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Low water pressure is a sign of air in your water pipes.

What Causes Air In Water Pipes?

July 13, 2023/0 Comments/in Plumbing/by BJ Johnson

Owning a home comes with a lot of responsibilities and needs for maintenance. If you aren’t keeping up with the recommended maintenance or reading up on how to troubleshoot things when they break down, then you aren’t doing a great job as a homeowner. Owning a home is very much a second career for many homeowners. Things in a home can break down at a moment’s notice. Your systems in the home should be checked regularly. Things like air in your plumbing and electrical faults can occur. Knowing how to make the repairs is key. What causes air in water pipes? There are a variety of reasons from cracks in the pipes to replacing plumbing materials.

Let’s take a look below at what can cause air to get into your water pipes and how you can fix this.

What Does It Sound Like?

Having air trapped in your plumbing pipes can cause a variety of noises or sounds. The most common noise made by air in the water pipes is a hissing or popping sound. While your plumbing is still functioning, the system is letting you know it is having trouble or issues with accomplishing the job. Trapped air can sound like a gurgling noise, or even become a vibrating noise. In some cases, your pipes will rattle or vibrate inside of your walls, while you are using your water. Consequently, any tapping, hammering, or thumping sounds cause immediate concern and need immediate attention.

How Does The Air Get Into My Water Pipes?

Believe it or not, air can get into your water pipes in a variety of ways. Let’s take a look below at how air can get into your water pipes.

New Pipes or Changes – Anytime the homeowner is changing pipes or installing new ones, air can get into the water lines. Air bubbles and air locks can enter your plumbing system as the pipes are being replaced.
Neighboring Repairs – When your local municipality is updating or changing the plumbing system in your neighborhood, you will likely get some noisy pipes or sputtering water out of the faucets.
Water Heater – When corrosion due to a failing anode rod inside the water heater occurs, air can get into the water pipes. Additionally, you will notice a foul smell coming from your water as well as sediment and a cloudy component inside the water.
Shutting Off the Main Water – If your local municipality determines that the local water supply needs to be shut off for repair, air can get into your water pipes. While the municipality is conducting the repair work, the pipes are exposed to the outside air. All homes connected will experience some sort of air in-the-lines issue and will need to manage the problem.
Constant Heating – As water is heated, it forms air bubbles. When hot water is evaporated, it cannot exit the pipes. This keeps the air trapped in your plumbing system.

A broken main water line can allow air to get into your water pipes.

How Do I Get The Air Out?

Once you have noticed that air has entered your water pipes, you will need to take the necessary steps to get the air out. Let’s take a look below at how to get the air out of your water piping system.

Turn off the main water supply – Turn off the main water valve located in your basement, outside near the foundation of the home, under your kitchen sink, or near the water heating system. Doing this allows all remaining water to flow back into the plumbing system.
One-half turn your faucets – Working your way from the faucet closest to the main water valve, turn the faucets one-half turn to open them. This keeps high pressure down and allows water to flow freely. Additionally, run all appliances that require water. This includes a dishwasher, washing machine, and showers. Doing this opens every inlet that water accesses to push water through your plumbing. Consequently, it pushes the air through the plumbing system.
Wait for the faucets to stop running then flush all toilets – Allow the water to flow through all open faucets. Once the water flow stops running through the faucets you will flush all of the toilets. This eliminates all water from your plumbing system.
Turn the water back on – Leaving your faucets open or on, go and turn the main water supply valve back to the one position. Allow the water to flow for 10 to 15 minutes. If you notice no noises and a steady stream of water your process has worked. Additionally, use a cup of water and pour it into the washing machine and dishwasher so that they can run through a cycle. Steady flows of water equal pipes with no air. Also, as you shut off the faucets, you will work backward and start with the faucet farthest from the main water supply line.

Other Recommended Maintenance

Now that you are aware of how air has gotten into your water pipes you can being reviewing other possible plumbing issues in older homes. Once you purchase an older home, it is a great idea to read up on all of the possible issues that could arise. This allows you to save money towards any big repair needs down the road.

Next, there are other areas in your home where you might notice air bubbles in your water lines. The toilet is often a place that has an issue with too much air, based on the water pressure and the need to swap out old equipment. Be sure to understand why your toilet bubbles when the shower is running. This could be a result of air in your water lines.

Lastly, if you notice a problem with your bathroom smelling like sewage, you should immediately investigate this. Checking all drains and other possible causes during a sewer scope inspection is key. As you work to get the air out of your water pipes, you might also get rid of any clogs or bacteria build-up that has caused this foul smell.

Keep an eye out for gurgling and low water pressure in your water pipes.

When Do I Call A Professional?

Once you discover a plumbing concern, you will want to contact a professional. Troubleshooting every possible scenario as to why air is in your water pipes is going to be difficult. In many cases, this could mean needing to send a camera into the plumbing to further investigate the issue. Getting a sewer scope while you are getting a home inspection is a great idea. Your local home inspection team can conduct a sewer scope inspection. Also, they can recommend a reputable master plumber.

Conclusion

Discovering why you have air in your water pipes is a necessary thing to save money on your utility bill. If air is in your water lines, chances are that you leak. Also, it is possible that a new plumbing item was just replaced. It is a great idea to call on a master plumber to assist with getting air out of your water lines. Additionally, call on your local home inspection team. They can inspect your entire plumbing system and recommend a reputable master plumber to help with your plumbing needs. Contact Inside and Out Property Inspectors in Jacksonville, FL, and surrounding areas to get your sewer scope inspection done today.

Air conditioner will work as a dehumidifier.

Do Air Conditioners Dehumidify?

