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Author Archives: Garrett Hand

Categories Home Maintenance, Home safety

Protect Your Home From Spring Storms

Unpredictable and often crazy spring (or summer) weather is nothing new to many Texans. In fact, it’s just part of living in Texas. However, no matter how ready you are for those heavy spring showers, hailstorms, or even tornado season, there are always things you can do to prepare your home.

We’re going to walk you through some simple steps that could go a long way in protecting your home from wind, hail, and water damage in the coming months.

 

Preventative Measures to Save You from Considerable Damages Later

 

Gutters and downspouts

Make sure they are completely debris free and not suffering from any cracks, dents, or typical wear and tear.

 

 

Look for existing roof issues

Have a look and see if there are any missing shingles or possible leaks. Go ahead and use this time to secure any loose siding as well. All of these are potential weak links in the home when it comes to storm damage.

 

 

Maintain trees and shrubbery

Noticed any dead or rotting branches?

Prune them to avoid any damage during a storm or high winds. Additionally, you should practice trimming branches away from your home to protect your roof and deter animals from occupying the area.

 

 

Fresh paint

A new coat of paint on the outside of your home can help protect your wood against the elements. Without the fresh paint, it’s possible that moisture intrusion will occur.

It will not only ruin your wood, but also paving the way for a serious mold problem.

 

 

Seal windows and doors

It’s normal for caulking to fall victim to normal wear and tear. So make sure they are sealed and all holes where pipes or wires enter your home are also properly sealed.

Pro-tip: Consider installing storm shutters for extra protection (and may even land you a discount on your insurance).

 

Check your sump pump

It’s a good idea to make sure your sump pump is in good working order and possibly plan to have a battery-powered backup to ensure it still runs even if a storm knocks the power out.

 

Take a look at your foundation

Does water pool around the foundation after a storm?

 

If water isn’t properly draining away from your house, you could be in big trouble. Fix this by extending the downspout, constructing a creek bed, or even building a garden.

 

Consult an expert to see what may be the best solution for your home.

 

 

While we can’t predict what moves Mother Nature will make, we don’t have to wait like sitting ducks. Taking the steps above will not only minimize damage, but they can also keep you and your family safe.

Take it a step further and get a professional opinion on the state of your home. One of our trained professionals can be on your property in 48 hours or less for an inspection.

Use our easy online scheduling tool to book your appointment!

 

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Garrett HandAuthor Garrett Hand
Categories Home Maintenance, Home safety

Is Your Garage Making You Sick?

An attached garage undoubtedly has many benefits: your car is protected, you have more storage space, and you can easily access it from your home. However, many homeowners with attached garages don’t realize that their air quality could be suffering due to their garage.

An attached garage may not feel like it is part of your home, but if the right measures aren’t taken in construction, it is essentially just another room and the air can easily seep into your main spaces.

Think about it, what are the common items stored in garages?

  • Chemical cleaners
  • Gardening supplies
  • Automotive equipment
  • Paint

All of these things can be contributing factors to poor air quality and worst of all, to poor health within your family.

 

Why Does This Happen?

One cause is due to unfinished floors.

These floors are made of concrete, which is porous and becomes homes to all of the foreign objects that are brought into the garage. Every single particle of dirt that comes in from a shoe or tire is just trapped inside the floor.

Other causes of poor air quality are due to improperly sealed walls. Have a professional seal the wall between the garage and your house to get rid of any cracks or holes.

Bonus: this can also help with energy loss!

If you’re concerned about your garage, follow these tips to make sure your home, and your loved ones, aren’t in danger!

 

What You Can Do

1. Ventilate the garage:

By installing an exhaust fan, you can lower pressure in the garage and prevent carbon monoxide from entering the house.

 

2. Never run your car inside:

Never ever warm up your car inside the garage, even just a few minutes can raise the carbon monoxide to dangerous levels.

 

3. Ditch the chemicals:

For certain chemicals like paints and automotive oils, you should store them in a sealed container.

As for harsher chemicals like some insecticides and herbicides, consider getting rid of them as they use organophosphates, which have been linked with cancer and fertility issues.

However, you should get in touch with your local waste management to dispose of them responsibly.

