next door. We were about 30 yards away, and from that distance they looked like, and we suspected, bats.
And from our window we could also see … (52 comments)
|
home maintenance: No Maintenance Is A Misnomer!
- 07/18/13 08:19 PM
Whenever the features list in a home or on the MLS states "No Maintenance!" remember this:
No maintenance is a misnomer!
It's easy to say that! Very little is not NO maintenance. A more appropriate phrase would be "Low Maintenance."
Take this house for instance.
It is a brick home and in recent years they wrapped all the wood work on the house with aluminum sheets and covers.
It is a beautiful job.
It was very impressive, and I say this sincerely.
But it has to be investigated, probably annually, for any movement, or cracks, or gaps, or separation.
Remember, what … (67 comments)
|
home maintenance: It's A Very Small World!
- 03/13/12 07:33 PM
I received a phone call from somebody I did a home inspection for 5 years ago. He was happy with my service then and recommended me to his church. They wanted me to do an inspection on a house in Washington DC the church had owned for many decades. The widow of a former church rector still lived there and had lived longer than anyone anticipated. It was time to make repairs.
When he told me the address, I did not tell him it was the same street I had grown up on. Saying I did a little mind reading on … (32 comments)
|
home maintenance: Keep Vegetation Trimmed And Far From The House
- 09/29/11 11:57 PM
It is crucially important to keep vegetation trimmed and far from the house.
Why? Vegetation holds moisture against the foundation, can grow under and into siding introducing moisture and insects into the walls, and generally do damage. Aggressive roots of trees too close can damage foundations!
This is one corner of a house on a recent inspection. Per agreement, this house is to be maintained by the occupant.
This is NOT maintained.
And that shrubbery is FULL of poison ivy to boot!
Is that corner of the house moist?
… (56 comments)
|
home maintenance: Agents, Don't Let This Happen To Your Sellers...
- 12/01/10 10:46 PM
The seller is an elderly widow, and wants to move south to be nearer to children and grandchildren. She has been living in her home for 47 years. She has been single for 4 years, during which time maintenance slipped a bit on her house.
To prepare it for sale she had recommendations from various "real estate consultants," and many new things were added to the house. There were many "improvements." And many associated problems therewith. The words unscrupulous contractors come to mind.
One such improvement was to add air conditioning to a house that previously was heated only with … (52 comments)
|
home maintenance: Sounds
- 11/02/10 01:58 AM
I take phone calls all the time from clients who say, "We turned on the furnace for the first time this winter, and it doesn't sound right."
This is advice that I give to almost all of my clients:
BEFORE YOU MAKE ANY CHANGES, LIVE IN YOUR HOUSE FOR A YEAR. EXPERIENCE IT ALL FOUR SEASONS. LISTEN TO HOW IT SOUNDS. PAY ATTENTION TO HOW IT FEELS. UNDERTAKE EACH SEASON'S MAINTENANCE. REPLACE THE FILTER REGULARLY, CLEAN THE DISPOSAL, TRIM THE HEDGES, VACUUM THE FRIDGE COILS, TURN A KNOB, WINTERIZE THE HOSE BIBS, OR WHATEVER! LEARN WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A … (45 comments)
|
home maintenance: Jay's Fabulous Fall Home Maintenance List - On Bizarro World
- 09/24/10 11:16 PM
It's fall here on earth and time to get the house ready for winter. For some of us the house needs to be ready for cold, and for others maybe only for cool-er or wetter ...
Fortunately for us, it is spring on Bizarro World. You remember Bizarro World? From the Superman comics? On Bizarro World, the cubed planet Htrae (Earth backwards), everything is opposite or backwards of what it would be on earth. The people are grossly ugly, they try to break things, lose money in investments, wash with dry dirt - well you get it. And everything they do … (57 comments)
|
home maintenance: Benefits Of Getting Involved With Your House
- 12/28/09 10:41 PM
There are some very good reasons for not turning over the maintenance of your house to other people.
Sure, there are some things you must pay for - an annual service contract for your furnace and AC, winterizing your sprinkler system or swimming pool, cleaning high gutters or effecting certain repairs.
But many other things you can and SHOULD REGULARLY do for yourself, particularly when something is new. And especially when you move into a new house! But why?
When you are involved with the various aspects of your house it gives you a terrific advantage - you develop the understanding … (11 comments)
|
home maintenance: Jay's Fall/Winter Seasonal Chores List
- 11/14/09 11:04 PM
It's that time of year again. It's time for:
THE LIST
Specifically, the Fall/Winter Seasonal Chores List. You have to do it anyway, so this gift is for you.
Every year I will be driving home and hear on the news that it will get below freezing during the night. That's the time I usually realize I have not gotten ready for fall or winter. My hose bibs immediately spring to mind. Note: Obviously this is long past true for some of the country. My list is pretty complete, though likely not totally complete. No one ever knows everything. But, I … (10 comments)
|
home maintenance: Some and Summer
- 04/19/09 07:10 AM
Well, spring has sprung in most of the country. I realize some of you have had summer for a while, and others are still getting snow. But it is time for the Spring/Summer Home Maintenance List.
We could call it "Some and Summer." Works for me...
These are in no particular order of importance, and if some item doesn't apply to your house, show the list to your spouse anyway and say, "Wow, look at all the things I had to do to get the house ready for spring and summer. I'm really on top of it!" He/she will be impressed … (15 comments)
|
home maintenance: "You Don't Need a Home Inspection..."
- 11/29/08 06:09 AM
Yesterday I had an inspection with a concerned, very nice young single mother who bought a 4 year old foreclosure. She moved in about a week ago. She noticed things with the house.
Her agent told her that since she was obtaining a Veteran's Administration loan, the VA would do an "inspection" and she didn't need to have a home inspection.
The VA inspector/appraiser told her the same thing.
Well, she should have had an inspection! Had she my list in hand for the VA guy he could have required lots of things for the bank to do prior to her … (49 comments)
|
home maintenance: Free Furnace Fun Facts
- 11/17/08 09:04 PM
This time of year the furnace becomes a very important appliance. Checked it recently? What kind do you have - gas, oil or electric? Do you have an annual service contract? Do you need one? Replaced or cleaned the filter recently? Can you even get to your furnace?
A gas or oil furnace or boiler needs an annual tune up, particularly if it is older than 5 years. Newer units are more efficient than older ones. The new code requires a more efficient system, so if you are thinking of replacing your system you should understand that. The old code required … (4 comments)
|
home maintenance: What I'm Seeing Now (8) - Seasonal Chores, Fall/Winter
- 10/30/08 09:18 PM
Every year I will be driving home and hear on the news that it will get below freezing during the night. Last night was one of those for me! Note: Obviously this is long past true for some of the country. When I hear that temperatures will dip below freezing, it reminds me to get into my fall/winter chore list. I thought it would be appropriate to share some of it with you.
Winterize the exterior hoses. Turn off the interior valves, open the exterior bibs and loose the little cap beside the interior valve to let water drain out. Test … (2 comments)
|
|
|
|
When I turned on the furnace my client said, "It sounds like the house is vibrating."
;)
;)
;)
