With Halloween around the corner, homeowners around the country are beginning to decorate with the scariest sights of the year. From ghosts and skeletons to creepy crawlers and spider web decorations, these frightful sights can make this season more fun. But now is also the time to make sure that only scary sights around your home are your decorations.
Fall and winter can bring a mixture of humidity, rain, ice, snow and high winds that will find many Americans unprepared for the havoc it can wreak on their homes. As temperatures turn cooler, homeowners should be mindful of some scary signs throughout their homes that may spell potential problems. Identifying and addressing warning signs now will help save energy, time and money in the long run.
Here are three tips that can help ensure you keep away any scary problems that could keep you up at night:
Dripping from Your Ceiling
“It all starts with the roof,” said Lori Swanson, owner of Guardian Roofing. “Your roof is one of the most vital protections standing between you and the weather. Wind, ice and other environmental hazards can cause damage to that protection, letting water through.”
The roof can be the single largest ticket items for many homeowners, so it’s important to pay attention to the warning signs to ensure bad seasonal weather doesn’t cause extensive damage. If your roof isn’t properly installed or maintained, you could be inviting in water, mold, animals and structural damage.
“Understanding the importance of checking their roofs and knowing the basics of roof maintenance and damage can help homeowners avoid unnecessary stress and surprise bills,” said Swanson.
What’s even more surprising is that a national survey by Owens Corning Roofing found that although 79% of Seattle homeowners said that damage to their roof would be stressful or very stressful, only 14% say they always check or have their roofs checked before the start of a season that typically brings bad weather. So be prepared this season and make sure to conduct a thorough roof check.
Crawling Up Your Walls
Putting up your Halloween decorations and realize there’s already something scary on your walls? Did you know that 7 in 10 homes have water damage and mold?
The key to mold growth is the level of moisture in the environment. Mold will grow in any environment that is sufficiently moist that also contains any kind of food source. Common food sources for mold in the structure of the home include drywall, window frames, carpeted or uncarpeted flooring, bathroom tile and interior insulation.
Eliminate any additional mold growth or prevent it by removing any moisture in your home. If you already have mold do your research and be sure to use the necessary cleaning solutions to remove it such as bleach, vinegar, borax, baking soda and more. Most importantly, know when to call in a professional. If you have a persistent mold problem, you may need to hire a remediation specialist. Do your homework to find one who is reputable.
Unexplained Breezes
No, it’s not a close encounter of the scary kind. If your ground floor seems drafty, it’s likely due to an improperly sealed window or door, which can be easily fixed by sealing the gaps.
When heating and cooling systems are constantly working harder to regulate preferred temperature within the home, chances are that energy costs will increase. Not only will it be more expensive to maintain, but it will also put more stress on the system than necessary, which could result in the need for costly repairs or replacements.
With a few simple, proactive measures you can make sure you are prepared for upcoming inclement weather and avoid any scary damage to your home.
– Lori Swanson, Guardian Roofing