Look for more organic ways to get rid of pests and weeds, for the health of your yard and your family.

 

 

4. Finish walls and ceilings:

We already talked about how unfinished floors can trap harmful bacteria; the same goes for your walls and ceilings. If not already done, make sure to cover them in drywall, properly sealing the joints, and prime and paint all the surfaces. This way, they are less likely to leak.

 

5. Close the door:

Even if you’re just carrying in a few groceries you should keep your door shut. Installing a self-closing door can help a lot with keeping nasty fumes out!

 

Having an attached garage can have many benefits, but you must be conscientious and take the proper measures to make it a safe space.

 

We Can Help

 

If you think your home could benefit from an air quality inspection, give us a call or schedule your inspection with our easy online tool.

 

 

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Garrett HandAuthor Garrett Hand
Categories Home Maintenance, Home safety

Common Issues with Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are an elegant feature that many homeowners jump at the chance to incorporate into their space. They add a touch of coziness to any home and the variety of grains and colors ensure there’s something everyone will love.

Unfortunately, all of the qualities that make it a homeowner favorite can also be the causes of various problems leading to a headache, or worse: spending tons of money on maintenance and repair in the future.

Considering installing hardwood floors or buying a home with these features?

You should keep these common problems at the forefront of your mind to save yourself from any trouble in the future.

 

Common Issues with Hardwood Floors

Wood is naturally susceptible to “movement”. So when seasons change, it will expand and contract.

But there are certain times when serious problems can arise. While not all issues are related to moisture, quite a few are.

Take a look at our list of typical problems:

Cracks and spaces between boards

Heated homes in the winter and the relatively low humidity levels in the wood will sink it, leading to the eventual shrinkage of boards.

Sometimes these spaces will close up on their own throughout the season. But you can limit these seasonal shifts by adding moisture to the air with a humidifier.

 

Crowning

This occurs when your boards are higher in the center than around the edges due to an imbalance or exposure of excess moisture being left and not dried soon after.

 

Cupping

It’s the opposite of crowning, when the center of your boards seems to sink in below the sides. This is typical after accidents like spilling liquid on the floor or soon after installation.

 

Squeaky floors

During installation, it’s possible that an incorrect amount of space was left between the floorboards or sub-flooring panels and the constant expansion can loosen nails.

When someone steps on the floorboards, they will scratch the nails causing a squeaky sound.

 

Buckling

Perhaps the most severe side effect of moisture issues, buckling is an extreme case of crowning and usually occurs after flooding.

 

Peeling finish

Whenever a floor is contaminated or improperly prepped before applying the finish, it can lead to problems down the road. Additionally, failing to clean stain residue from the floor before applying finish can also cause this issue.

 

Debris in the finish

Fortunately, this is an easy problem to avoid.

If you’re preparing to apply finish to your floors, go through the whole house and vacuum and dust — everything! Little particles of dust can go from your light fixtures onto the wet floor finish.

 

While this list may seem overwhelming, they’re all are possible, preventable, or even manageable for those with hardwood floors. If you’re concerned that your home may be suffering from these issues, give us a call!

Our team of experienced professionals at EIG are ready to put your mind at ease with one of our thorough home inspections. Schedule yours here with our easy online scheduling tool!

 

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Garrett HandAuthor Garrett Hand
Categories Home Inspection, Home safety

Watch Out for These Spring Plumbing Problems

Winter can take a real toll on your home’s plumbing. As the temperatures are rising in spring, many homeowners find they are dealing with a few smaller problems popping up.

If you experienced frozen pipes during the winter, you’ll want to pay special attention to your plumbing, as the expansion of ice within the pipes can lead to cracks or even a full burst.

Below we’ll go through some of the common spring plumbing problems to keep an eye out for.

 

Typical Spring Plumbing Issues

1. Foundation shift

Extreme weather, like heavy rains, can cause movement beneath your home.

When the ground below becomes too saturated to absorb more water, a shift will occur and your home could suffer various leaks.

If left unnoticed for too long, your water bill will see a spike, since pipes could be damaged. You’ll want to call a professional to check it out.

 

  • Avoid this by keeping an eye on your plumbing and immediately turn off the water if you notice any major changes.