June 26, 2023/0 Comments/in HVAC/by BJ Johnson

When it comes to owning a home, there are a variety of maintenance and cleaning needs. Additionally, you will want to ensure that everything in your home is working properly. Make sure that you have an understanding of how every system in your home functions. This will save you time and money as you work through your maintenance checklist. Also, ensure that the conditions in your home are conducive to keeping the home safe and free from mold. Humidity will promote mold growth, so ensure your air conditioner is working to dehumidify your home as it runs. Do air conditioners dehumidify? Yes, it will remove moisture from the air that gets sucked into the AC unit as it cools the air down.

Let’s take a look below at some more details regarding dehumidifying and cooling your home.

What Does It Mean To Dehumidify?

Dehumidifying your home means removing moisture from the air. The air conditioner will act as a dehumidifier while it runs in your home. The air conditioner will not completely remove all moisture from your home, but it will remove some. If your home shows a high moisture reading, then you will want to invest in an additional dehumidifier. Run your air conditioner at a temperature that is consistent with the outdoor air. Consequently, this allows the unit to reduce the moisture from the air as it sucks it into the unit and blows the warm air out.

Outside air handler pushed out hot air that is taken in and dehumidified by your air conditioner.

How Does It Work In An Air Conditioner?

Let’s take a look at how the air conditioning system works to remove excess moisture from your home.

Liquid refrigerant – When the ac unit kicks on it will push refrigerant through the pipes within the unit. Excess heat is then removed.
Evaporator – The cold air will then be pushed through to each room by the evaporator in the system.
Liquid refrigerant – The liquid refrigerant is then converted to gas once it passes through the expansion valve.
Evaporator coils – The evaporator coils cool the refrigerant once the refrigerant is pushed through the evaporator coils.
AC fans – The internal fans in the AC unit then push the cool air from the evaporator coils through the air ducts in the home.
Liquid refrigerant – The refrigerant then absorbs the hot air from the home and converts it to a hot gas.
Compressor – Next, the refrigerant is pushed into the compressor where it becomes a high-temperature and high-pressure gas.
Condenser coils – The gas is then pushed through the condenser coils and the heat that was absorbed is released through the outside unit.

When Should I Purchase A Dehumidifier?

If you aren’t sure when you will need to purchase a dehumidifier to dehumidify the air, it should be considered under the following circumstances. Also, read up on how a dehumidifier works with your central air conditioners.

Personal preference – If the environment in your home does not feel like the humidity levels are where they need to be, you will want to purchase a dehumidifier. Consider determining the type of environment that you want the rooms that you spend your time in to feel like.
Budget – An AC unit’s cost is expensive compared to a dehumidifier. Purchasing a dehumidifier will go a long way toward reducing the humidity in the home. Dehumidifiers are portable and inexpensive.
Location – If you live near water, then the moisture levels in your home will be exponentially high. Installing a dehumidifier will help keep the moisture levels in your home from getting out of hand.

Other Recommended Maintenance

Now that you are aware of how an air conditioner dehumidifies your home, you can read up on whether or not your ceiling fans help the ac unit. Placing your ceiling fans on the correct rotation allows you to assist your ac unit with maintaining the airflow and moisture control in your home.

Next, read up on what you need to consider when you replace your HVAC unit. Homeowners should not rush into replacing their HVAC unit without researching how long the new one could last. Also, research the size of the HVAC unit to ensure that it fits your home’s needs.

Lastly, as you install your new ac unit or work to repair your current unit, keep in mind that carbon monoxide should be a non-issue. Any electrical system like an HVAC unit will not emit carbon monoxide.

The thermostat is the main control for whether or not your air conditioner can properly dehumidify.

When Do I Call A Professional?

When it comes to your HVAC unit, you will want to make sure that it is working properly. Keeping the humidity levels in your home at a stable level will allow you to keep mold and mildew from growing in your air ducts and home. Call on your local home inspection team to inspect your HVAC unit and determine that everything is working properly. Also, your home inspection team can recommend a reputable HVAC system service technician to test your system.

Conclusion

Hiring the right professional HVAC service technician is necessary to determine that your system is set to remove excess moisture from your home. Not only is the goal of the HVAC unit to provide your home with the right air temperatures, but it also wants to maintain indoor air quality. Dehumidifying your home will need assistance. The air conditioning unit will not be able to remove all of the moisture on its own. Call on your local home inspection team to determine where additional dehumidifiers could be used. Reach out to Inside and Out Property Inspectors in Jacksonville, FL, and surrounding areas to get your home inspection done today.

Lead paint in or on a home should be dealt with using proper safety measures.

When Did Lead Paint Stop Being Used?

June 9, 2023/0 Comments/in Home Maintenance/by BJ Johnson

Buying an older home can come with a lot of questions. There were building materials and building codes that are completely different in today’s home market. As a home buyer, you should be very thorough with your home inspection. Ensure that everything in the home is up to building code, and there are no harmful materials in the home. Keep in mind that materials like asbestos and lead paint could have been used many years ago. When did lead paint stop being used? Lead paint was used all the way up to 1978. After 1978 it was phased out due to its toxicity.

Let’s take a look below at some more details regarding lead paint in the home.

What Is Lead Paint?

Lead-based house paint is a highly toxic material that was created before the 1980s. Lead is a metal that can cause major health issues in young children and adults. If lead is absorbed in the body, it can break down organs such as the kidneys, brain, nerves, and your blood. This toxic metal can create some major damage to the body.

It is estimated that 29 million houses in the United States have lead-based paint in them. This leads to a contaminated home with lead paint that can create damaging lead dust. If you ever suspect that your home has lead paint in it, call for a lead paint inspection. Once you have the lead paint inspection done, you can get a risk assessment to see how hazardous the paint in your home is.

Lead paint is highly toxic and should be removed with precaution.

How Can I Reduce My Exposure To Lead Paint?

