Signs Your Home Is In A Slightly Worse Condition Than You Think
If you’re a homeowner, you deserve to be proud of the welcoming space you’ve created for yourself and your family. The four walls around you are a peaceful and nurturing place that any person would love to be. You’ve even put a lot of time and effort into renovating the space to be as useful and well decorated as possible, and there’s no limit to the amount of home improvements you can make to ensure your property always suits you.
That being said, there’s always a chance some nefarious things are going on inside your home’s pipes, wall cavities, floorboards, attic and ceilings, and even just in the indoor air you breathe! Indeed, your home could be in a worse condition than you ever thought possible, and all because it’s so hard to keep track of the wear and tear it’s gotten over the years.
So let’s make sure you’re on top of your home’s condition and you’re not about to see something come crashing down or bursting in your face. Here are the signs you should be on the lookout for that could indicate a deeper problem within your property.
There’s a Lot of Creaking Going on
It’s normal for a house to creak here and there, especially if you’re in an older home and there’s just one or two floorboards that are common offenders. However, the more your house creaks as you move around in it, and the more it creaks when you’re not moving at all, the sooner you should get someone to survey your structure and see what’s going on.
It could be that your rafters are a bit old and need replacing, or it could be that you’ve got a few loose panels and/or boards, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. You don’t want the ceiling to fall in when you least expect it, and there’s every chance that could happen if this problem doesn’t get properly sorted out!
A bit of creaking in the upstairs ceiling, where there’s an attic or loft above, could even be a sign that you’ve got pests making a nest up there. It’s not the worst problem you could have here, but it’s also not something you’re going to want in your house either!
Your Doors are a Bit Stiff
Stiff doors don’t have to be a big problem, as it could just be that your door frames haven’t been hung correctly or need to have their screws oiled or replaced. However, when more than one door starts to stick and you’re not quite sure why, it’s time to pay attention to what’s happening with your house.
If the windows are also getting a little difficult to open and close, it could be a sign that your house is on the move. Something like subsidence isn’t always obvious until the foundation starts showing exterior symptoms, such as mud build up and horizontal cracks, but this could be an early warning of it.
Of course, if you oil and/or replace the screws and everything is fine again, your foundation probably is as well! But if new screws, hinges, or even a new door entirely doesn’t fix the issue and it comes back again soon after, scrutinize your structure as whole.
The Drains are a Bit Smelly
Smelly drains aren’t just an annoying part of having to keep the pipes clean. They’re also a sign that something is going on deeper in the system and it could even be a bit toxic if it backs up all the way. Indeed, if you can’t be sure what’s even in the drain, you’ll want to call out a company like Davis Plumbing & Drain to assess the pipes and see what’s clogging up in there.
It could be anything from a bunch of dead leaves (if it’s an external drain), to fat or grease that’s mistakenly been poured down the kitchen sink and has gotten stuck, or it could even be something a lot more disgusting to have to deal with. Don’t let a smelly drain go unseen to for long; if your attempts to clear and wash the drain haven’t worked, it’s time to get a professional out and let them get rid of the problem.
You Get a Lot of Sniffles When Inside
Does being indoors seem to make you sneezy? Do you always have a slightly runny nose and/or eyes when you’re sitting in the living room of an evening? Then the moisture in the air that circulates your home could be the culprit.
When the air is too wet, your body is going to react. You’re going to have what seems like a cold more times than not, and you’ll be battling off a tickly nose and needing to have a box of tissues by your side at all times. If that’s the kind of thing you’ve been living with for the past few weeks, it might be time to invest in a dehumidifier!
You don’t want this level of moisture to go on for too long, as it could very well cause damp and mold to settle into the walls.
You Haven’t Done a Deep Clean in a While
When you haven’t done a deep clean for a long time, there could be dust and bugs all over the place. This will turn your home into allergy central, and could be contributing to the sniffly problem above as well.
Is Your Home a Little Worse for Wear?
There’s a chance it is, and it’s best to double check right now. Be on the lookout for symptoms like those above in all of your rooms. Areas like the kitchen and bathroom are likely to be more at risk for plumbing and moisture issues, but stiff doors, a dust buildup, and a lot of creaking noises need to be paid attention to as well. And if you haven’t done a deep clean in a while, you may want to arrange one ASAP!
