Bump in the night: How to tell if creepy house noises are signs of a problem

'Tis the season to be scared, and if you've been watching a lot of horror movies recently, you may be wondering where all those creepy noises your house makes are coming from. Don't worry — they're probably not ghosts or serial killers hiding in your closets and dark corners. (Probably.) However, some noises can signal problems in a home's maintenance that should be fixed before winter. Here's what some of those spooky noises might mean:

• Bubbling: It could be that a coven of witches have taken up residence in your basement. Or it could be that sediment has accumulated in your water heater and is bubbling to the surface, which means that the heater should be flushed out and may be in need of repair.
• Clanking: Unless you're Ebenezer Scrooge waking up to the ghost of his business partner in chains, a clanking noise is normal during the period right after you turn on your heating system for the first time. However, this can also mean that the circulator pump in your hot water heater is failing, so it couldn't hurt to have a professional check on it.
• Scratching: This can be a sign of something almost as bad as a haunting: an infestation of mice, rats or even bats. If you hear scratching in your walls, put out traps and call an exterminator ASAP, then make sure to seal off all cracks or holes that critters could use to enter your home.
• Whistling: Rather than a ghost trying to seem innocent as it makes its way through your house, whistling sounds are usually caused by a clogged furnace filter. Changing your filters regularly will keep exhaust from the furnace from spreading throughout the house.

Got noises you need checked out? Contact Alban today for a home inspection.

As the old saying goes, a stitch in time saves nine, and here at Alban Inspections our equivalent is "a home inspection in time saves time and money later." Having your home inspected before winter is a commonsense way of making sure you and your family are prepared for the hazards and difficulties of the season. Here are three reasons why it's wise to schedule an inspection sooner rather than later:

• Convenience: As the cold season ramps up, so does the number of calls to home inspection businesses from homeowners and renters with weather-related repairs that have taken them by surprise. Scheduling your inspection ahead of time helps you beat the traffic, so to speak, and make sure your home is ready for the inclement weather ahead.
• Heat safety: Before you start using your home heating system regularly, it is important that you check it for defects that might pose a safety risk later on. Gas and carbon monoxide leaks are extremely dangerous if not noticed right away, but easy to correct once they are. There is also the risk of fire caused by dust and debris accumulating in the heating system while it sits unused, then combusting once the heat is turned on. Having your heating system cleaned and checked for leaks ensures that your family will stay both warm and safe through the winter.
• Roof integrity: If there are any structural flaws in your roof, the pressure of accumulated snow and ice can cause them to worsen, leading to cave-ins and other damage. A home inspection can discover these flaws even when they aren't obvious, allowing you to take measures to fix them before the snow starts to fall.

In conclusion: why wait? Call Alban Inspections today to schedule your inspection.

As they say, the first step toward recovery is realizing you have a problem. Sometimes mold in the home is obvious, but often it takes a good deal of attention to the condition of your house to realize that there may be hidden mold growing. Here are some subtler signs to watch out for that may indicate the presence of stealthy mold:

• Odor: If certain parts of your house smell a bit musty, but you can't find the source, you should err on the side of caution and have your house inspected. Oftentimes an unpleasant moldy smell is the only thing that tips off homeowners to the mold growing in their home.
• Allergies: If you have seasonal allergies that seem aggravated for no clear reason, or if you have started developing allergies unexpectedly while living in your home, this can be a sign of mold. This is especially likely to be the case if you experience relief from your symptoms when you leave the house.
• Moisture: Houses with water leaks or especially damp areas are hospitable environments for mold. If you find peeling or bubbling wallpaper or discoloration on the walls, it can indicate that there is mold growing underneath. If condensation often builds up in certain areas, be sure to check them regularly for mold.
• Toxic symptoms: Toxic mold is no joke, and can lead to serious mental problems such as dizziness, short attention span, headaches and memory loss. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and suspect that mold may be the cause, you should schedule a mold inspection immediately.

Never fear — Alban Inspections is here to help you tackle your mold problem head-on. If you live in the Maryland/Virginia/Washington D.C. area, contact us today and schedule an appointment for a home inspection.

The last few articles have surrounded the issue of plumbing around the house and what professional house inspectors look for to give you the clearest possible understanding of what a house you're considering is truly worth and what your future with that home may look like concerning potential repairs. One of the most significant benefits of a quality home inspection is the large savings you stand to receive. However, this isn't only because of the protection against overpaying for a house riddled with flaws.

A quality home inspection can also be a type of informal lesson in how to inspect your own home, whether by watching the inspector as he or she looks your home over or by thoroughly reviewing the report you receive after it's been completed. 

Knowing how to look over your bath tub drains is a useful tool as well. Making sure there is access to the drain is the first essential which can be tricky only because there are various places where the access panel may be, including behind the bath tub, on the wall as a return register or on the ceiling of the floor below. 

