Categories Home Maintenance, Home safety

What the Weird Noises From Your HVAC Really Mean

Pop, Bang, Boom!

These are just a few sounds you probably don’t want to hear coming from your HVAC system. Unfortunately, the day will come when you have to deal with the HVAC headache.

 

A rattling, roaring, clamoring or any other sound coming from your walls is a sign that something is going on with your HVAC system. Read on as we identify what these problematic sounds are and what they likely mean.

 

The occasional sound is nothing to worry about, but if your vents are so loud you can’t hear your TV, then you may want to give it a second thought.

 

Weird Sounds and What They Mean for Your HVAC

 

1. Banging

 

Hear a bang coming from your AC?

 

Chances are a component has come loose and is being tossed. Maybe a piston pin, the crankshaft, or even just a simple screw got out of place.

 

Turn off your AC and inspect the condenser unit for any loose parts, if you feel comfortable doing so. Otherwise call in a certified professional.

 

 

2. Hissing

 

Does it sound like air is escaping?

 

That’s because it probably is. The other cause for this sound could be leaky ducts. This is a costly problem that you don’t want to ignore.

 

Duct repair must be done by a professional.

 

However, if you hear a hissing coming from the air vent it may be a simple fix — your air filter is probably out of place. Make sure the filter is the correct size and then properly place it, leaving no gaps for air to escape.

 

 

3. Clanking

 

A good running HVAC will often make a light humming noise, but clanking is a different story.

 

If it sounds as if there’s a hammer in the dryer, then it’s probably a red flag for loose components that may lead to costly repairs.

Turn your system off and wait for a technician to take a look.

 

 

4. Clicking

 

A click when your AC turns on or shuts off is normal, but if it persists, it’s often a sign of a broken thermostat or a defective control.

 

Check that it’s not just your thermostat. And once you confirm it’s not, call in a professional

 

 

5. Squealing

 

This sound means problems with the blower wheel or motor fan, and neither should be put off for later inspection.

 

Take care of this as soon as it arises. You’ll more than likely need to have either or both of these parts replaced to correct the problem.

 

 

6. Screaming

 

Definitely at the top of the list of sounds you never want to hear from your AC!

That’s because 1., it’s terrifying, and 2., it’s a sign of a serious issue.

 

If you hear this, turn your AC off immediately.

 

This could be a side effect of a refrigerant leak which will do damage to your unit AND could cause harm to your family’s health. Additionally, it indicates high internal pressure within your compressor, which is very dangerous.

 

 

Have you noticed one of these unsettling sounds? Schedule your home inspection today and let one of our certified inspection experts put your mind at ease.

 

Get your inspection in the books by filling out our contact form here!

 

 

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Categories Home safety, Home Technology

Seven Ways to Protect Your Home from Theft

We’ve talked time and time again about how home safety is important, because your home is a huge investment after all. However, today we want to turn our attention to another aspect of home safety — protecting it from outsiders and theft.

 

While many of our tips have gone over how to keep your home safe for your loved ones, now we’ll focus more on how to make your home secure.

 

Each year 2 million home burglaries are reported in the U.S. Even with the highest percentage coming during summer months, you can still implement these home safety practices year-round.

 

Protecting Your Home

 

1. Check Your Doors

Close to half of all home burglaries are through an open window or unlocked door. So naturally the best and easiest first step to take is to check your doors and windows religiously.

 

Additionally, you should be checking for exterior damage, loose knobs, jiggly handles, missing screws, glass near a deadbolt, etc. All of these aspects could affect the integrity of your doors or windows.

 

 

2. Security Lights

Burglars are looking for the easy target — if your home is well-lit chances are it will deter your home from being targeted in the first place.

 

Installing exterior lighting, motion detector lighting, door lighting, etc. can scare off unwelcomed guests. Consider timers for interior lights or leaving a TV or radio on to simulate presence within the home when you’re away.

 

 

3. Secure Patio Doors

If you have sliding glass doors, an easy fix is to throw a large stick in the door track, but that’s not the most attractive option. There are some great auxiliary foot locks, like this one, that are easy to install and use.

 

 

4. Alarm Systems

A great investment is a security system. Your home insurance company might even offer discounts for having your house monitored this way.

 

If you aren’t ready to go for a big home system, you can get inexpensive door and window alarms as your first line of defense. These are especially good ideas for unused corners of the house that are often dark or unoccupied.

 

 

5. Maintaining Landscape

Perhaps a lesser-known tip, but if you have shrubbery around entrances and walkways, it’s a good idea to keep them trimmed. These could be potential hiding spots for thieves, so don’t make it easier for them.

