Imagine waking up on a sunny morning, well-rested and in a great mood. It’s the weekend, you don’t need to go to work and you plan on spending the day with your family. You get up out of your bed, head to the bathroom and instead of starting your normal routine, you step in a giant puddle. You flip a light switch to see what’s up, but the switch does nothing. Then, still sleepy and with a wet foot, you stumble to the kitchen to get a mop, but then you step into another puddle and now both your feet are wet before the sun is even properly up.
That’s owning a home for you. It’s great until it’s not. Being a homeowner means handling unpredictable, usually very annoying issues that will put a dent in your bank account and turn your life upside down. The worst thing is that these problems don’t happen overnight, but you usually can’t catch them before it’s too late.
The good news is, if you know what to watch out for, you can prevent some unpleasant surprises, so let’s see what most people deal with at least once and if there’s a way to prevent these problems before you unwillingly soak your feet.
Water Damage You Might Not Notice
Water damage is one of the most common issues, but people usually overlook it because it develops slowly and in areas you can’t see unless you’re really looking for something. Water can seep through the tiniest cracks and even a tiny amount of it can cause long-term damage.
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Kitchen Cabinets
They’re probably the most helpless furniture type inside your house they’re very close and exposed to all plumbing fixtures/installation and appliances that use water and/or generate steam. Beneath a sink, if a pipe leaks or if that dishwasher develops problems or even if there’s an overflow from the countertop, there’s every possibility of water pooling under the cabinets. You wouldn’t see it because you’ve dried up the visible parts. But beneath, where you haven’t (either because you didn’t notice, or it’s unreachable due to design), all that water needs to go somewhere.
Basically, if you find a cabinet that’s warped or discolored, see swollen lining, or even has a musty smell wafting from it, chances are there’s moisture accumulation somewhere. Eventually, the wood will develop rot, the structural integrity will fail, and you could potentially even have mold.
So, what do you do if water gets under cabinets? Can you even do anything at this point? Of course you can. Start with shutting the water source off, and use towels or a wet/dry vacuum to get rid of any standing water. Open all cabinets and use fans to dry everything out. If there’s damage, you may need professional help to handle it.
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Bathroom Walls and Floors
Bathrooms are notorious for water damage and you can get leaks behind tiles, around toilets, or behind walls and it can go unnoticed for months. If you don’t handle it, you risk mold growth, which is a health risk, and rotted wall studs or subfloors getting weaker and weaker.
If you notice that the paint is peeling, that the tiles are loose or cracked, or if there are water stains on the walls, it can be a sign of water damage.
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Basements and Crawl Spaces
Basements and crawl spaces are especially problematic because they’re close to the ground and they can have poor drainage. Groundwater can seep through cracks in the foundation or faulty basement walls, and if you have plumbing leaks already, you’re in real trouble.
You can install sump pumps, seal foundation cracks, and make sure there’s good drainage to reduce the risk of water damage.
What Needs to Be Repaired Immediately
You can take your time with some things, but others need to be repaired right away. Here’s what will need immediate attention.
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Burst Pipes
When pipes freeze or wear out because they’re old, they can easily burst. When that happens, water can flood your entire house and in those cases, you have some major damage on your hands.
If a pipe bursts, make sure to turn off the main water supply immediately and call a plumber to fix the problem before you get mold or structural issues.
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Gas Leaks
Gas leaks are extremely dangerous and they’re caused by broken gas lines or faulty appliances. If you can smell gas or if you hear a hissing sound when you stand close to gas pipes, get out of the house right that second and be sure nobody is left inside. Call emergency services and your gas company to take care of the issue once you’re somewhere safe.
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Furnace or HVAC System Failure
A broken furnace or AC can make the temperature in your home unhealthy, and this is especially dangerous during weather extremes. If you notice anything is off, contact a repair service and have them fix it.
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Pest Infestations
Rodents, termites, and other pests can cause a lot of damage because they’ll chew through wires, wood, and they’ll spread germs. Pest control is your solution in this case. Call them to seal off entry points before the problem gets worse.
Conclusion
Has this scared you off from wanting to own a home? It shouldn’t. Owning a home is very rewarding, but it can be challenging because you never know what can go wrong and if it surprises you, it will usually cost a pretty penny. Some things just can’t be predicted and you have to handle them as they come.
But there are also those that can be spotted early, like signs of water damage. The most important thing is that you don’t put off handling the issue because, the more you put it off, the more problems it’s going to cause and the more it will cost you to repair them.