To protect you and your family from lead exposure and lead hazards you will want to consider the following things below to reduce your exposure to lead paint. If the home was built before 1978 it is likely to have levels of lead that could result in lead poisoning. Let’s take a look at the ways we can reduce lead paint exposure.

Check-in – Reach out to your local health department and schedule a test for lead paint in your home.
Keep it clean – Inspect the entire home for any areas of paint that are peeling from the walls or other painted structures. Keeping your child from accessing any paint chips is important.
Safely renovate – If you begin to renovate the home, sanding, cutting, replacing windows, and other activities could create lead dust in the air and reduce the air quality. Also, this can expose you and your family to significant health damage. Be sure to review the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines for lead paint removal.
Removal – Hire a professional lead-based paint removal company to get all lead paint chips and peeling paint off their surfaces. This kind of work should be done with proper safety precautions and tools and equipment to protect all involved.
Mop regularly – It is recommended that you use a wet mop on your floors and dust the window sills and wells with a wet rag. Keeping all surfaces free from any dust is important for maintaining your health and safety.
Wash regularly – If you suspect that your home has contaminated dust or soil, you will want to wash your child’s hands on a regular basis.
Create a barrier – Use contact paper and duct tape to cover holes and walls that are contaminated. Consequently, this should be done as you await the proper removal of the contaminated areas. Also, keep children away from contaminated soils.
Keep away – Be sure to keep pregnant women and children from accessing the home during renovations. While a renovation is being done, dust is flying around and paint debris is in the area. Once the work is done and all areas are cleaned up, the pregnant women and children can re-enter the home.

Keep in mind that in the 20th century, the EPA banned the use of lead in paint and homes. Public health is the biggest concern. Lead creates health problems for property owners who purchase a home with lead-based paint.

Other Recommended Maintenance

Now that you know when lead paint was stopped being used you can read up on how to negotiate after the home inspection. If your initial inspection finds that you have lead paint in or on the surfaces of the home, you will want to negotiate the sale price as you look to remove all toxic lead materials from the home.

Next, be sure to read up on who the best home inspection companies are in your local area. It is vital that you not just hire the cheapest home inspector. Hire the most reputable home inspection team to assist with determining if the home you live in has toxic materials in or on it.

Lastly, keeping your home inspection report is important for having a point of reference during the risk assessment portion of the home. Finding out if the paint does have lead in it will be necessary for any home buyer to know before a purchase is made. The home inspection report is a great start in the process.

If you find lead paint in your home, hire a professional to remove it.

When Do I Call A Professional?

Dealing with lead paint is not ideal for any family. It can cause some major health issues for you and your family. Be sure to reach out to your local home inspection team. They will determine if the paint in your older home is lead-based. Protecting you and your family should be a priority before worrying about any home purchase. Additionally, your local home inspection team can recommend a local risk assessment company. They will determine how toxic the paint in your home might be.

Conclusion

Whenever you are concerned about paint and other potentially toxic materials in your home, you should reach out to your local home inspection team. They can conduct a full home inspection and let you know if you have lead paint in your home or other toxic materials in the home. Contact Inside and Out Property Inspectors in Jacksonville, FL, and surrounding areas to get your home inspection done today.

Interior shutter measurements will be vastly different from exterior measurements.

How To Measure For Shutters

May 24, 2023/0 Comments/in Windows/by BJ Johnson

Shopping for new items for your home can be exciting for homeowners. There are so many fun and exciting amenities or ways to upgrade your home that you often cannot finish your wish list in one day. Fortunately, there are some great ways to increase the curb appeal and aesthetic of your home as well as provide you with extra privacy. One of the many curb appeal upgrades is installing exterior or interior shutters. Most homeowners will elect interior shutters because they are easier to install as a do-it-yourself project. To accomplish this project you must have some good measuring skills. Trying to figure out how to measure for shutters? Measure the inside width and height of the window. The width of the shutter will be half the total window width.

Let’s take a look below at some more details regarding shutter measurements.

Exterior window shutters will be measured a bit differently than interior window shutters.

What Do I Need To Know For Measurements?

Believe it or not, there are a few things that you will want to know before attempting to measure your windows for the installation of shutters. Keep in mind that your choice of shutter type and whether you are installing interior or exterior shutters can determine a lot. Let’s take a look below at what you will need to know.

Shutter height – Your shutter height should be the same as the inside of the window frame. This means the top of the window shutter will be even with the bottom window sill. Keep in mind that your measurements might be different if you have a brick home. Also, any door shutters should be measured from the top threshold to the bottom of the top jamb.
Shutter width – The width of each shutter needs to be half of the width of the window. This allows the shutters to close properly.
Arch Top – This usually only applies to custom shutters. They have specific ratios for each arch drop and shutter height. The arch drop is considered the difference between the short side and the tall side of the shutter. Check with the manufacturer for this measurement.
Eyebrow top – Similar to an arch top, these are custom and have specific measurement details. Typically, they are only available in 1″, 2″, or 3″ drops. Check the manufacturer for specific measurement needs.
Cross-rail placement – These will line up with the meeting rail. The meeting rail is located where the inner and outer window sash meet. Again, check with the manufacturer for specific details regarding the measurements or location of a cross-rail placement.

Keep in mind that to purchase the correct functional shutters, you will need a steel tape measure so that you can get the correct height measurements and width measurements for your windows. Also, each window opening has different opening measurements. Additionally, you will want to check the window to determine if window trim is needed.

Other Recommended Maintenance

Now that you know how to measure for shutters, take a look at whether you can tile around the window without trim. In some cases, your shutters will not have a trim and for a cleaner look, you might consider tiling around the window.

Next, look into how to clean the inside of a double-pane window. If the seals get cracked or damaged, dirt and debris can get inside the double pane. Also, moisture buildup is possible. You will want to know how to clean the inside.

Lastly, read up on if it is worth replacing windows before selling your home. If you have invested in window shutters then replacing the windows could cost you more and not be worth it before the sale of the home.

