How to Identify Common House Problems

Houses show wear and tear over the years. Older homes especially can be concerning. First of all, many problems are caused by moisture that's gotten into your home. But how can you tell, and what can you do to fix the issue? Below find signs of common problems homeowners experience.


1. Dark spots on the walls, ceiling or carpet.

• Problem: Too much moisture inside, forming mold and/or mildew. You may have a leak. 
• Solution: Call a home repair specialist to help determine if and where there is a leak; call a roofer or general contractor to replace damaged materials such as wood. 
• Notes: Bubbling, cracking, or flaking paint is evidence of too much moisture in the walls, as are black lines opening up on the bottom of an exterior wooden door and black streaks or circles around nails on hardwood floors. 

2. Flickering lights.

• Problem: A bad socket, which creates a fire hazard. 
• Solution: Call an electrician. 
• Notes: Make sure light bulbs are screwed in tightly, and don't be put off by a subtle flickering while using electronics such as a hair dryer--that's normal. 

3. Insect wings on windowsills.

• Problem: You may have termites nearby. Look for signs of moisture (discussed above)--termites are attracted to moist areas. 
• Solution: Call a termite professional
• Notes: Check for any mud tubes coming out of the walls or pieces of wood. That's an indicator that you do, in fact, have a termite issue. 

4. Foggy window(s).

• Problem: A broken window seal
• Solution: Call a window repair specialist or general contractor: you probably need to replace your window(s).
• Notes: This typically occurs in older, duel-pane windows with argon gas in between. 

How to get rid of mold.