After finding the panel, fill the tub with water to the point of overflow and watch the tub to make sure there are no leaks in the tub's structure. Home inspectors don't traditionally use this test to inspect a tub and your plumbing, but not only will it let you know if your tub leaks, as the water clears out you'll be able to see if the drain leaks. Knowing ahead of time, especially before any water damage has accumulated, about any flaws in your bathtub can be a huge cost saver. 

If you live in Virginia or Washington, D.C., and want to learn more about having your house inspected, contact industry-leader Alban Inspections to schedule a professional home inspection today!

Sometimes home inspections can turn up truly unusual things, like a door that opens onto a 20-foot drop from the second floor, or a family of snakes in the walls (both true stories). However, the majority of the time, the problems discovered by our inspectors fall within a few common categories. Here are some of the problems they are most likely to find:

• Roof issues: As roofing materials age, they deteriorate, causing rainwater to leak into the home. Asphalt shingles will begin to curl up after 15 to 40 years, and concrete and slate are prone to cracking. Gaps or cracks in flashing, which guards the joints of the roof against water, are also common.
• Electrical safety: Ensuring that your house is wired properly is one of the most important parts of the home inspection, because unsafe wiring can be extremely dangerous. Exposed wires and wires that are connected only by electrical tape are common problems associated with do-it-yourself wiring jobs and should be corrected immediately if they are found. 
• Grading and drainage problems: If the surrounding ground slopes toward the house rather than away, water is directed toward the foundation and can cause leakage into the basement and structural damage. Moisture is the main cause of rot, mold and structural deterioration, so it is critical to determine whether your home is at risk for these issues.
• Lack of ventilation: A home without proper ventilation is stuffy and uncomfortable, and can become dangerous. It can also cause condensation to form on the structure, leading to moisture issues.
• General poor maintenance: Unfortunately, not all homeowners are as scrupulous as we might like them to be, and if you are moving into an older home it is likely that some of its components will be less than functional. 

To schedule your home inspection, contact Alban Inspections today at 800-822-7200. 

With winter quickly approaching, nobody wants to deal with a sudden lack of hot water, especially first thing in the morning, transforming your shower into something more like an ice storm. This is why professional home inspectors often take the time to inspect water heaters. In light of the oncoming chill of the next few months, learning about what features to look for in a water heater that may lead to malfunctions may be a good idea. 

One detail you certainly want to look for is mineral deposits. These are naturally occurring but inorganic substances — typically magnesium and calcium — that can harden inside your water heater, looking like white particles or pieces of paper which can shorten the lifespan of your water heater. A good preventative measure would be to use a little vinegar for cleaning the tank after you've drained it but before you reconnect its water source and electricity. 

Another tactic for protecting your water heater from breaking down involves simply keeping it at a safe temperature, which many experts say rests at about 120° Fahrenheit. An important fact to remember about water heaters is that they aren't designed to keep water at a specific temperature, rather just within a close temperature range.

Checking the relief valve discharge tube for signs of leaking is another way of knowing what condition your heater is in. Furthermore, leaking can be signs of a downhill slide, from corrosion to a water heater that no longer works. Corrosion can lead to serious complications if it is on the tank or any surrounding pipes, possibly leading to an expensive repair or replacement. 

If you live in the Maryland area and need a reliable and professional home inspection company, Alban Inspections  can help! Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

In a previous article we discussed how to conduct a kitchen sink inspection and determine if you're drainage system is functioning appropriately. Specifically, we outlined how pipes can become corroded with sediment on the inside, thus limiting the diameter and its ability to transport water efficiently. When carrying out a home inspection, pipes are usually looked at by professionals for several features, including corrosion and structure. 

Having good water pressure is essential for most homes and the size of water pipes is one of the leading facilitators of this need. A typical size to look for in pipes is a span from .75" to one full inch for those found at the main source locations. Other pipes ought to be at least .5" or larger.

Lead pipes in a home is another feature to consider. The substance is actually a toxin, and you may want to skip a home altogether if it uses lead piping, especially if you have children. Although, before rejecting a house completely, get a quote on how much it would cost to replace the pipes in case that makes more sense.

Knowing details like these for yourself will help you become a more efficient home owner. Another basic detail to recall when surveying your home involves the floor drains. Usually when home owners think they have a problem with a floor drain, the problem is actually somewhere else in the house, the floor drain's malfunction being a symptom of that setback. A clogged drain line often means water from upper fixtures is backing out of the lower fixtures, like the floor drain. So be sure to conduct a thorough search of your home if you suspect a problem. 

If you live in the Maryland area and believe you would benefit from a professional home inspection, contact Alban Inspections today!