Maintenance

January 24 2022

Home Electrical Safety and Maintenance

Robert Jones Home Maintenance electrical, Maintenance

How to Ensure Your Home is Safe There are many things that can go wrong with the electrical wiring in your home. Electrical fires are one of the most common house fires and they can even be deadly. In fact, electrical failures or malfunctions are the second leading cause of U.S. home fires. One of the most important things you can do to keep your home safe is to have it inspected by a professional. Another thing you can do to protect yourself and your family is to practice some basic safety precautions. Here at South Sound Inspections, we know how important it is for every homeowner to have a safe home. Here are some tips on home electrical safety and maintenance! Be Careful When Working Around Electricity Never work with electrical wiring or appliances when you are wet, as this can easily lead to a shock. Make sure to unplug appliances before working on them, and be very careful when using power tools. Hire a Professional It is always a good idea to have a qualified electrician do any electrical work in your home. Trying to do it yourself could lead to disaster. Even if you are handy around your […]

January 10 2022

How to Prevent Mold in Your Home

Robert Jones Home Maintenance Maintenance, mold, prevention

Tips From a Home Inspector Mold is a problem that many homeowners have to deal with at one point or another. It can grow in your home and cause serious health problems if not treated properly. And in Washington State, mold is no stranger. Our abundance of rain and moisture provide the perfect environment for mold to grow. But the weather isn’t the only thing that causes these pesky spores to sprout. As homeowners, it is important to learn what causes mold to grow and what you can do to prevent mold in your home. What causes mold to grow? There are a few things that can cause mold to grow in your home. One of the most common causes is water damage. If water leaks into your walls, floors, or ceilings, it can create the perfect environment for mold to grow. Poor ventilation is also a common culprit. If you don’t have enough fresh air circulating in your home, it can create moisture and condensation which can lead to mold growth. How does a home inspector find mold in a home? A home inspector will look for mold when he or she comes to your property. Adequate ventilation is […]

November 29 2021

Winterize Your Plumbing

Robert Jones Home Maintenance Maintenance, winter

Tips for How to Prevent Frozen and Burst Pipes Cold weather and short, gray days already make winter pretty unpleasant, and having to deal with frozen or burst pipes in your home can lead to even more frustration. However, with proper care and maintenance, you won’t have to worry about plumbing issues this winter. Check out these tips for winterizing your plumbing to ensure a safe, comfortable season for your home and your family. LOCATE YOUR MAIN WATER VALVE Before winterizing your plumbing, make sure that you know the location of your main water valve. This knowledge is crucial because if your pipes do end up freezing or bursting, you have to know where to shut off the water supply before doing any repairs. When you locate the main water valve, put a tag on it and inform family members, or whoever shares the home with you, of its location in case of an emergency. DISCONNECT EXTERIOR WATER SOURCES You won’t be washing your car or watering the garden during the winter, so before the temperatures get cold, be sure to disconnect the garden hose and shut off the water supply to the hose. You can also put a no-freeze […]

October 20 2021

Three Levels of Chimney Inspection

Robert Jones Home Inspections, Home Maintenance Maintenance

What You Need to Know If you’re fortunate enough to own a home with a fireplace, you should be aware that the cozy atmosphere your fireplace creates also requires some upkeep and maintenance. The best way to ensure that your fireplace is maintained is to get your chimney inspected by a professional at least once a year, even if you own a gas fireplace. Here’s what you need to know about the three different levels of chimney inspections to address different sets of circumstances in your home. Calling a professional chimney inspector or chimney sweep at least once per year is essential. A chimney inspection can reveal structural issues, whether or not your chimney needs to be cleaned thoroughly, and reduce the possibility of fire in your home. Level 1 Chimney Inspections A level 1 inspection is required when nothing has changed with your chimney or fireplace. bare minimum of inspections that is necessary if you will continue using the same fireplace system and have not made any changes to the system recently. During a level 1 inspection, the chimney inspector or chimney sweep will use a flashlight to examine all of the more easily accessible areas of inside and […]

October 11 2021

Fireplace Safety and Maintenance Tips

Robert Jones Home Maintenance, Information fireplace, Maintenance

Avoid Fire Hazards with Proper Cleaning and Maintenance If you own a home with a fireplace, you’re familiar with the joys of cozying up next to a crackling fire. But, if your fireplace isn’t maintained, you and your home could be in trouble. Read on to learn more about serious fire hazards that can occur if you fail to maintain your fireplace, and tips to keep your fireplace clean and safe in your home. CREOSOTE BUILDUP CAN CAUSE HOME FIRES The number one danger your fireplace presents is when creosote builds up in your chimney and causes a fire. Creosote is a tar-like substance that accumulates on the walls of a chimney each time you make a fire. When creosote builds up to about ⅛ inch and comes into contact with temperatures of 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, it can become the source of fire in your chimney that can then spread to your home. The best way to prevent creosote from becoming a danger to your home is to properly maintain and clean your fireplace. PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE FOR YOUR FIREPLACE Before you begin the process of cleaning and maintaining a fireplace, consider these tips to ensure proper functioning and a safe […]

July 27 2021

Summer Home Maintenance Tips

Robert Jones Information, Press Maintenance, Repairs, Summer

8 Home Projects for the Summer Now that it’s summer, you might have some more motivation to complete home maintenance tasks, but you’re not sure where to start. Here’s a list of easy-to-complete summer home maintenance tasks that don’t require an expert to complete, and are perfect to do before it gets cold and rainy again! Follow these preventative maintenance tips to ensure your home looks great for the season and is protected from surprise repairs during the colder months. 1. Power Washing If you’re lucky enough to live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, you’re also familiar with its drawbacks: mold and mildew that builds up on exteriors. A great way to combat this negative effect of our natural environment is pressure washing your deck, porch, driveway, siding, or brick exterior. You can rent power washers from your local Home Depot or Lowes. Before you rent, choose amongst four different colored tips standardized for specific angles. Red is for a zero degree angle that shouldn’t be used up close on any surface; yellow is for a 15-degree angle that’s great for washing concrete; green is for a 25-degree spray ideal for blasting away mildew on the deck or siding; white is for a […]