 

 

6. Put Away Expensive Items

If you have a nice grill, lawnmower, bike, etc. be sure to put them away. If you don’t have a garage, then get a storage shed (with a lock!) and don’t leave items unattended.

 

Leaving out nice things could attract unwanted attention to your home.

 

 

7. Smart Technology

Nowadays there are TONS of smart home tech solutions floating around the market, so take a look at some of the options.

 

A few popular items include:

  • smart door locks
  • security cameras
  • doorbell cameras
  • digital door locks

Most of these can be controlled remotely and connect to apps on your phone, allowing you 24/7 access to your home.

 

 

We hope these tips are helpful and can take away some of the stress of life, allowing you to enjoy your home with your loved ones.

 

If you want to take extra steps to ensure the structure your home is safe, schedule your home inspection today!

 

Our trained professionals will make sure there are no hidden dangers lurking in your home.

 

 

 

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Categories Home Inspection, Home safety

For Sellers: You’ve Had a Home Inspection, Now What?

You’ve heard time and time again WHY getting a home inspection is important and helpful. But do you know what to do once it’s over?

 

Whether you’re buying or selling a home, making sense of an inspection report can be challenging.

 

The big questions come in for the sellers: Do you need to fix everything? Do you HAVE to? Where do I begin?

 

These are all common questions that homeowners have after receiving their inspection report. And while there is no definite answer, we’ll try to shed some light today.

 

Before getting started, we want to address the importance of required repairs. First of all, typically sellers must repair any health or safety-related issues. While every state has its own laws and requirements regarding safety issues, these are the common areas that must be addressed.

 

 

Health and Safety-Related Repairs That Sellers Must Do After The Inspection

 

  • Significant water damage
  • Missing smoke detectors
  • Mold issues
  • Structural damage
  • Building code violations

 

Both parties have rights in this situation. The buyer has the right to ask the seller to fix the issues uncovered in the inspection. Or they can then negotiate a lower price.

 

Whereas if you, as the seller, do not agree with the report, you have the right to hire your own licensed inspector to perform an inspection as well.

 

When it comes to cosmetic repairs, i.e. broken door handles or the normal wear and tear, you generally aren’t required to fix them. However, be sure that you are fully aware of your required repairs in the contract before signing.

 

 

Sellers Must Decide to Continue Or Not

 

As a seller, once you receive the inspection report and the list of the buyer’s requested items to be fixed, you have two choices:

 

  • Fix the items
  • Discontinue the sale of the home

 

You must decide which is best for you and your situation.

 

But remember that if you discontinue the sale and new buyers come along, you are legally bound to share the previous inspection report with the new buyers. The cycle will likely not end and you will continue to incur more costs.

 

 

Negotiation Is Possible

 

You also have the opportunity to negotiate.

 

It’s possible that some of the requested repairs could become shared expenses.

 

There are some reasonable requests for shared expenses, like a water heater. If you didn’t promise a home with a brand-new water heater and the buyer didn’t expect to go 15 years without replacing it, it’s possible to discuss splitting the costs.

 

Keep in mind that an average repair could be between $500 and $5,000.

 

If this or major repairs (like a roof replacement) are not possible with your budget, don’t sweat it.

 

In this case you should simply note the age and condition in the property disclosure and reflect the repair need in the asking price or offer a repair credit at closing. By being upfront and asking a fair price, buyers won’t accuse you of being suspicious.

 

 

When you’re selling your home, the first impression is your only impression.

 

So get ahead of any issues and save yourself from being blindsided by getting a seller’s inspection. If you have any questions about the inspection process (before, during, and after) we’d be happy to speak with you!

 

Schedule an appointment here or get in touch with one of our home inspection experts today!

 

We Can Help

 

 

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Categories Home Inspection, Home safety

Being Proactive: Pool Safety Tips for Every Summer

Having a pool is great! They’re fun, they give you a place for friends and family to gather, and they can add some serious value to your property. With that being said, they do require upkeep. And if you’re a parent or pet owner, you know the great responsibility you have to enforce and monitor pool safety.

 

The American Red Cross released their findings that about 4,000 people die of unintentional drownings each year, with children having the highest risk. In addition to NEVER leaving your child unattended in a pool, you must keep it clean for sanitary and health reasons.

 

Along with these, there are many other reasons pool safety should be your top priority.

 

Keeping Your Loved Ones Safe and Healthy In and Around the Pool

1. Use a Pool Cover

You have tons of options here and can even get one custom made to fit your pool’s measurements.

