Alltech Engineering & Inspection Services

EXTERIOR   Top

Every spring and fall, homeowners should do a thorough visual check on the extetior condition of their home. When checking, the homeowners should make note of ares that are in needcheck the outdoor condition of your home.  You should look for damage to your siding or trim; paint that is peeling or flaking, especially on the wood surfaces.

Check your exterior brick veener in the spring for loose bricks, cracking in the mortar joints or flaking in the mortar joints. Pay close attention to the beginnings of stair-step cracks around window frames/lintels and door frames/lintels. Cracking in these areas often indicates some deterioration of the lintel and can lead to bigger problems, if not addressed immediately. Minor cracks can be initially cleaned and sealed with flexible all-weather caulking. Monitor the area for a period of two years. If the repairs remain intact, then you could consider repointing the area. If the repair fails, you should contact a professional contractor or mason to determine the cause of the failure and to make the necessary repairs. While some cracking maybe "typical", it is important to note that if you go ahead and mortar a crack, without first monitoring the area, then there is a good possibility that a new crack will appear somewhere close by on the same wall, where the mortar is older and weaker. If you have seen houses that look as though they have been patched and repatched, this maybe the reason.  Be certain that the underlying cause of any structural cracking has been mitigated before permanent repairs for the brick work are undertaken.

Besure to check the block foundation areas for cracking in the block, broken or missing mortar or any movement in the foundation walls. Always be certain to pay close attention to the condition of the house foundation at the outside corners and where the downspouts discharge or enter the ground. Many serious structural failures could have been prevented early-on by simply repairing broken groundlines along the foundation walls, or routing the downspouts away from the house foundation walls. Follow the above procedure for any minor cracking due to wear or other problems, such as window replacements or lintels. For problems in your foundation that are not readily understood, if is recommended that a professional contractor or engineer be contacted to determine the cause and to make the necessary repairs.

Check driveway, patios, porches, and any other block, brick or masonry surfaces for cracking or heaving in the spring before and after the rainy season for comparison.  Make sure that sealant is applied to your asphalt and concrete walkways, driveways and patios to prevent water penetration.

Drain your outside hose bibs and water lines each fall to prevent the water in the line from freezing in colder winter months, and causing the line to break. To do this, locate the interior shut-off valve for the hose bib/water line and turn the valve off. Then, go to the outside water line/hose bib and open the valve all the way. Leave it open for an hour or so to ensure any water that was in the line drains out. Then shut the outside valve off tightly. Wipe around the valve to ensure it is dry. There are insulating products available to slide over outside hose bibs to help prevent weather damage.

Waterproof your deck every two years.

GRADING   Top

Check each spring to make sure that the grading in your yard slopes away from the home.  Keep ivy and other vegetation from growing up the side of your home as this will undermine the integrity of your home's masonry and increase the risk of insect infestation.

Make sure that any tree stumps or wood debris is kept away from the home to help minimize the possibility of termites, carpenter ants or other insect pest infestation.  Keep your firewood stacked away from your house walls.

When using mulch or wood chips in your garden, make sure it has been treated to help minimize the possibility of pest infestation.

Keep trees trimmed back away from the house roof, siding, windows, doors and walkways.  Large trees can damage the house.  Trees planted closer than 10’ to the house should be monitored.  The root systems for trees planted in close proximity to the house can damage the foundation and/or cause water penetration in the below grade areas of the house.

Keep shrubs trimmed back from windows, doors and walkways.  This will also aid in reducing the amount of insects around your home.

EXTERIOR OF WINDOWS AND DOORS  Top

Check the caulking around the door and window frames each fall to help prevent the penetration of cold air.  Cracks should be sealed with flexible, all-weather caulking.

Inspect windows in the spring for cracks that might have occurred during the winter months.

Be sure to check the weather stripping on the windows and doors each fall.  Replacement is easy and inexpensive, but can save you substantially on your heating bill.

Check the glazing on the windows in the fall.

