Tips from the Home Inspector, Part 2

Something most people forget is the fireplace. Get your fireplace ready by having it inspected. Creosol can build up in the chimney. Creosol is a resin that can build up in the flue. It’s a by- product of burning wood. Make sure that the damper works and make sure the damper seals when it is closed. You would be surprised how may people forget to close them! Remember, nine out of ten people in Atlanta are not from Atlanta. Fireplaces are common in Georgia but not everywhere else.

Something else you may want to do in preparation for the really cold weather is the garden hose spigots. Do not wait for the freeze warning. Get on a mission and turn them all off. Most houses have a spigot shut off valve on each spigot. Look under the sinks, you may find some valves there. Remember what our science teacher told us. Water is the only substance found in nature that expands when it freezes. This can cause pipes to burst in the walls. This can be an expensive repair, especially if you're not at home when it happens. So, close the valve and drain spigots.

Another thing you may want to look at is the grade of the soil around the house. All summer you have been putting down pine straw. It makes the landscape look good. Unfortunately it hides the ground so you don’t know if it has been changing. The grade should always be away from the house. Get a stick and probe around the house. Next to the wall of the foundation it should have the highest soil, as you move away in a perpendicular line from the house the ground should fall. If it’s not happening, call your landscaper and have him check it and if needed, have him build up the grade. This is a particular situation for new houses. The reason new houses have this situation is the ground is excavated to prepare for the foundation and the molds used to pour the foundation. Once the concrete for the foundation cures, the forms are removed and the soil is returned. The problem is the soil is sometimes not recompacted to its original density. This soil will erode a lot quicker than the surrounding soil. This softer soil will erode and create a negative grade toward your house. Don’t worry, the problem is fixable with more dirt.

During the summer some of our feathered friends will have found your home as attractive as you and may have made their nest in your vents. Now that they're gone, remove those nests. Don’t worry, next year they will build new ones. The problem is that these vents are for your bathrooms, dryer and fireplace.

Now is a good time to trim those shrubs away from the house. The shrubs should be at least 12 inches from the house. Shrubs are attractive, but like all plants they give off moisture and cover the house from the sun. This slows the drying process of the house and can cause algae or mold to form. Remember you’re on a mission.

This time of year is also a great time for taking long, hot showers. So if you want to enjoy a longer hot shower, drain off some of the sediment that accumulated at the bottom of your tank. It acts like an insulator. Just follow the manufacturer's instructions. Another way is to turn off the hot water heater, ( before you do that make sure you know how to light the pilot light, ) or have a good friend who does. Consume all the hot water and then connect a hose to the bottom of the tank and open the valve at the tank and let some water out. You do not have to drain the entire tank. The initial surge should remove most of the sediment. Drain a few gallons, check and make sure the water is coming out clear. then close the valve, reignite the pilot and you're ready for your next hot shower.

By now lots of leaves have fallen. Make sure the Air Cooling Compressors are free of leaves and organic debris. These units are designed to shed water. Some organic material will produce acids as they decay and can cause damage to the units. You can cover them, but all that is really needed in our mild winter is keeping them free of debris and they should be ready when the heat comes back.

Thanks so much, George, for sharing your expertise and valuable home maintenance advice with all of us! If you have any questions about winter home maintenance, give George a call at Athenia Home Inspectors, 404-447-4677 or e-mail him at georgefont5@aol.com.