In today’s fast-paced world, it’s quite challenging for many people to take time out for home maintenance and upkeep. However, overlooking household problems can lead to further issues in the future. It’s therefore imperative to ensure regular maintenance as well as periodic inspections to help find any undetected problems. Most people face the same problems in their household, whether it's related to plumbing, wiring, or water leaks. While these issues may seem unimportant to many people, neglecting them will only double the trouble you’ll later have to go through. Maintenance professionals, therefore, advise dealing with these problems as soon as possible. Here are 6 common household problems that require urgent attention.
1. Water Leaks
Water leaks can be a result of roof damage, plumbing problems, or water heater faults. Although minor water leaks may seem to be non-threatening, the buildup of water anywhere extensively damages the surroundings. Water stains are easily recognizable and leaks should be easy to locate as well. It’s therefore important to identify and fix leaks as soon as possible. Improper drainage could also cause water penetration in the basement and crawlspace. Ensure that you get it looked at as soon as possible if this problem arises.
image © Pan xiaozhen
2. Roof Damage
The roof of a house protects it from extreme weather conditions. If you neglect roof maintenance, you risk overlooking small faults that may become worse with time and require extensive repair or even complete renovation. With regular upkeep and maintenance, you can save yourself a lot of time and money. Whether you’re a resident of San Antonio or any other city in Texas, you must be aware of the weather conditions that result in extensive roof damage, and it helps a great deal to have a reliable and well-known roofer on call. Common roof problems include roof leaks, loose shingles or cracks, wall and ceiling stains, clogged roof gutters, and/or a sagging ceiling. All of these problems are easily noticeable and should be dealt with as soon as possible.
image © Harald Matern
3. Improper Wiring
This is one of the most common household problems, especially if your house is old. Improper and amateur wiring systems often result in alarming problems that should be looked at urgently. Common signs of bad wiring are frequent tripping of circuit breakers because of circuit overloading, flickering, or dimming lights, which can either be due to a loose or incompatible dimmer switch or a result of improper wiring. If you can hear buzzing or crackling sounds from electrical outlets and switches, immediately turn them off as it could be a sign of frayed wires. Get a professional to inspect your whole electric system to check and replace any frayed wires. Burning smells or marks on electrical fixtures require urgent attention and shouldn’t be ignored.
4. Plumbing
Plumbing problems can arise at any time, whether due to old and incompatible pipes, faulty fixtures and waste lines, or clogged pipes. While some plumbing issues are minor and can be handled without any assistance, others cannot be solved without the help of a professional. Some of the common plumbing issues many households face can include low water pressure, clogged drain, running toilet, slow draining tub, and leaky pipes. Plumbing problems are not just an inconvenience but also waste a lot of water in an age where water should be conserved as much as possible. Many of these plumbing issues aren't simple to deal with and so the best approach is to contact a plumber immediately.
image © Steve Buissinne
5. Heating Systems
Heating problems can require costly repairs if neglected for too long. Often, homeowners neglect to ensure regular maintenance and upkeep of their heating systems and later deal with the consequences. One of the most common heating system problems that arise is malfunctioning in the control or ignition system, depending on the type of heating system you have, the operations control should have either ignition or pilot control. Whatever the case, ensure that you get a professional to check it out. Other problems can include a faulty thermostat, no fuel, leaky ductwork, lack of circulation and airflow, overrun heat pumps, and dirty filters.
6. Poor Ventilation
Many houses today are built to control airflow and hence regulate temperature. While this does have benefits, proper ventilation is often overlooked. Some homes are so air-tight that they have negative pressure. Negative air pressure should be dealt with instantly in order to avoid problems. Improper ventilation will also result in a greater intake of indoor pollutants which can be life-threatening as they contain many carcinogenic compounds.
For homeowners, their homes are a substantial investment. However, it’s difficult to manage maintenance and upkeep with today’s busy schedules. Although many people tend to repair and fix many household problems on their own, some require professional attention otherwise you risk making the problems worse.