Bathroom window shutters will hang differently than other window shutters due to the size of the window.

When Do I Call A Professional?

Measuring window shutters can be a complicated task if you don’t have the equipment or understanding of the measurements. Calling on a window installation company is a great idea. They can get the perfect measurements for your window shutter needs. Also, reach out to your local home inspection team. They can inspect the area around the windows for possible damage or window replacement needs. You will get this done during a full home inspection.

Conclusion

When it comes to measuring window shutters, not only is it a great idea to hire someone with the expertise to complete the proper measurements. It is also a great idea to consult your local home inspection team to see what types of shutters will enhance your home’s curb appeal. Keeping the designer look of your home unique in the neighborhood can help separate your home from others if you ever decide to sell your home. Contact Inside and Out Property Inspectors in Jacksonville, FL, and surrounding areas to get your home inspection done today.

Importance of Keeping Your Home Inspection Report

May 16, 2023/0 Comments/in Home Inspections/by BJ Johnson

Buying a house comes with a lot of expenses and to-do lists, in addition to finding the house you want. You probably have ideas of what you want in it and the non-negotiables with the home and neighborhood. Though not required for the purchase of a home, it is highly recommended. There are several reasons for having a home inspection done, as well as why you should keep the report. Who pays for a home inspection? It is usually the buyer who can find out the ins and outs of the home and an unbiased evaluation. Also, keeping the report is important to show to contractors and repair people so they know what repairs need to be made. Let’s take a look.

Why A Home Inspection?

When looking to buy a home, a potential buyer should pay to have a home inspection done as soon as they can after the offer is accepted by the seller. This is because it is important to give the seller time to fix any issues (if they choose to) that the inspector finds. It also allows you and the seller to come to an agreement on the repairs and a final price.

A home inspection is necessary, whether it is on an older home, new build, or condo. You may wonder about having an inspection on a new home, but they do have defects and sometimes the house is built so quickly that things are overlooked or not done correctly. Paying for the inspection gives you peace of mind that you aren’t getting into a “money pit” or a home with major issues that aren’t seen from the outside.

Never assume a house that looks great on the outside has everything functioning properly on the inside. Spending the money to hire a home inspector is worth it.

Electrical unit is part of the home inspection.

Types of Home Inspections

There are different types of home inspections. A standard home inspection is what is normally conducted. This covers the structure, electrical system, construction, mechanical systems, and plumbing of the home. There are also other home inspections that are specialized, especially here in Florida. Also, there are ones that are for health and safety concerns.

Some of these are:

Sewer Scope

A sewer scope inspection uses a camera to see if there are any issues in the sewer lines of the home.

Mold Inspection

A mold inspection is done to see if there is any pre-existing mold in the home. It is also to see if there are areas that are water damage prone or have high humidity.

Wind Mitigation

A wind mitigation inspection is using certain building techniques to limit the damage caused by intense wind, such as hurricanes. This type of inspection can lower the homeowner’s insurance.

4-Point Inspection

A 4-point inspection covers the roof, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC. Most home insurance companies don’t like to cover homes that are over 25 years old. Thus they require this inspection to make sure the home meets the standards.

Cost

The average home inspection fee in Florida is over $300 for an average-sized home. For a smaller home, it may be less while a large home will be more.

How Buyers Use the Home Inspection Report

The amount of money spent on a home inspection is peanuts to have peace of mind and know what you are getting into for a home. The report helps the buyer and real estate agent with negotiating with the seller. It is also a great idea to have this report so you remember the ages of important elements in your home such as the water heater, HVAC, etc.

If by chance the home you are looking at buying is an “as-is” this inspection can allow you to cancel the purchase of the home, or negotiate the price with the seller. A home inspection report also allows you to use it as a checklist if you are doing a loan for renovations. This can help the buyer with financing.

Keep in mind that a lot of the information you get in the report is not for negotiating, but is for maintenance information. Lastly, the report is needed for contractors. This is because it will show the contractors where the repairs are.

What Happens If Problems Are Discovered?

An inspection that is thorough will list items that should be looked at around the home. The report may come up with minor issues or major issues. Let’s look at some of the common findings.

Structural damage

When looking at the structure of a home, they will be checking for cracks that are in the foundation. Also, in states that have basements, a home inspector will look for drainage issues. The crawl space will also be looked at for issues in drainage, as well as masonry or bricks that are failing.

Roof damage

Roof damage is also another common area. Here in Florida, we have hail storms, hurricanes, tornados, and also just bad summer storms. In other states, snow can also cause damage to the roof. The inspector will look for tilting, and shingles that are broken or missing and check the gutters for clogging.

Chimney issues

The inspector will also look at the chimney and any damage to the flue, bricks, or mortar. They will also look to see if there are any blockages in the interior. Lastly, sometimes the fixes are easy things like a chimney sweep or could end up being structural repairs.

Pest Infestation and Wildlife Issues

Inspectors will also keep an eye out for any pest problems they may come across in an inspection and give recommendations for pest control service or to contact a professional.

Trees That Are Dead

If the inspector finds large trees that appear dead near the home, they will give recommendations as to what to do. Having dead trees near the home can cause problems if they fall on the house or knock down power lines.

Issues with Plumbing and Septic

An inspector will look for pipes that are corroded, broken, or rusted. They will also look at any that have the wrong type of pipe that has been used too. Looking for water damage near the plumbing fixtures will also be another thing that they do as well as stains on the ceiling from water. Mold and mildew will also be signs of water damage. If the home doesn’t have sewer and instead has septic, this will be inspected for leaks, as well as drainage issues. They will also look to see the level of solids that are in the tank. A company that has septic inspections as a service will be needed to do this.

