As a homeowner, you are very proud of your property. You take pride and responsibility in making sure your home is always a safe and secure location for all those living there. This sometimes requires you to handle serious maintenance needs. Whether that is a faulty appliance, risk of mold, or a leak in the plumbing, it is up to you to answer the call and repair your home.
Oftentimes it can be difficult to gauge what the true problems are rather than just inconveniences. You may think you can live with a certain issue, but that peculiar odor or noise may actually have serious implications for your home. Trust your instincts. If something seems strange or out of place, it may be time to call in a professional electrician or another technician to take a look at it. Safety is of the utmost importance, and the gas company can decipher that strange smell or unusual noise better than anyone. When it comes to finding problems in your home, you can always trust your five senses to alert you to the need for repairs. Here are all the ways sight, hearing, smell, taste, and feeling can help you as a homeowner register any discrepancies.
Sight
Sometimes the best way to uncover an issue is to simply get a good look at it. If you can see a scrape on your siding, a leak in your plumbing, or something caught in a vent, that will give you a good idea of the problem you’re facing. While you may not know the culprit right away, you’ll be able to call a plumber or electrician to take a second look with their expert eyes. Take the time to explore every corner of your house from the attic to the basement while keeping an eye out for anything that seems out of place. When you check the history of the property online, you can also take note of any previous issues.
Hearing
The first sign of trouble can often come from unusual noises or odors. A rattle or hissing in your heating system, strange noises coming from the furnace, or a high pitched squeal from the water heater may mean these systems are under strain. Most utility companies make appliances and HVAC systems that are deadly silent, so if noise starts coming from your air conditioning or the ductwork that isn’t a good sign. Call the assessor’s office and find an expert electrician or technician that can repair or replace your systems.
Smell
Around the house, there are some smells you love. Freshly baked cookies, a cleaned room, or a lit candle. But other smells can be a sign something may be going wrong. A lingering musty smell may be a sign of mold or lower air quality, while a strong odor of gas or burning smell may mean there was a gas leak—which could be extremely dangerous. Overall, there are plenty of reasons for strange smells in your home, but you’d rather have the peace of mind that nothing is putting your family in danger.
Taste
Taste is a bit of a tricky sense when it comes to your home. Obviously, you aren’t going around licking your walls. But if you start to notice your water tastes funny, that can be a sign you need a new filter or a better water heater. Since humans need water to survive, this is something you’ll want to replace right away.
Touch
You know your house better than anyone because you’ve actually lived in it. Stay aware if anything starts to feel different to the touch. Is there extra moisture in the air you’re feeling or do the shelves on the wall seem a little flimsy? Sometimes it takes extra love and care to acknowledge issues and decide how serious they are.
