Whether you rent a house or own your own home, there will be certain issues that you will inevitably run into. Whilst these issues may be inconvenient and annoying, most of the time, they’re extremely common and you don’t need to be embarrassed or feel at fault for them.
Just like anything, houses are prone to wear and tear, and it’s this natural ageing that sees the majority of problems crop up. If it’s not wear and tear, there’s every chance there’s a simple solution to your problem. Severe issues aren’t common, but if you think there might be structural damage or another major problem, you should always seek professional help.
That being said, if your house is suffering from any of the following four things, try our simple remedies and see if they help to eradicate the common issues.
Moldy walls and windows
Almost everyone has encountered moldy walls and windows at some stage. This is known as condensation damage and is usually easy to fix. Condensation is caused by poor ventilation which means you need to use extractor fans, open windows, and keep vents clear more often. This should remove excess moisture in the air and prevent it from settling on the walls and windows, therefore eradicating the opportunity for mold to grow.
In addition to opening windows, you can buy a mold cleaning spray to get rid of the surface spores and kill any bacteria in the area. This should solve the problem in its entirety. Condensation is generally very easy to treat and doesn’t typically cause any lasting damage like other types of damp. For example, rising damp causes a lot of cosmetic issues and is indicative of a larger issue, but condensation is usually solved by opening windows more often and removing the initial layer of mold.
Blocked chimneys
If you live in an older property with a working open fire, there’s a good chance you might experience a chimney blockage at some stage. The most common cause of a blocked chimney is because nesting animals have made their way down the flue with an abundance of materials like sticks and paper scraps. Not only does this present an issue with using your fireplace, but it also presents a fire hazard.
Luckily, it’s an easy fix. The most common cause of a blocked chimney is a lack of a chimney cap. This is a cage-looking structure that sits atop the chimney, preventing animals and pests from coming in, and blocking debris from falling in and getting trapped.
Leaky roof
We’ve all experienced a wet or damp patch at some point in our home, usually caused by a leaky roof. As mentioned, houses are prone to wear and tear, and whilst you should make every effort to maintain your property to prevent issues, there will inevitably be times when you let things slide and you might find yourself in a situation where you don’t know there’s a problem until something falls down or water floods in.
There are a number of common causes for leaky roofs, with loose tiles being the main culprit. Luckily, singular tiles are easily replaced and it won’t cost much to hire someone to do it for you. Alternatively, you can do it yourself with minimum hassle or fuss, but you do need to keep safety in mind and may need to enlist someone else to help you safely scale the roof.
Summary
Houses are ongoing sources of snags and problems, but there’s no shame in having an issue. These are all super common, but hopefully you now know how best to deal with them should they crop up!
