The majority of us are house proud, and are likely thinking about differing ways we can decorate and improve our house come 2017. But we usually only focus on the decorative side of our homes when we should also be giving the mechanical side our attention too. These areas may seem like they run themselves, but over the years they can degrade, especially in bad and extreme weather like heat and cold. Here are some areas of your home you should be checking often to make sure they’re safe for you and your loved ones, you should also consider getting them professionally serviced for that extra peace of mind.
Plumbing
Your plumbing, as you know, is what carries water, both hot and cold, around your house. It also deals with waste management and heating and cooling, as it carries hot water to your radiators. With a constant slue of water running through them pipes can sometimes degrade, if you check them you may some some signs of wear or a green algae like substance on them. This is a sign you need them checked, and should do so at the nearest opportunity. plumbing services are widely available and can make a huge difference if used properly. Just imagine if a pipe burst. Depending on where it is, it could ruin carpet, sabotage electrical conduits and flood your home if you aren’t there. If you move into an old house it can be wise to get the plumbing systems properly checked over first, even if they appear to be working fine, they can sometimes be partially blocked, leaving you with limited heating where you end up cranking it right up for minimal heat, leaving you out of pocket in the long run.
Electricity
We all know how dangerous electricity can be. It runs through your entire home and can present quite the problem if issues occur. They can of course damage people via electric shock and also ruin your home by causing fire. There are many signs of problems with electricity, and they can be a real pain to diagnose. Older houses can sometimes have issues with their wiring, leading to issues such as the dimming or flickering of lights. Fuses blowing frequently can also be a tell, as can sparking outlets. The good news is you can probably get a free service from your energy provider if you play your cards right. The discovered issues can then be addressed by an expert tradesperson. It can be expensive to get your home rewired, but if you have home insurance you can sometimes get it paid for. It will be great in the long run, leaving you with peace of mind and not worrying about sparking fire hazards, especially if you have children. It can also increase your homes value if you’re thinking of selling.
Your boiler/heating systems.
Anything that burns can create CO2, or carbon dioxide. A colourless, odourless gas that can be quite deadly in huge volumes. Symptoms are multiple, ranging from headaches and nausea to death. People die every year from CO2 poisoning, and many of these deaths can be averted by proper servicing of your systems. Your gas provider likely offers a type of service, which you need to get done sometimes to ensure your warranty stays active. These services ensure your burning systems are working efficiently, keeping you safe and also saving you money. In conjunction with annual services you should also use CO2 alarms in every room you have a boiler. These can alert you to excessive CO2 in the air, meaning you can call out an engineer straight away instead of putting your family at risk. Older boilers are more risky than the newer kind and you should consider upgrading. There are some great deals out there and they’ll certainly save you money in the long run as they burn gas more efficiently.
Damp
If you spot damp you should call out an expert straight away. It will only get worse, and it can seriously compromise the structural integrity of your home. There are multiple kinds, rising damp, penetrating damp, and condensation. It usually appears as black mold but can also be spotted with green tufts growing on the outside too. It will rot all internal timber and crack plaster too. It can have health issues, causing asthma like breathing problems and can especially hurt the old and young. Damp is an issue which can be sorted, provided you do it early on. If you wait too long it can end up costing huge amounts of money.
XOXO
Debbie
