6 Telltale Signs There's Something Seriously Wrong With Your House

I definitely prefer renovations and room makeovers to any costly and necessary maintenance repairs on my house any day! But sometimes, problems arise that we just have to investigate further to find the problem for what could be seriously wrong with our house.

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We’d all like to live in properties that last forever. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen. Eventually, homes start to degrade as the natural world reclaims them.

The trick here is to know the signs when something is seriously wrong so that you can act quickly. Here’s what to look out for:

Sagging Gutters

Generally speaking, gutters shouldn’t sag. If they do, it can be an indication of a serious issue.

First, check that there are no leaves and debris in the gutters. If there are, they could be weighing it down, making it appear bowed from the ground.

Next, if there is no debris or the sagging continues after you remove it, check for rotting wood in the roof or mold growth. Often, sagging gutters can be an indication of excessive water ingress.

Skyrocketing Electric Bills

Another sign of a serious issue with your home is constantly rising electricity bills. Again, these could be an indication that your roof is damaged. If it does not provide enough ventilation, or there’s too much heat escaping your home, then you may have an open hole in your roof or a problem with the insulation in the attic.

This one got me back in January. I expected our bill to be higher because of colder temperatures and a few snow days mixed in there. But I wasn’t expecting it to me more than double – and almost triple the amount from December. The inflated bill prompted my husband to check on our HVAC units and found that the fan had stopped working on one of them and the entire unit was frozen over. Thankfully we have a home warranty contract on our home and it was fixed within two days.

And just the week before that we ran out of hot water and the heating element in our hot water heater had gone out. Those two things combined at the same time hit our electrical bill hard!

It is always a good idea to periodically check the important electrical systems and machines in your home.

Your HVAC Drain Pipe Won’t Stop Leaking

If you notice that your secondary HVAC drain pipe is leaking, it generally means that your primary line is clogged. While it’s usually a quick fix if you sort it out immediately, it can lead to mold and water damage if left unattended.

Your Floors Look Strangely Swollen

Swollen floors are sometimes a sign of water ingress. But if nothing feels damp, then it could indicate that you need termite treatment. Buckling wood is a common side effect of termite damage, as is visible mazes within walls and furniture.

If you think you may have termites in your home, hire professionals. Don’t try to fix the problem yourself. The chances of success are usually low.

Your Water Meter Won’t Stop Running, Even When You Turn Off All Your Faucets

If there’s no one in the shower and no faucets running but your water meter keeps going up, then it’s a sure sign of a burst pipe somewhere in your home. If you’re lucky, the pipe will be ruptured somewhere lower down, perhaps on the ground itself. In which case, it’ll drain away and the only problem will be your water bill.

However, if there’s a burst pipe in the wall, it can cause severe damage to the structure of your home, costing thousands in clean-up costs.

The solution here is simple. First, switch off the water at the mains. Then get a plumber to audit your pipework and find the source of the leak.

You Have Nose And Eye Irritation

Lastly, nose and eye irritation can be a sign of a sick house. Usually, it’s the result of mold spores traveling through the air and collecting in your airways. When they get here, they can cause irritation and lasting damage. Find the source of the mold and eliminate it.

I have suffered from chronic bronchitis from working in a building years ago that they eventually found mold in the attic. This is a serious problem and one you can’t ignore.

The mundane maintenance of a home is just that – mundane – but so necessary. Take care of these issues early and you will be much happier and healthy in the long run.

Hugs,