HVAC issues

The HVAC system will be looked at to make sure it is working properly, it has the correct wiring, as well as the air conditioner is working properly. An air conditioner lasts about 10-15 years and is expensive to replace. You will want to know about these expenses before purchasing a home.

Electrical hazards

An inspector will check to see if the house has GFCI outlets, the grounding of three-pronged outlets as well as the circuit panel doesn’t have any illegal modifications. If there are some issues or suspicion of issues, the buyer may hire an electrician to take a look and make sure everything is up to code.

Fire Issues In The Home

Many issues in a home that are fire hazards are due to electrical issues. There are also fire hazards with fireplaces and the inspector will also check that smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are working. Lastly, they will check that windows and doors are working properly, especially in case of a fire.

Appliances

An inspector will take a look at major appliances such as the oven and the hood, dishwasher, refrigerator and freezer, and garbage disposal. This is to make sure they are all working properly.

Here is a great video about home inspections for first-time buyers.

Recommended Maintenance

Now that you know about having a home inspection and who to share your report with, let’s take a look at a few other areas. One of those is negotiating after a home inspection. This is important as you will know what the necessary repairs are after the home inspection is completed. You as the buyer may also want to have your own contractor fix the issues so you may want to negotiate the price of the home.

Another area is walking away after a home inspection. You may find that the home inspection report shows there are structural issues in the foundation or termites to name a few. These types of findings allow you to walk away from purchasing a home if you choose to do so.

Lastly, if you own a house in the great state of Florida, there are other inspections you the home buyer want to think about doing. Those are wind mitigation and 4-point inspections. The wind mitigation inspection gives homeowners insurance discounts based on certain building attributes while the 4-point inspection tells insurance companies how well the home has been maintained.

Conclusion

When buying a home you are making probably the largest purchase in your life so you want to make sure you have a home inspection done. Keeping copies of this inspection is helpful for the contractors who will need it. Contact Inside and Out Property Inspectors in Jacksonville, FL, and surrounding areas to get your home inspection done today.

What Does Hail Damage On A Roof Look Like?

April 25, 2023/0 Comments/in Roof/by BJ Johnson

Imagine coming home from a long day at work and the skies start looking very threatening. You rush to pull your car into the garage and get inside where it is safe. As you get settled in your home you start hearing loud bangs. You look outside the window and there are large pieces of ice jumping around on your driveway. Immediately you realize it is a hail storm. Homeowners’ worst nightmares are acts of mother nature that cannot be predicted or changed. Once the storm is over you head outside to inspect the damages to your roof and the rest of the home. What does hail damage on a roof look like? Dents, dings, damaged shingles, bruising to your roof, and loose roof materials are all signs.

Let’s take a look below at some more specifics regarding hail damage on a roof.

How Does Hail Damage The Roof?

Believe it or not, hail can damage a roof in a variety of ways. Let’s take a look below at what those are.

Roof slope – Depending on how the roof is sloped on your home will determine the types of hail damage that it might incur.
Roof age – The older the roof, the less likely it will survive major damage caused by a hail storm.
Roofing materials – Hail can dent, ding, and even cause roofing materials to become loose and out of place.
Wind speed – The speed of the wind during a hail storm can cause substantial damage to the roof materials.
Wind direction – Depending on how your roof is situated and the direction in which the wind is coming from will determine how damaged the roofing materials will become.
Size of the hail – The size of the hail will also determine how bad the damage is. The larger the hail typically means the larger the damage.

Keep in mind that damage to your roof is generally cosmetic. You will want to hire a professional to take a closer look. If the hail is large, you will notice a loss of shingles, loss of granules, bruising to the shingle and even notice other structural changes.

Damaged clay shingles after a hail storm will be a costly replacement.

What Does Hail Damage Look Like?

There will be some noticeable damages to your roof as a result of a hail storm. Let’s take a look below at what some of those damages look like.

Fiberglass mat exposure – The force of hail falling from the sky can loosen any shingle and make it slide away which will expose the fiberglass mat underneath.
Granule loss – As the hail dings the shingle, the granule material on the shingle will begin to disconnect and fall off the shingle.
Damage to the fiberglass mat – If the fiberglass mat is exposed you will notice damage to this protective layer. Damage to the mat could also cause damage to the roof sheathing underneath it.
Cracks in the shingle – Hail that causes cracks in the shingle is not good. Cracks and crevices in a roof allow water to get into the roof structure and attic space. This will promote mold growth and other damage to the roof.
Damage to the seal – If the hail damages the seal strip or weakens it at all, the shingles will be capable of blowing off the roof during the wind storm. Check for any loose shingles when the storm is over.

Other Recommended Maintenance

Now that you understand what hail damage to a roof looks like, you can proceed with a roof inspection checklist. This allows you to look for any exposed nails, missing tiles, or flashing to name a few. If there are damaged shingles, they should be repaired or replaced immediately.

Next, check the ceilings to make sure there are no wet spots. Any wet spots are a sign that you have a roof leak. Check to see if there is damage to your shingles, flashing, or roof vent seals. You will need to call a professional to check for you.

Lastly, if you really want to know what kind of damage could occur to your roof after a hail storm, get to know what shingles are made of.

Hail damage to your roof needs to be inspected by a professional.

When Do I Call A Professional?

To get your roof inspected after a hail storm you should reach out to your local home inspection team. Also, consider hiring a local professionally licensed roofing contractor that understands the specifics regarding your roofing material. Together these professionals can come up with a solution and some reports for your insurance company. Keep in mind that your insurance company will want multiple estimates for roof repairs.

Conclusion

Whenever you are dealing with roofing materials and mother nature you will want to get a professional to take a look. Professionals have the experience and knowledge to know what they are looking for after a hail storm. Additionally, you should call on your local home inspection team for a roofing inspection. Contact Inside and Out Property Inspectors in Jacksonville, FL, and surrounding areas to get your home inspection done today.

