Hidden Dangers in Your Home You Should Never Ignore

Auther: kedhron

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is not the philosophy to live by when you’re a homeowner—the plumbing or electric doesn’t have to be broken to be dangerous.

Lint

If it’s taking longer than usual for your clothes to dry or the clothes are super hot after a dry cycle, you could have a build-up of lint—even if it’s not visible in the lint screen. “Lint is an extremely flammable material,” says Jason Kapica, president of Dryer Vent Wizard. “Oxygen moves through a dryer and its vent when the machine is running. There is a heating element inside the dryer providing a potential ignition source.” Reduce the risk by removing the lint from the lint screen after each load and get a yearly cleaning of the dryer vent line.

Puddles

If you notice some puddles on the floor (and you don’t have a new puppy), it could be a sign of poor ventilation and mold. “Mold is a particularly common problem in bathrooms with inadequate ventilation,” says Yoel Pioraut, managing partner at MyHome Design + Remodeling. “Examine pipes to check for moisture or excessive condensation. If everything checks out, but you have a lack of ventilation, it’s time to call in a contractor to add an exhaust fan,” recommends Pioraut. Allergies and asthma reactions are intensified when mold is present.

Tripping GFCI

The Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) is an electrical safety device that trips electrical circuits when they detect ground faults or leakage currents. “These outlets prevent deadly shock by quickly shutting off power to the circuit when the electricity flowing into the circuit differs from that returning,” says Keith Pinkerton, owner of Mr. Electric of Huntsville, Alabama, a Neighborly company. In some cases, the switches may stay on and trip off when the test button is pressed. That’s a sign a new GFCI should be installed by an electrician. Avoid other electricity hazards by knowing the truth about these electricity myths.

Flickering lights

Flickering and blinking lights may seem ghostly, but it’s probably overloaded electrical circuits. Pinkerton says other signs include dimming lights, blown fuses, warm or discolored wall plates, crackling, sizzling, or buzzing from receptacles. A mild shock from touching appliances or burning odor from receptacle or wall switches should also be cause for alarm. “Overloaded electrical circuits should only be repaired by a licensed, qualified electrician,” says Pinkerton.

Annoying beeps

Yes, the annoying beeps on your smoke alarm usually wake you up at 3 a.m., but don’t just knock it off the ceiling and forget about it. It’s a sign it needs to be fixed. It could be a dying battery or dead backup battery, dust, or a sign of a malfunction. “Roughly two-thirds of all home fire deaths occur when smoke alarms are not working,” says Pinkerton. “Check the home to verify smoke alarms are installed in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home. A licensed, qualified electrician should be contacted to verify your home’s smoke alarm system meets the latest building and electrical codes.” Smoke alarms are one of the common items with hidden health risks you need to know.

Pump on the fritz

Hey, how’s your sump pump looking? It’s probably not something you think about very often…until it fails and leaves you with a flooded basement. Don’t ignore the signs of possible failure. “Checking connections, cleaning the pump and vents, and making sure the float switch is not restricted can be done by the homeowner,” says Boudreau. “A battery backup pump is also an inexpensive way to prevent failure,”

Not making the grade

Improper grading can cause cracks, deterioration of foundation walls, and structural damage if you don’t know what to look for. “Spotting grading issues is the easiest if water is pooling next to a home’s foundation. But sometimes it is difficult to detect the source because water can be running towards to the home below the surface or water can be pooling because of rain,” says Boudreau. “Adding soil to exterior foundation below siding is an easy and cheap solution.” Changing the downspouts and ensuring they are 6 feet away from the home is another option but if more drastic grading is necessary, a pro needs to be called. Be on the lookout for these other hidden home expenses that drain your bank account.

Cracks and gaps

Speaking of foundation, there are signs inside your house you should look for on a regular basis. These include gaps and cracks in hardwood floors, or cracks at the corners of door jambs and window frames, says Patrick Knight, training, licensing and inspection support manager of WIN Home Inspection. Minors cracks should be monitored, but cracks over 1/8 to 1/4 inches should be investigated by a pro. “Uneven floors and doors that don’t shut right can be annoyances, but if that settlement continues, then the structure can become at risk,” cautions Knight. Another safety tip: hire professionals for these

Hard-to-trace leaks

Leaky pipes behind the wall, like in the tub and shower area, go unnoticed until you see visible damage. “Water damage can cause structural issues as well as mold and moisture issues,” says Knight. Signs something is amiss are blistering paint, warped walls, damaged wallpaper, loose tiles, a buckling or cracked floor, and mold or mildew on non-shower walls. “Once you have leaks that show up in walls or start causing floor damage, a pro should be called,” says Knight. The longer it takes you to detect the leak, the more extensive the damage could be.

Gurgles and burping

Sounds that babies make? Yes, but if your toilet is making this sound, it’s not cute. Built-up grease, large quantities of food in the garbage disposal, or using your toilet like a waste-basket contributes to a sewer system backup. According to Glenn Gallas, vice president of operations, a Neighborly company, signs of a sewer system backup include gurgling, burping, and overflowing fixtures in toilets, tubs, showers and sink drains. This is a situation that a plunger isn’t likely going to fix; a plumber should be called as raw sewage is a serious health hazard.