Check for moisture, or fogging, between double pane windows. This indicates a break in the seal. You can either take the window to a place that will repair the window seal and replace the argon gas (if needed), or there are several companies that can fix the window at your home. A few things to remember; not all windows will have argon gas, some are a vacuum and older styles may just be two sheets of glass; the seal won't fix itself. A simple, inexpensive repair can help maintain the look and resale value of your home, as well as helping conserve energy.

Check wood doors, wood framed windows and door frames for blistered, cracking or peeling paint.  Repaint as needed.  Exposed exterior wood surface are prone to decay and deterioration.

ROOF & ROOF SYSTEMS  Top

Visually scan your roof with binoculars twice a year for missing or worn shingles.  If necessary, use a ladder to gain a better look at questionable areas.  Try to keep roof traffic to a minimum.  Too much activity on a roof can decrease the life of your roof and cause leaks. Check to make sure that the shingle are secure along the roof ridge, eave, and drip edge. Minor repairs, such as caulking around flashing or vents, should be performed as soon as cracking and shrinking is noted in the seals. A typical asphalt shingle roof in this climate zone has a life expectancy of 20-25 years, when properly maintained.

Each spring before the rains begin and in the fall before the snow, clean any leaves, branches or other debris from your gutters.  This helps prevent the gutters from backing up and possibly allowing water infiltration under the roofing shingles along the edge of your roof.  Make sure downspouts drain away from the foundation of your home.  Consider heat tracing your gutters to prevent water dams during the cold months.

Check your attic vents each spring for bird nests, bats, squirrels or any other vermin that might  seek to build a nest in your home.  Remember that your attic vents should be screened.

Check your mastic seals for your vent pipes.  If any cracking or peeling is occurring, clean the seals and skim coat with another layer of mastic.

Check your soffit and fascia twice a year for leaks, decay or chipped or peeling paint.

Carefully check your gutters, downspouts, and ground lines. Look for gutters that have pulled from the house and are sagging, or are disconnected from their downspout. If the gutters haven't kinked, they can be resecured to the house relatively easily. You can buy new gutter hangers at hardware and home stores. Gutters that have kinked or become cracked from the sagging will need to be replaced. The gutters can be rejoined to the downspouts with connectors to help secure them in place. These connectors are also available at hardware and home stores.

Check for downspouts that are disconnected from their groundline. Be sure to check the straps for the downspouts while you are there and make sure they are secure to the house so your downspouts don't "flap". When you have your downspout disconnected from the groundline, you should check the groundline for clogs or debris that will prevent the downspouts from draining properly. Be sure to do this before reconnecting the downspout. One of the most common cause of water penetration in a basement is improper surface water management at downspouts and groundlines. When in doubt, call a contractor. This simple SIMPLE repair can save thousands of dollars in repairs from damage due to water penetration and MOLD

CHIMNEYS   Top

Check the flashing around your chimney and roof stacks for possible leaks in the spring and the fall.  If any cracking occurs in the mastic seals, clean and skim coat the seals with mastic or roof cement.

Have your chimney cleaned each fall before you use it.  This will prolong the life of your chimney liner and brick and help prevent creosote build-up.

Check your flue and damper each fall before the chimney is used.  Make sure your damper operates properly, with no sticking. Improperly seated dampers can be a major source of heat loss in your home.

Be sure to thoroughly clean your ash receptacle for the fireplace in the spring.

Make sure your rain caps and spark arrestors are firmly secured.  It is recommended that all chimney flues have liners and rain caps.

GARAGE   Top

Check weather stripping and insulation around the garage entrances and windows in the fall.  Much of a home's heat can be lost in these areas.

Clean up any oil or gas spills as they happen to keep them from corroding your cement floor and to help minimize fire hazards and health hazards associated with toxic fumes.

Check your garage floor for cracks twice a year.  Make sure to clean and caulk any cracks you may find. Did you know that radon gas enters the house through gaps and cracks in the foundation system of your home?

BASEMENTS   Top

Check your basement floor for cracks twice a year. Clean and caulk any cracks you may find.  Monitor sealed cracks.  Any crack reopening and/or expanding to 1/2” or more should be evaluated by a professional.