How To Kill Moss On Brick

March 31, 2023/0 Comments/in Home Maintenance/by BJ Johnson

Owning a home requires a lot of maintenance. Imagine that you are about to throw a summer party and you haven’t paid any attention to your brick patio and exterior brick walls. You take a look around as you plan your party preps and notice a large amount of moss has taken over your brick. Are you wondering how to kill moss on brick? Either hire a professional cleaning service or utilize an eco-friendly chemical and your pressure washer.

Let’s take a look below at the best ways to manage and kill or clean moss off brick.

How Can I Clean Moss Off Brick?

Applying a household chemical such as bleach and water to the moss on the brick is a great way to kill and remove it. Keep in mind, bleach is not eco-friendly and can be replaced with other products. One of the safest products to use would be vinegar. Mixing equal parts vinegar with equal parts water to ensure an environmentally friendly solution that can be used to kill moss. Also, it will not kill surrounding plants. Let the mixture soak into the moss for 15 to 20 minutes. Then take your pressure washer and scrub brush to remove the moss from the brick surface.

Using the right chemicals will help you kill and clean moss off brick.

What Are The Best Ways To Keep Moss Off Brick?

Believe it or not, there are a few ways that you can keep moss growth off your brick surfaces. Let’s take a look below at what those options are.

Sunlight

Exposing your brick wall or brick patio to sunlight is a great way to keep moss off of the surface. Moss only grows on dark and damp surfaces. Sunlight will naturally kill or prevent moss from growing.

Irrigation

Check your sprinkler system for where the zones are spraying. Also, check for leaks in your sprinkler system. A leaky faucet or sprinkler head can promote the damp and dark zone for moss to grow.

Boiling Water

Using hot water, such as boiling water is a great way to prevent moss from growing on your hardscape. Additionally, a good scrubbing after the boiling water is applied is a great way to keep the moss off of the brick. Also, it is eco-friendly preventative maintenance.

Vinegar

A vinegar and water mixture is a great combination for treating and killing moss. Anytime you use an eco-friendly solution, this is a great way to kill and keep moss away. Be sure to scrub the area or use a pressure washer to remove any moss from the brick.

Power Washing

Pressure washing or power washing the surface is a necessity for completely removing the moss from your brick. Completing this project once a month will ensure that your brick surfaces stay clean and look brand new. Use your garden hose and a nozzle if you do not have access to a power washer.

Baking Soda

Another great eco-friendly product for killing moss from the brick is baking soda. Pour the baking soda directly on the moss and leave it overnight. The next day, brush the area and scrub or power wash the moss off of the brick.

What Other Options Do I Have?

Unfortunately, if you aren’t big on eco-friendly concepts and want to zap away the moss and surrounding vegetation for a long time, you can use the following chemicals below.

Bleach

Mixing one cup of bleach with two gallons of water and spraying the solution onto moss will suffice. Let the mixture sit for 15 minutes. Using water in a spray bottle allows the beach to soak into the moss and kill it. Also, avoid pouring bleach directly onto the surface.

Commercial Moss Killer

Commercial moss killers are products that are not deemed to be very safe. Although these products can be purchased at your local hardware store, it is important to consider using these products as a last resort.

How Can I Clean Moss Off Other Surfaces?

Remember that moss can grow on several solid surfaces. Damp and dark surfaces are breeding grounds for moss. If you have a situation of moss growing on your solid surfaces other than brick, use a spray bottle with a water and bleach mixture. Spray the solution on the brick and use a scrub brush to remove the moss from the solid surface. Keep in mind that using bleach should be done with protective gear and away from pets and children. Consequently, pressure washing regularly with an eco-friendly solution such as vinegar is perfect for maintaining your solid surfaces.

How Much Does It Cost To Clean?

Keep in mind that the cost of removing moss from brick walls or patios will be based on the square footage of the project. The national average cost to remove the moss ranges from $0.58 to $1.00 per square foot. Additionally, you will be expected to pay a labor charge to complete the project. Most professionals charge a service fee between $45 and $65 per hour. Also, in some cases, you will just pay a flat rate of $90 to $120 per job.

Other Recommended Maintenance

Now that you are aware of how to kill moss on brick, it is a great idea to read up on how to kill moss on your roof. Believe it or not, there are likely similarities between killing moss on brick and killing moss on a roof.

Next, while you have your pressure washer out cleaning your brick patio, you might want to consider cleaning your stucco walls. It is important to read up on easy ways to clean stucco before you go assuming that you have the answer. Reading the suggestions might surprise you and make your task a lot simpler.

Lastly, gain an understanding of where moss and mold like to grow. As stated above, dark and damp places are very popular for moss and mold. In some cases, mold will grow well before any moss has a chance. This can occur on solid surfaces such as concrete blocks. If you happen to have a concrete block home or have used concrete blocks in parts of your home, you will want to know how to control mold growing on concrete blocks.

Killing moss off your brick wall or patio brick is fairly simple.

When Do I Call A Professional?

Getting moss off your brick walls or paver brick patio is a project that can be easily accomplished. If you don’t have a pressure washer available, you are going to want to use a professional pressure washing company. Also, you should not mix your chemicals incorrectly. Using the wrong chemicals can damage your brick and cause health concerns for you and your family. Consequently, to avoid any issues with your health and chemical damage, use a professional.

Conclusion

Mosses are known to grow on a brick when the area is dark and damp. The moment that you notice moss growing on your brick wall or brick paver patio, it is likely an area that does not get sun. Consult your local pressure washing professional on how to kill and clean the moss off of your brick. Also, call on your local home inspection team to determine where the moss is likely to grow back and where it is concentrated the most. Reach out to Inside and Out Property Inspectors in Jacksonville, FL, and surrounding areas to get your home inspection done today.

