By Michael Litchfield, Roger Robinson
Finding and
Fixing
Common House Problems
Bubbling paint. Water dripping from light
fixtures. Mysterious smells. Groaning pipes and gurgling tubs. Your
house is trying to tell you something.
House Check is designed to help you learn what it's saying.
With this guide, you can probably figure out quickly what's causing
those odd symptoms and what, in a nutshell, you should do to set
things right. The information in its charts is based on thousands of
houses we've observed, from Vermont to California.
Some house ailments are elusive, even for the pros. If one
explanation doesn't pan out, try another. We hope this book works
hard for you, but there's no way that it could contain each symptom
you might encounter, or state absolutely what the cause is or the
remedy will be. Moreover, building codes vary widely, so consult
local codes before starting any repairs.
Playing It Safe
If you're unfamiliar or uneasy with some aspects of home inspection,
play it safe and call a pro. It will be money well spent. For
starters, stay out of flooded basements, electrical service panels,
and furnace fireboxes. Always make sure electrical power is off
before removing outlet covers or switch plates. If you suspect that
you've got lead paint or asbestos, leave it alone and call an
abatement specialist. Trying to remove such substances may make them
more of a hazard than they presently are. In the charts, hazardous
situations are marked with symbols.
Tools
You can do a decent inspection with a handful of common tools.
Besides those shown in Fig. 1, here are a few tools you might want
to have on hand:
- Flashlight
- Safety glasses
- Coveralls
- Work gloves
- Flat bar (to free access panels or doors)
- Sharpened screwdriver (to probe for rot)
- Binoculars (for roof inspection)
- Voltage tester
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Roofs
- Exteriors
- Doors & Windows
- Attics
- Interiors
- Kitchens & Baths
- Basements
- Electrical
- Plumbing
- Heating & Cooling
- Gutters
- Attached Structures
Soft-cover, 8-1/2 x 11 in., 42 pages, with
color photos and drawings
Published 2003
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