Bowing in your foundation wall is almost a sure sign of water pressure against the outside of the foundation. Bowing is usually accompanied by water penetration and possibly mold. To prevent this structural deficiency from becoming a structural defect, control the surface water at the exterior of the house. Water runoff should always be directed away from the house. Contact a water proofing landscape company to get the proper exterior grading. Ignoring this problem will not only result in the eventual need to have the problem addressed, but with the added expense of having the damage caused by the hydro-static pressure repaired. Whenever possible, we like to see surface water controlled from the exterior of the house, not the interior. Grading and an exterior French drain are our first choice for repair. Interior French drains allow the water to enter the house, then the water is collected and discharged back outside of the house. While you should consult with a water proofing professional regarding the best way to remedy your particular problem, please keep in mind that our optimum outcome for this problem would be to keep water out of a house using exterior grading and exterior French drains.

Check the caulking around the windows and doors each fall.  Clean and replace caulking if it appears to be brittle or cracking.

Check the caulking around the windows and doors each fall.  Clean and replace caulking if it appears to be brittle or cracking.

Inspect your basement windows each spring and fall for cracks.  Oil the hinges for awning and hinged windows.  Consider replacing older style basement windows with glass block windows.  They are maintenance free, help prevent heat loss and add to a home’s security.  Glass block windows can be purchased and installed for about $75.00 each.

Monitor the base of your basement walls each spring after the winter thaw and rains have passed.  If there are any signs of water penetration, check your outside grading.  If the grading appears to be sloping properly, you may want to try a water-proofing paint or contact a water-proofing contractor or landscaper.

Keep floor drains clean and free of debris. Make sure the covers for the drains are in place.

Check the dryer and hot water heater vents periodically to ensure that the pipes are venting to the outside correctly.  An easy way to tell is to take a small piece of tissue paper and hold it to the joint where the vent pipes connect.  While the water heater is running, the tissue paper should appear to be drawn up toward the vent.

     Periodically check your water lines for signs of leaks or weeping.  Valves need to be turned (exercised) periodically to prevent them from "freezing".

ELECTRICAL   Top

Know where your electrical boxes are located and what type of electrical service you have. (See electrical service in your home inspection report).

Trip your circuit breakers every six months.  Make sure your ground connection wire is properly attached to the ground pipe.

Check your GFCI receptacles and breakers monthly.  The receptacle should trip and need reset.  It is fairly common for this type of receptacle to fail and need replaced.  When the receptacle does not trip properly, the safety feature of the Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter is rendered useless.

Label and mark your circuit box to indicate the rooms and outlets corresponding to each fuse or breaker.

Be sure to know the correct amperage of fuse to use.  It is a fire hazard to use a fuse with a higher amperage rating than what your circuit wiring is designed for.

Visually trace exposed wire twice a year, looking for signs of wear or fraying.  Any damaged wire should be replaced or repaired immediately by a registered electrician.

If your breakers are tripping frequently, or you are blowing fuses, you should have the electrical service evaluated by a registered electrician to determine the cause.

WATER & WASTE   Top

Check your house traps and drain lines for water leaks semi-monthly.

Have your septic tank cleaned out every 2-3 years, or sooner if a flow problem is noticed.

Have a laboratory test the quality of your well or cistern water periodically.  If there is any new construction going on in the area, have the water checked.  There are many private and government agencies who do this type of testing.

If your water or waste lines are on an outside wall or in an unheated area, heat trace and insulate the pipes to prevent freezing.  Be sure to plug in the heat trace at the start of cold weather and unplug during the warmer months. In some homes, a space heater maybe required to prevent water and/or waste lines from freezing. Please see the warnings reqgarding space heaters in the fire hazards section.

HVAC   Top

Change or clean furnace filters, air cleaner filters, air conditioning filters and electronic filters as needed.  Your filters should be cleaned or changed at least once a year.

Clean and check your humidifier 3 times a year.  Do not allow water to stand in this unit.  Standing water is a breeding ground for bacteria.

Clean and check your dehumidifier 3 times a year.  Do not allow water to collect in this unit.  Standing water is a breeding ground for bacteria.