 

2. Cracked Water Pipes

Frozen pipes can lead to serious issues in warmer weather. And while the consequences have the potential to be detrimental to your home, there are some easy steps you can take to prevent damage.

 

  • Avoid this by insulating your pipes or turning off your water altogether when temperatures are very low.

 

3. Sink or Tub Not Draining

Maybe you enjoyed a few bath bombs to get yourself through the long winter or you had to give the family pet a bath — you can’t exactly hose them off outside when the temperature is cold!

Either way it’s normal to see your bath or sink accumulate different things over the seasons. Clogged drains aren’t the worst problem to run into and you have many options when it comes to this issue.

  • Avoid this by cleaning the drain stopper frequently; make it easy on yourself by cleaning it weekly and it won’t have a chance to get so gross.

 

Are you one of the lucky few that haven’t come across one of these typical spring plumbing problems?

There are still a few things you can do to make sure your plumbing is in line, so you can spend more time outside enjoying the warm weather!

  • Clean and inspect your roof gutters. Remove debris and make any repairs now to save yourself from bigger problems down the line.
  • Test the sump pump which may have frozen in winter and won’t be able to properly do its job now. If broken or working erratically, you may consider a professional maintenance.
  • Check for leaks around different parts of your home, especially around the hose bibs (the low, outdoor faucet).

We hope that you find these tips useful and can avoid any major issues so that you can get straight into enjoying the spring season! If you want to save yourself time and trouble go ahead and schedule a full inspection with us!

EIG guarantees an inspection within 48 hours of scheduling.

We’re Here to Help

 

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Garrett HandAuthor Garrett Hand
Categories Energy Savings

10 Low Cost Ways to Keep Your Home Cool

Spring has sprung! Which means it won’t be long before that Texas summer rolls in and has us all cranking up the AC.

While we are excited to spend more time outside and enjoy those longer days, we are also dreading that electricity bill come May.

However, we want to remind everyone: you don’t have to be a millionaire to have a cool home this summer.

And in fact, you don’t even have to use your AC to keep comfortable. We’re going to go through a few solid tricks to help keep your home cool in these warmer months without breaking the bank to pay for air conditioning.

Most are simple and won’t take up your time. So read on if you’re ready for some easy ways to combat the heat!

 

Stay Cool at Home

1.Keep the blinds closed

This may seem like an obvious fix — because it is! Utilize your curtains, blinds, shades, etc. to keep your home from feeling like a greenhouse.

 

2. Change the bulbs

Normal light bulbs give off a LOT of unnecessary heat. So switch them out for an LED bulb to help the environment, your energy bill, and cut down heat emission inside your home.

 

3. Paint your roof

Using reflective roof paint can keep the sunlight out of your home and reduce UV ray exposure.

 

4. Make your bed

Switch out your heavy winter sheets for light, airy linen ones. This will make a huge difference at night and help you sleep better.

 

5. Turn off your appliances

It’s not necessary to completely unplug each individual appliance. But if you aren’t using it just turn it off! Doing so will cut down the energy that the device is drawing in.

 

6. Treat yourself

If the heat at night is keeping you awake, buy a gel cooling pad to slip under your pillow. Pop it in the fridge or freezer while you’re out and about during the day, and it’ll be ready to go by bedtime.

 

7. Check your ceiling fans

Many people don’t realize that the direction of our ceiling fans should be changed seasonally. Set to run counter-clockwise in the summer with a higher speed for a chilly wind-like effect.

 

8. Block your windows

Hanging tightly woven screens or bamboo shades outside of your windows can block a lot of heat, making your home cooler.

 

9. Keep your A/C in the shade

If your air conditioner is an inside window unit, make sure it isn’t in direct sunlight. And if you have a central unit outside, try to put it in the shade, this will increase the efficiency of your unit.

 

10. Clean the air filter

If you are using your AC regularly, make sure you clean out the air filters routinely as dust buildup can lessen the efficiency of the airflow.

 

Whatever method you choose to cool off this summer let us know! Leave a comment and tell us about your experience or if you have a secret tip we didn’t list!

We’re here if you have any doubts about your home!

 

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Garrett HandAuthor Garrett Hand
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