As the Atlantic hurricane season ended this November, homeowners can now focus on necessary home repairs once again and fortify their humble abodes before June. You can save money on costly future repairs by looking into small leaks or minor cracks right away.
Unfortunately, almost 4 in 10 US homes were built before the ‘70s and are in need of minor to major renovations. Some common home repairs include plumbing, electrical, terminate damage, water damage, HVAC, and others. However, we’ll focus on the most urgent ones in this blog.
You should address the deteriorating condition of your property by hiring a licensed contractor and keep your DIY enthusiasm in control for some of these repairs.
Let’s see which ones:
1. Roof Leaks
A leaking roof leads to water damage in your walls and ceilings. Water damage also harms your home’s overall insulation and may require costly repairs if you don’t fix it right away. That’s why you should prioritize nipping this problem in the bug and prevent water damage from making mold or mildew grow in your home.
Your roof may also get damaged after a thunderstorm, hail, or heavy wind. So, you should look for the telltale signs of roof hail damage, such as:
- Missing shingles
- Moisture in the attic
- Shingles showing bald spots
- Ice dams formed on the roof
- Finding debris around the house
You should call an expert roofer after a recent storm damages your roof. Get in touch with local, reliable roofing contractors so they can repair the leak and inspect your roof for hidden damage.
2. Pipe Bursts or Leaks
The pipes that run beneath your floors aren’t resistant to the effects of cold weather. When it gets cold outside, these pipes can sustain heavy damage and may even burst. Burst pipes are responsible for water damage in your residence as well (whatever increases humidity levels in your house brings forth water damage, a rule of thumb).
But burst pipes aren’t something you can overlook. Piping gone awry causes structural damage to your home (worst-case scenario). Even small leaks invoke the snowball effect and increase your utility bill at the end of the month. So, make plumbing repairs your top priority.
3. Electrical Issues
Electrical problems cause fire hazards and may lead to power outages. That’s why you should pay attention to electrical issues by immediately turning the power off if you see flickering lights or notice outlets emitting weird buzzing sounds. Don’t forget to consult a licensed electrician to come to your house and fix this problem.
Avoid DIY repairs when it comes to wires and electrical components.
4. Gas Leaks
Gas leaks are always a harbinger of bad news since they lead to carbon monoxide poisoning or explosions. That’s why you should spring into action the moment you smell something funny in your kitchen (i.e., the smell of sulfur or rotten eggs, added deliberately to natural gas to help you detect gas leaks easily). Evaluate your home in case of gas leaks and call your gas company to come to your rescue.
5. HVAC Issues
While experts are expecting the home reno industry to undergo a renaissance in 2025, you may focus on what actually matters instead of spending your money on needless makeovers. HVAC system ruins the living experience of occupants when it starts to malfunction. Poorly functioning HVAC systems also mean that your energy costs could go up – no homeowner would ever want that happening. So, as a good routine habit, check the settings of your thermostat and see if the batteries are working fine.
Inspect the filters of your HVAC system and check whether they need changing. Call a heating and cooling expert if the problem persists after basic troubleshooting. A poorly functioning heating system should be on your priority list for urgent home repairs.
6. Clogged/Overflowing Toilets
An overflowing toilet is a big sanitary issue – it could give a major headache to house occupants. It’s also a major health hazard and a sight no one would want to witness. If you don’t unclog your toilet right away, it can ruin the indoor air quality of your home. That’s why you should look into DIY ways of fixing up your toilet. You may start by removing the link on the tank. Push the flapper valve way down to stop the water flow. After that, we would also like to suggest that you try clearing the clog with a plunger. Using chemical drain cleaners isn’t a good idea when you’re unclogging your toilet; that’s because these toxic cleaners damage the pipes.
7. Water Heater Damage
When your water heater starts malfunctioning, this problem may interrupt daily activities like cooking and bathing. Also, water heater damage can lead to leaks or flooding. That’s why you should address this urgent home repair right away by checking for leaks around the base of the heater. Adjust your thermostat’s temperature settings. If nothing works in your favor, hire a plumber or – better – an HVAC technician to come and have a look.
8. Cracks in the Foundation
Finding cracks in your house’s foundation is never a good discovery. It’s a serious structural issue and may even worsen over time if you keep ignoring it. Don’t neglect or delay in resolving this urgent home repair issue; address it right away. You can do that by looking for larger cracks (they must be over ¼ inch wide) or cracks that just keep growing. It’s smart to get a foundation specialist involved here so they can assess your home’s structure.
9. Mold or Asbestos Growth
An article published recently gives us this interesting scoop that homeowners in the United States spent around $567 billion on home repairs in 2022. Mold is a major problem facing many American homes. Many US homes have mold and asbestos. It is time that you do something about these gruesome health hazards.
Mold needs humidity to grow. So, check areas prone to dampness if you’re searching for mold. For instance, your bathrooms and basements are the perfect breeding place for mold. Once you end up detecting mold in your home, seal off the affected zones in the house and call relevant experts to safely remove this fungus from your home. The same actions should be taken for asbestos discovery in your property.
To cut the story short, you should promptly address the home repairs discussed here. You can uplift your property’s appeal and even take its resale value up a notch by making these necessary updates. On the bright side, they will also make your abode more livable. This way, you’ll make your home safer and more comfortable for both current and future residents. Keep in mind that regularly maintaining your home and looking out for further renovation needs are the two best ways to extend the lifespan of the house.