 Carbon Monoxide is a silent killer as it has no odor and cannot be seen, and so attacks without warning. Many instances of Carbon Monoxide poisoning occur in the home, this is largely due to faulty, fuel burning appliances found in the home. What are some ways that CO Poisoning can be prevented?
We want you to be safe here in Kansas City, especially in your homes. Please call us to schedule an inspection or if you need help with any questions.
0 Comments
 Bathrooms are a very important room in the house, most of us like to spend a good amount of time there, so its wise to have a check of the ventilation system to make sure that its functioning properly, thus improving your bathroom experience.
If your not sure if your ventilation system is working properly, keep your eye out for these indications: Is mold starting to appear on the ceilings and walls of the bathroom? Does it feel very humid in there? Do you notice a lot of condensation? Are you seeing stains on the walls etc? What about metal fixtures? are they starting to corrode? If you are noticing any of these things, you may want to get your fan inspected. One of the biggest reasons it might not be working properly is that the duct might not reach to the outside of the home, so this is a good thing to check. A simple thing that can be done is to regularly clean the fan as dirt and dust accumulate frequently. If you feel that your bathroom is not ventilated properly, please call us for more advice. We would be happy to help.  So many things in our home nowadays are electric, from kitchen appliances to iPads and phones, everything requires an electrical outlet. In many older homes, there are simply not enough outlets, so a power strip seems the obvious choice to keep up with the demand, but how can we make sure that we are using them safely? Consider the following:
As you can see, power strips can be very useful, but only if used correctly. Please give us a call with any questions you may have about electrical outlet safety in your home  We all need to protect our homes from burglars, so how about a few tips and pointers on how to do so.
Did you know? A high percentage of burglars enter through the first floor of the home, so insuring exterior doors and windows are secure is important. Exterior doors should be constructed of a heavy solid material that are not easily broken, and should have good quality deadbolt locks. Beware of leaving spare keys in what you believe to be hidden areas. Don’t hide keys in obvious places or close to the door, instead leave them with a neighbor you can trust. Install a peephole, so you can see who’s at your door before you open it If you absolutely must have a pet door, make sure it’s not located close to a lock and try to have it as small as you can. What about sliding glass doors? A cheap fix would be to place a wooden pole or handle of a broom, and place it in the door track so it cannot be opened. These doors should also have top and bottom locks. Windows want to be constructed with strong glass and screening should be a heavy-duty wire. Burglars don’t want to be seen, so make it as difficult as possible for them by attaching motion censored lighting all around the house. What if you’re going to be away? Try to make it look like someone's home. Timer activated lights, TV or radio are a good idea. Make sure the yard is kept neat while you are away, also try keeping a car in the driveway. Contact us for more advice on how to protect your home.  No one enjoys the thought of these little creatures living in our attics, however since bats can be found in most inhabited places all over the world, we have to expect that we will encounter them at some point, so what are some of the ways we can identify if we have bats in our homes?
What are some of the dangers of a bat infestation? Bats pose a huge health risk to humans. They can carry rabies which can be fatal. Bat feces is also dangerous to humans as it can cause a respiratory disease called Histoplasma capsulatum. Please contact us for more details and instructions on where to locate entry points for bats, as they can squeeze through very small holes.  While Aluminum siding is not too popular these days in the construction of homes, it can still be found on many older homes. Here are a few helpful things to know about Aluminum siding.
Is Aluminum siding durable? Yes, it can actually last up to the life of the building, but only if it is maintained well. It doesn't rust, and it wont be affected by termites. How safe is it? If installed properly, it gives great waterproof protection. In case of a fire, it will not melt or burn. Is it aesthetically pleasing? It can be, as it can be easily painted, however this does tend to need to be redone every few years. It should also be noted that Aluminum siding is prone to scratches and dents which can look rather unattractive and is not too easy to fix. Some home owners may also have a problem with the noise it can make when rain falls on it. This is just a very simple look at what to consider with Aluminum siding , however for a more thorough inspection, please contact us and we will be happy to advise you or schedule an appointment. The most common roofing material in all of North America (and the most common to see on a home inspection) is asphalt shingle roofing. If you are thinking of getting a new roof, knowing what your roofing contractor should do and how an asphalt shingle roof is put together is very important to protect yourself and your home. The video below will help you understand the basics of an asphalt shingle roof:  Over the years, we have learned more about our planet and how we need to look after the resources that we have otherwise the future generations will face the consequences. Surprisingly, there are still too many people that are unaware of how to reduce their energy costs but the process can actually be very simple. Although there are some expensive pieces of equipment that help you with efficiency, most of the changes that you can make are cheap and simple.
Before we look into ways of becoming energy efficient within your home, let’s take a look at why you should complete the process. Often, we are told that we ‘have’ to become more efficient but the reasons are sometimes blurred so we have compiled a short list of solid reasons.
As you can see, there are some great reasons to make your home energy efficient! |
AuthorDevereaux Van Dyne, Certified Professional Home Inspector 
Archives
December 2016
Categories |
RSS Feed
Golden Home Inspections, 9806 Craig Drive, Overland Park, KS 66212, (913) 269-6624