Clean around your heating and cooling equipment, inside and outside of the home.  Do not allow paper, boxes, shrubs, leaves, branches or anything else to come into contact with the units or obstruct their air flow.

INTERIOR   Top

Check extension cords and electrical plugs three to four times per year for cracks or fraying.

Check commodes for movement at the floor.  This "rocking" is the first sign of a leak or a leak to come.  If need be, contact a qualified plumber to reseat the commode.

Check your faucets regularly for leaks.  Keep a supply of plumbers tape and duct tape on hand for emergencies.

Make sure the water closet is firmly attached to the commode. 

Inspect shut-off valves in your sinks and on your commode periodically for leaks.  Turn them periodically to keep them from "freezing".

Check tiled areas of the home for missing grout.  If need be regrout.  Use a tile sealer annually.

Check for dings and mars in your plaster or drywall walls regularly.  Repair with plaster patch or spackling compound.

Oil any squeaky or sticking cupboard and/or door hinges monthly.

Adjust striker plates to allow entry-sets to close properly, as needed.

ATTIC  Top

Keep access doors to the attic closed and well insulated.

Keep boxes and debris away from attic vents.  Keep vents and louvers open all year round.  Vents should be covered with screening to deter birds and small animals from nesting in the attic.  Check the screening on louvers yearly.

Check attic joists, rafters and sheathing for signs of leakage through the roof or vent pipes.  If there is a problem contact a competent roofer as soon as possible to prevent further damage.

The recommended insulation value for attic areas in this climate zone is R-38.  This is equal to 14” of fiberglass bat insulation or 10” to 12” of blown-in cellulose or rock wool insulation.  Proper insulation of the attic will dramatically reduce heat loss.  Insulation should be installed between the joist, NOT the rafters.

Consider having a ridge vent installed for gable and multi-gable roofs.  This will increase air flow through the attic and help prolong the life of your roof sheathing and roofing materials.  If you have a hip style, shed or flat roof, consider installing power vents to help with air flow. Poor air flow is the major contributor to the presence of mold in the attic areas.

Plumbing & Fixtures     Top

It is almost certain that at some time, you will have a burst pipe or other water leak. If a pipe should burst locate the nearest shut-off to the broken line. We recommend that shut-off valves be installed at all sinks to allow water line breaks and faucets to be repaired/replaced without the need to turn off the water to a larger area of the house. You should have shut-off valves to turn off the water installed after the water meter, if the need arises to shut the water off back to the main; after the water heater

If you are planning on being away from home for an extended period of time, you may wish to turn the water supply off to the your house. In order to do this, you will need to locate your incoming water line. In newer construction, you should see a shut-off valve on either side of the water meter. Older, or existing, construction may only have one shut-off valve, before the water meter. To turn the water off to the house, you will need to shut-the water off by turning the valve BEFORE the water meter, on the supply side. Because homeowners rarely, if ever, exercise this water valve, care should be taken in shutting off the valve. If the valve has siezed, or is difficult to operate, it is recommended you contact a plumber for assistance. After the water has been turned off, open the water valves to the plumbing fixtures in both the highest and lowest areas of your house, ie second floor bathroom and basement laundry room. Leave the faucet valves open to allow the water to completely drain from the lines. Leave the lines open while you are away. If it is winter, be sure to keep your furnace set to a minimum of 55°.

The faucets at your sinks and tubs, as well as shower heads, can begin to discolor from a build-up of mineral deposits. Vinegar is, for most fixtures, a safe and effective cleaning product. Clean of loose dirt and soap scum from your fixture then wipe your fixtures with household white vinegar. For heavier accumulations, wipe your fixtures daily for 7 to 10 days to remove the mineral built-ups.

Poor water pressure from faucets is usually caused by a built-up of sediments in the spigot. You can clean the aerator and spigot by unscrewing the aerator from the end of the faucet/spigot. Using a small soft brush and common household vinegar, take the aerator apart and clean away any sediments or mineral deposits. Reassemble and screw back onto faucet. Keeping the aerator at the faucets, shower heads and sprayers free of sediments can increase the life of your plumbing fixtures.