 

Pool covers are great because you can add an extra level of security plus you’re keeping debris out of your pool. This adds up to less maintenance!

 

 

2. Keep Water Clean and Clear

Regularly checking pool chemicals via weekly testing can help prevent any rashes, skin irritations, or burning eyes.

 

 

3. Update Drain Covers

If you have an older pool or spa, you should replace drain covers to ones that are anti-entrapment; and the same goes for homeowners installing new pools.

 

 

4. Security Systems

Alarms aren’t just for your home; there are tons of options for security systems.

 

You can get underwater motion sensors that use a sonar grid to alert you of any motion beneath the surface.

 

You can also get a small alarm for your pool gate that will sound if left open for a few seconds. These are both great options for families with young children.

 

 

5. Non-Slip Surfaces

The area around your pool and spa can be made safer with the right surfaces. With so much water everywhere, its no shock that slips can happen.

 

 

6. Pet-Proof Pool Time

While all of the above steps can apply to our beloved furry friends, there are a few more things you can do: like buying a pet life vest, read up on pet CPR, and adding a fence around the pool.

 

 

Possible Issues You Can Have with Your Pool

Another part of pool safety is having a well maintained and functional pool. There are signs that show potential pool problems. Some things to look out for include:

 

  • Pool Leaks: Any place where you have plumbing, you have the possibility of a leak. If you find that you’re constantly needing to add fresh water, then you likely have a leak.

 

  • Liner Wear: In general, pool liners should be replaced every 8-12 years. If you see cracks, fading, stains, or wrinkles, then your liner has suffered damage and you will need a professional to check it out.

 

  • Need for Frequent Cleaning: If you are having to clean your filter more than once a month, there is a problem. This could be a problem with the water quality or another issue that an expert will need to determine.

 

 

Pools are a big investment and a big responsibility, and should be treated as such. If you want to ensure that your investment and family is safe, let a pro take control.

 

Our pool experts at EIG will do a thorough check of the condition of a swimming pool and/or spa to ensure that the mechanics, components, electrical parts and surrounding areas are up to safety standards and operating properly. We’ll also check that the pool remains free of bacteria, viruses and algae that can pose health risks.

 

To schedule your inspection today, check out our easy, online scheduling tool!

We Can Help

 

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Categories Foundation Repair, Home safety

Home Safety: Foundation Issues Explained

The average homeowner is no expert when it comes to home repairs or even identifying potential issues within a home. Therefore we want to shine a light on your home’s foundation.

Many people think they only need their foundation inspected when selling or buying a home. But for something so integral and essential to your home, it’s a good idea to pay more attention to it.

Foundational issues can be hard to catch if you don’t know what to look for. Check out a few signs that we talked about in one of our earlier posts.

Read on for more information about foundation inspections, common problems, and what to expect.

When You Need a Foundation Inspection

There will be some red flags that indicate the need for a professional inspection, including:

  • Worn out walls (cracks, splitting, bulging, or uneven walls)
  • Roof problems such as water stains
  • Poor grading allowing water to stand near the home
  • Utility issues like electrical abnormalities or plumbing leaks
  • Chimney is separating from the structure of the home

Each of these aspects are all signs of a failing foundation and should not be taken lightly. If you fear that one of these issues may be contributing to a bigger problem in your home, don’t hesitate to call in the pros!

 

What to Expect from Foundation Inspections

These inspections are very in depth and will last about 1.5 hours. They include an interview in which we learn about the timeline of any damages as well as any concerns or abnormalities you may have noticed.

We will follow up with visual observations of the interior, exterior, and surrounding terrain.

If you’re still concerned that you may not be receiving factual data and a concrete answer about the state of your home’s foundation, don’t worry!

At EIG we utilize the latest technology, Zip Level Pro-2000, which allows us to give you the peace of mind that we will find out the exact condition your foundation is in.

Check out one of our sample reports here to get an idea of what you’ll be receiving.

 

What Can Happen to Your Foundation

You already know how important your home’s foundation is to the structure and functionality of your home.

However, if you’re still thinking of putting off the inspection and treatment, you should know that untreated foundation issues can lead to HUGE bills and headaches in the long run.

Besides exorbitant costs and long-term repairs, living in a home with foundation issues is a huge safety concern.

The cause and effect of many of these issues can bring on many other issues such as: mold, erosion, and major structural damage, which all make your home a dangerous living environment.

 

To ensure you and your loved ones are safe, keep a close eye on the common issues that arise when foundations have problems. Or you can rest easy with a professional opinion!

Schedule your inspection today with our easy online scheduling tool, and let one of our expert team members determine the state of your foundation.

 

 

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