Baking soda and citrus can help get the smell out of your carpet.

How To Get Smell Out Of Carpet

March 16, 2023/0 Comments/in Home Maintenance/by BJ Johnson

When you make the big decision of purchasing a home, you want to remind yourself that this investment requires upkeep and maintenance. Having pets that wander your carpet or spills that occur on the carpet could cause a few concerns. In most cases, homeowners do not think of the overuse of their carpets. Some homeowners will hire a carpet cleaning company once a year to clean the carpets. However, this doesn’t necessarily solve all of the issues. Luckily, if your carpet smells, a carpet cleaning company might help. Wondering how to get the smell out of carpet? There are a variety of ways to get this done, baking soda, and vinegar are always an option.

Let’s take a look below at how you can keep your carpet smelling fresh.

Vacuum the baking soda out of the carpet after it has had the time to soak up the smells from your carpet.

What Are The Steps?

Every home project requires a particular level of instructions or directions. Let’s take a look at how we can get the foul odors out of the carpet.

Sprinkle the Baking Soda – Baking soda has many uses in your home. As a natural odor absorber, it can be used in your closet, garbage, garbage disposal, or on your carpets. Spread the baking soda around your carpet.
Spread the Baking Soda – With your shoes on, walk around the carpet to spread the baking soda around the carpet. It is important to spread the baking soda around.
Let it settle in – Allow the baking soda to settle into the carpet for roughly 30 minutes. You want the baking soda to seep down to the base of the carpet. Not only will it soak up odors, but it will also grab excess moisture.
Suck it up – Grab your vacuum cleaner and vacuum up the baking soda.
Still smells – Repeat these steps until you no longer have a smell.

How Can I Keep My Home Smelling Fresh?

Luckily, if the baking soda trick doesn’t work, there are a few other tricks that you can pull off. Let’s take a look below at what those other options might be.

Essential oils – Masking the smells in your home with essential oils is a great way to naturally eliminate odors. If you don’t have an oil diffuser, just mix the correct amount of oil drops with water into a spray bottle. Then spray the mixture onto your carpet.
Fruit peels – Cut up the fruit peels for oranges, limes, or lemons, and grind them into your garbage disposal. This will create a fruity smell in your kitchen that can mask other odors in your home.
Crockpot – With the lid off and the crockpot on the “low” setting, mix baking soda and water and let the heat from the crockpot do the trick.
Vinegar and water – If you have a mildew smell coming from your carpet, mix 2 cups of warm water with 1 cup of distilled white vinegar. Gently spray the vinegar solution onto your carpet. Once the carpet dries, you will no longer smell the vinegar scent.

Keep in mind that you can also look to cleaning products such as hydrogen peroxide or carpet shampoo. You will want the area dry and if not, use a fan to air dry the carpet.

Other Recommended Maintenance

Now that you have an idea of how to get a smell out of your carpet, you can begin reading up on how to remove mold from your carpets. Mold is a likely proponent of your smelly carpet. Understanding how to remove the mold will determine if you need to replace the carpet or simply get it cleaned.

Next, while using a carpet cleaner or scrubbing away mold and stains, soap is likely to settle on the carpet. Removing the soap from the carpet is important. You will want to read up on how to clean soap out of your carpets. This will ensure that the carpet gets properly dried.

Lastly, the moment that you start cleaning your carpet, you will want to know how long it takes the carpet to dry. If you do not dry the carpet promptly, then you risk the carpet breeding mold and mildew. Consequently, if this occurs, you will be back to square one about getting smells out of your carpet.

Hire a professional carpet cleaning service if you do not have the time to remove smells from your carpets.

When Do I Call A Professional?

Carpet cleaning services are fairly prevalent in most communities. If you do not have a local carpet cleaning service, it is possible that you could rent a carpet cleaning machine from your local hardware store. Once you have completed the recommended cleaning steps above, determine how effective they were. If you aren’t satisfied, reach out to your local home inspection team. They can inspect your carpet and other floors. Also, they can refer a reputable carpet cleaning company.

Conclusion

After you have attempted to get the smells out of your carpet keep a record of how many times this maintenance occurs. Consequently, this might be a situation where it is time to replace your carpet. In some cases, the padding underneath the carpet can get moldy and soggy and creates a constant smell. This would be a good time to get a home inspection. They can conduct a thorough inspection of your carpet and flooring. Reach out to Inside and Out Property Inspectors in Jacksonville, FL, and surrounding areas to get your home inspection done today.

Removing the drain from your bathroom sink is easy.

How To Remove A Drain From Bathroom Sink

February 23, 2023/0 Comments/in Home Maintenance/by BJ Johnson

Owning a home requires you to complete a lot of maintenance and projects. One of those rare projects deals with clearing your sink drain and keeping the P-trap free and clear. If you don’t want your bathroom sink drain to clog, you will want to ensure that it is cleaned out on a regular basis. Ever wonder how to remove a drain from a bathroom sink? Believe it or not, there is a simple nine-step process to remove your sink drain.

Let’s take a look below at how to remove the drain from your bathroom sink.

Recommended Equipment?

If you need to remove the drain of your bathroom sink you will want specific tools. Let’s take a look at what those tools are.

Loosening the P-trap can be fairly simple with the right tools.

What Are The Best Steps?

Believe it or not, the steps to removing your bathroom sink drain are fairly easy. If you don’t have the tools or the patience to complete this project, reach out to your local professionally licensed master plumber. Let’s take a look below at what those steps are.

