Prepping for a Fall or Winter Home Inspection

Fall and winter are ideal times for building and home inspections since colder weather tends to expose certain problems that you don’t often encounter in spring and summer such as climate control problems and plumbing issues.  If you’re planning on having a commercial building or home inspected in the near future, here are several suggestions on how to prepare for it:

  • Check the HVAC system –turning on the heat will enable you to detect drafts or places that the heat isn’t reaching and bring in an HVAC expert to identify the problem.  Be sure you contact an HVAC contractor to examine the A/C unit as the colder weather can intensify certain problems such as parts that are damaged or have deteriorated.

  • Examine the roof – look for the telltale signs of damage such as bare patches as well as cracked or missing shingles.  If you’re concerned about safety, hire a professional from a roofing company to inspect the roof.  Furthermore, have any snow that has fallen removed so the inspector can examine the roof.

  • Inspect electrical panels – inspecting for visible signs of damage or wear on exposed wiring and verifying that electricity is running in abandoned or foreclosed homes are tasks you can handle.  Anything more detailed should be inspected by an electrician.  Remember, inexperienced inspections of electrical systems can result in serious injury.

  • Look for possible plumbing problems – colder fall and winter temperatures make it easier to detect back-ups and blockages.  However, it’s best to contact a plumber at the first sign of any problems.  Remember, frozen pipes can be difficult to identify and heavy usage can result in sudden, severe damage to the building or home. That is why preventive maintenance can help keep the home secure.

  • Remove obstructions and tripping risks – building and home owners can perform several tasks prior to the arrival of the inspector.  This will reduce the amount of effort and time involved and ultimately the cost of the inspection.  For example, if any snow has fallen, be sure to remove it.  Also, be sure to clear all driveways, sidewalks, and walkways and remove ice from windows.

  • Visually inspect drainage and foundations – look for the early indicators of problems such as bowing walls, damaged foundations, drainage problems, and uneven floors or other surfaces.  If snow is present, it can make visual inspections more difficult.  On the other hand, removing it prior to the inspection can help with the detection of problems.

For additional information regarding preparing for a building or home inspection, call Clark Contract Inspection today at (309) 489-7224. Our team of efficient business representatives can help you walk through the whole inspection process and will answer your questions.

 

Anthony Clark