Just Because You Can't See It...

by Andrea Hermitt | More from this Blogger

29 Aug 2009 08:26 AM

I recently wrote about when you should call the insurance company in the case of household damage.

I wanted to reiterate that just because you can't see damage to your home does not mean it's there. In our case, we could not see any damage on our very damaged roof. Most of the damage was from water that had come through and damaged to boards under the shingles and part of the ceilings. None of this was visible to us however because the front of our home was damage free, and the back which was heavily damaged could not be seen from the ground. The back of our house is three stories high.

So how do you know if your house is damaged if you can't see it?

Water damage is the biggest unseen culprit. Water can get into your home in many ways. Storms and roof leaks, bathtub overflows, poor grading, and broken or damaged pipes can cause problems that you won't see for years.

Electrical damage can also go unseen for a long period of time. According to firstenergycorp.com "According to a recent study by the Electric Power Research Institute, as many as 80% of all power disturbances originate inside the home or business. While lightning, ice storms, high winds, trees falling on power lines, car-pole crashes, normal electric circuit operations - even birds and squirrels - cause their share of power disruptions, most disturbances are caused by the day-to-day operation of ordinary household equipment and appliances. Among the biggest culprits are electrical devices with motors and/or compressors that cycle on and off throughout the day. These include heating and air conditioning systems, refrigerators, washing machines, pumps, fans and the like. Household appliances like vacuum cleaners and blenders, and power tools like saws, sanders and drills are another common cause of electrical disturbances." These disturbances can lead not only to damaged electronics, but can also lead to electrical fires in the house.

My goal in stating these hidden hazards is not to work you up into a tizzy, but to make you aware of the need for frequent household inspections. You should inspect your home every spring looking at key areas to ensure that your home isn't falling apart.

Every year you should clear gutters and downspouts, check decks and rails for damaged and unsealed wood, and check for any signs of termite damage. You should hire a professional to have your air conditioner and heating serviced, and to clean and inspect your fireplace. You will also want to check the attic to look for pests and roof damage, and check the basement for signs of foundation or structure issues.

If you liked this you should also read my blogs at the homeschool blog, the parents blog, and the frugal blog. You can read my recent posts here.

Related Articles:

When To Call A Home Inspector

FSBO and Home Inspections

Home Inspectors: Caveat Emptor

Learn more about Andrea Hermitt

Andrea Hermitt is a native New Yorker currently residing in GA. She has been married for over 16 years and has two teenage children.

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LarryJameson (101) 10 Sep 2009 03:40 AM

Andrea, thanks for a very important article. We had the mother of all hailstorms on June 30. A few weeks later we had an insurance adjuster check the house, and he found roof damage, siding damage and more. Then, a couple weeks later, our ceilings began to discolor with water damage - unknown at the time the adjuster was here.

So, we're sort of back to square one. Another problem we're having is that hundreds of homes were damaged and that makes finding someone to come install a new roof extremely difficult.

Andrea Hermitt (5507) 17 Sep 2009 12:28 AM

Hang in there, we are waiting for out turn with the roofers too!