What causes the moisture in between my double pane glass?

Spring is almost here, but with warmer weather comes rain.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, floods are the second-most common and widespread of all natural disasters, affecting homeowners in all 50 states.

If the rain hits this spring, will your home be ready?

March 12-16 marks National Flood Awareness Week.

• Build an emergency kit that includes a first aid kit, bottled drinking water, a flashlight, batteries, waterproof clothing and boots, and other necessities.
• Avoid building in a floodplain unless you elevate and reinforce your home.
• Elevate the furnace, water heater and electric panel in your home if you live in an area that has a high flood risk.
• Consider installing “check valves” to prevent flood water from backing up into the drains of your home.
• Protect your posessions, including putting stored items in a basement in waterproof containers, as well as keeping important documents in a safe deposit box.
• Purchase a portable or standby generator in the case of weather-related power outages.
• If you’re located in a high-risk area, consider purchasing flood insurance.

A leaky faucet is more than just a nuisance; it can be a real financial drain and a waste of precious water resources. While it might not seem like much water is being wasted, each drip adds up over time. In fact, according to the United States Geological Survey, a single leaky faucet dripping once per minute can waste 34 gallons of water each year. If your kitchen faucet is dripping, you will need to find the source of this water wastage as soon as possible.

Simply disconnect the hook from its slot and reconnect at the next slot on the float arm, and if this doesn’t work check to see if the float has become disconnected. The top of the float should be slightly above the water’s level. If it’s not adjust the arm on the float until the float rests where the water level is about 1/2″ below the top of the overflow pipe.

If the toilet is still flowing freely, try using a dye tablet (available at hardware of plumbing supply stores). Simply flush and as the water in the tank begins to fill, drop in the tablet. If your tank is leaking you’ll begin to see the water in the bowl turn the color of the tablet.

Sometimes the flapper valve is the culprit and doesn’t seal the tank properly. This should be easy to fix. Turn off the shut-off valve below the tank and flush the toilet to “empty” it. Remove the flapper and replace it with a new one. If the flapper valve seat is cracked, you’ll have to replace the whole unit, which you can find at a hardware store. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.

If the flapper valve and seat seem to be in good working order and your toilet is still running, the ball-cock assembly may need replacing. First empty the tank and then replace using a ball-cock assembly kit. Be sure to follow the kit’s instructions carefully.

You can easily seal exposed ducts in your attic, basement, crawlspace, and garage with duct sealant. Taking the time to seal your ducts can pay off big-time in the long run.

Also, you may need to change your furnace air filter. We recommend they be changed once a month during the winter. When filters become clogged with dirt and dust, your furnace has to expend more energy to force the air through. This in turn can also raise your electric bill.

After spotting a water stain, homeowners should consider where the possible source of the stain is. If there’s a bathroom above the water spot, the leak may be a plumbing issue. That could be a costly repair, she says, because a plumber may need access to an interior wall to repair the leaking pipe.

If the water spot appears to be rainwater coming through the roof, it’s not necessarily a major expense, especially if the roof is fairly new. It could simply be a nail that popped through a shingle on the roof, or flashing (which secures pipes to a roof) that hasn’t been caulked properly.

Those problems are relatively simple to fix, they usually cost a couple hundred dollars for a roofer to repair.

Other problems could be more expensive to fix. For example, if the roof is 15 years old and several shingles have blown off, the roof is probably in poor condition and may require a complete replacement.

Most builder-grade asphalt roofs have a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years.

Any questions dont hesitate to call or send us an email.

Thin cracks along concrete foundation could be the result of settlement in the concrete and may not necessarily be a cause for concern. However, homeowners need to pay attention to the shape and direction of the divide. Long horizontal splits in the concrete could indicate pressure from the outside- possibly from saturated soil- that needs to be repaired. “Normal settlement doesn’t generally cause horizontal cracks”

Regardless of shape, any cracks that leak water or are wider than one-fourth of an inch should be inspected by a general contractor. Any additional questions or concerns, please give us a call. 925-754-5232

A light shining through your front door it is probably a defective or improper placed weather stripping.  Any further questions, feel free to contact us 925-754-5232