It’s easy for a lot of hidden dangers in the house to go unnoticed. You might be so busy with life that you don’t even notice when your electrical wiring is off or when your washing machine hose is minutes away from exploding. And when these hidden dangers continue to be ignored, they can put your family and your property at risk, not to mention cause thousands of dollars of damage.
Avoiding nasty and potentially dangerous consequences starts by being vigilant. If you see these signs of hidden dangers in your home, it’s best to act quickly rather than let the problem get worse.
Flickering lights
If your lights are flickering, you likely have an electrical problem in your house. Call an electrician to diagnose and fix the problem before it grows. If you want, you can also get an electrical system assessment to evaluate your house’s electrical system’s condition and ensure that the risk of electrical accidents is minimized.
Random puddles
Unexplained puddles suddenly showing up in rooms with a lot of moisture (e.g., bathrooms) usually indicate a ventilation issue. Simply speaking, your ventilation system is not working well enough (or not working at all) to evaporate the moisture in the room, hence the accumulation of water on surfaces. When left ignored, excess moisture can lead to mold growth, which opens up a whole new set of problems for your house.
You can fix the problem by replacing or fixing the exhaust fan in the room. If that doesn’t work, call a professional to evaluate the problem.
Bulging washing machine hose
A bulging rubber hose behind your washing machine is a ticking time bomb, meaning that it can explode at any minute and cause thousands of dollars worth of water damage to your house. However, spotting a bulging hose can be tough because many homeowners don’t think to check behind their washing machine at all.
But now that you know of this risk, you can be wary of it in the future. Check your washing machine hose at least once a year. If the hose shows bulging or unusual wear, turn off the main water supply and contact a professional to take a look. Moreover, replace your hoses every three years to avoid them from getting too worn and suddenly causing a huge water leak.
Doors that won’t close completely
Your doors were closing normally for years, but then one day, they aren’t. Either you have to close them with added force or leave them open. When this happens, you might have a foundational problem in your house.
Call for an inspection as soon as you notice the issue. The longer you wait to do so, the worse your foundation will get and the bigger your expenses will be. If you’re lucky, the foundation’s structural problems might not be too bad, and you can get them fixed without building a new foundation entirely.
Uneven floors and walls
When your walls and floors start to look a bit off, it can also indicate foundational problems. The solution is similar to doors that won’t close completely; call a contractor to assess the issues and determine the next best course of action.
Accumulation of creosote
Creosote is extremely flammable. And when in excess amounts, it can easily lead to a chimney fire or house fire. That said, don’t let creosote accumulate in your chimney. Ask a professional cleaner to get rid of it at least once a year.
Gurgling in drains
Gurgling sounds coming from the drains should never be ignored. They can be indicative of a clogged drain line or a clogged vent pipe. Either way, the damage to your plumbing can be severe if you ignore the problem for too long.
If you start hearing gurgling sounds from your drains and water fixtures, have a plumber inspect your plumbing line, find the clog, and then remove it to eliminate the gurgling noise as well as other potential plumbing problems that might arise.
Excess lint in the dryer
Cleaning the lint trap of your dryer is not enough to prevent dryer fires. If you start to notice that your clothes don’t come out dry enough or if the dryer is taking too long, check the dryer vent line and ensure it isn’t clogged with lint. If it is, remove the lint as soon as possible to prevent it from catching fire due to the dryer’s heat.
There are so many things in your house that can harm you; some harder to spot than others. For this reason, knowing the hidden dangers in your home is imperative to keep your family safe and avoid huge repair bills and a massive headache in the future.