Place your bucket under the P-trap that is located under your sink.
Turn off the water for both of your hot and cold faucet lines.
Pull the stopper and then remove the spring clip attached to the pivot rod and then unscrew the pivot nut from the connected drain pipe under the sink.
Then remove the drain stop from the drain pipe.
Unclog the drain with your hair removal tool.
Now unscrew each section of the P-trap from the main drain pipe.
Use hot water and vinegar to rinse the drain pipe and clean it from any gunk that is remaining.
Pop the drain pipe from the sink to remove the drain pipe.
Clean the drain pipe and the sink.
Use a plumber’s putty and replace the drain pipe in the sink so that you have a tight seal.
Re-attach the plumbing below the sink and clean all areas that are still dirty.

Following these steps allows you to pop the drain stopper and remove the sink stopper to clean the stopper. If you want to remove the bathroom sink drain assembly, then unscrew the nut and take out the bathroom sink stopper so that the drain opens are keys.

How Much Does It Cost?

The good thing about removing a drain from your bathroom sink is that it is fairly simple to do. However, if you don’t have the tools or the energy to get this project done, you can call on a local master plumber. The average labor charge for a project like this is between $40 and $50 per hour.

Other Recommended Maintenance

Now that you know how to remove the drain from your bathroom sink, you can check on why the sink drain pipes might be leaking. Once you determine the issue, you can use a patch and clamp with some epoxy putty to stop the leak.

Next, while you are checking your plumbing, you can work on your kitchen sink. Make sure that the kitchen faucet is tight so that there are no leaks. Use the wrench that you used to remove the drain from your bathroom sink to tighten the kitchen faucet.

Lastly, if you have a clog in your sink drain and cannot remove the drain from your bathroom sink, consider pouring salt down the drain. Pouring salt down the drain and rinsing it with hot water allows the salt to emulsify and work to remove the clog in your bathroom sink drain.

Getting the drain cap off to remove the bathroom sink clog is fairly simple.

When Do I Call A Professional?

If removing the drain from your bathroom sink becomes an issue, call on a local master plumber. Not only can they replace your bathroom sink drain, but they can also clean it and check all of the plumbing in your bathroom. Keep in mind, calling on your local home inspection team is also a great idea. Additionally, they can inspect your entire plumbing system. Also, they can refer a reputable Master Plumber.

Conclusion

When it comes to removing your bathroom sink drain, can be a fairly simple project. However, if you don’t have the tools or the strength to remove the drain, you will want to call a professional. Consequently, using a master plumber can allow you the opportunity to have all of your sink drains removed for cleaning. Also, call on your local home inspection team to inspect your entire plumbing system checked. Contact Inside and Out Property Inspectors in Jacksonville, FL, and surrounding areas to get your sewer scope inspection done today.

Downspouts can match your homes exterior color to blend into the curb appeal.

How Many Downspouts Do I Need?

February 8, 2023/0 Comments/in Roof/by BJ Johnson

Owning a home comes with a lot of maintenance needs and decisions of what to spend your money on for upgrades. Keeping water away from the foundation of your home is one of the more important upgrades. The best way to accomplish this task is by installing a gutter system with the proper number of downspouts. How many downspouts do I need? This varies by home. Gutter size, the roof slope, the roof size, and the climate in your area are all factors.

Let’s take a look below at some more specifics regarding downspouts.

What Is A Downspout?

Downspouts are metal or flexible pipes that connect your gutters to the ground. They run vertically up your home’s exterior walls and have the main purpose of carrying water from the gutters to the ground. Downspouts ensure that water flows away from your home, rather than puddling up next to your foundation.

Installing downspouts should be done by a professional installation company who has knowledge of the proper installation.

Where Should They Be Installed?

Installing downspouts is going to be based on a few factors. Typically, they are installed every 30 to 40 feet. Also, in most cases, you will install downspouts at each of the gutter sections. Let’s take a look to see what else determines how many downspouts you might need.

Climate – Where you live and how much rain occurs will determine how many downspouts are needed to alleviate the water pressure on your gutters.
Gutter size – If you install larger gutters you will likely need fewer downspouts. However, if you install smaller gutters you will need more downspouts to handle the volume of water and gutter capacity.
Roof area – The larger the roof the more water is moved. This means more downspout locations to accommodate the volume of water being moved around and reduce the possibility of water damage.
Roof slope – The higher the slope of the roof or roof pitch, the faster the water will seek the ground. Also, extra downspouts can be used to alleviate any issues that the roof slope may cause.

Making sure that your gutter installation company measures and cuts your gutters properly is key. The square footage of your roof will deal with so much water at a time, so having the right gutters and amount of downspouts is necessary.

Other Recommended Maintenance

Now that you have a grasp of how many downspouts you need for your gutter system, this might be a great time to read up on if you need gutters around your house. Each home is unique in this situation, so call on a gutter specialist to go over the needs of your roof and home.

Next, having gutters installed requires maintenance. In many cases, homeowners cannot get up on a ladder to clean their gutters. However, there are ways to clean your gutters without a ladder. Read up on all of your options before you call on a cleaning crew to come out and clean your gutters.

Lastly, keeping leaves, debris, and birds out of your gutters can be tricky. You can try gutter guards or other means of keeping birds out of your gutters. Be sure to explore all of your options before you spend too much money trying to solve the problem.

Downspouts are great about keeping water away from your home.

When Do I Call A Professional?

Maintaining your gutter system and downspouts is very important. This will ensure that the foundation of your home does not get damaged. Consequently, be sure to hire the right gutter installation company in your area. If you aren’t sure who is reputable, reach out to your local home inspection team. Also, they can inspect your roof to ensure it is safe for a gutter installation. Additionally, they will refer a reputable gutter installation company.

Conclusion

When it comes to gutters and downspouts it is a great idea to hire a professional. They have the experience and knowledge about how many downspouts you will need. This is based on the square footage of your home. Also, call on your local home inspection team to get a roof inspection. Additionally, this is a good idea before spending a lot of money to install a gutter system with downspouts. Contact Inside and Out Property Inspectors in Jacksonville, FL, and surrounding areas to get your home inspection done today.