Happier Home Inspections

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Why is drainage so important in the DFW area? The Dallas Fort Worth area unfortunately has clay soil, so making sure you have good drainage is very important. As water ponds around your foundation

How do I prevent termites from getting into my house?

If you live in the DFW area termite could become an issue. Do you know what attracts termites? What to look for? What you can do to prevent a termite infestation?

A little background on termites. Termites eat cellulose which is found in wood. They also like wet conditions. So what can you do? Here are 9 tips to prevent termites from taking up residence in your home.

Prevention tips for termite prevention:

1. Keep shrubs and bushes trimmed so that they are is at least 18 inches from the house. Since shrubs, bushes, and trees are a food source for termites this will keep them from getting too close to your house.

2. Always buy treated mulch or keep mulch a safe distance from your home. It may be good for you shrubs and bushes to maintain moisture in the Texas heat but it needs to be kept 18 inches to 2 feet from your home if it is not treated. I recommend staying away from free mulch. It is usually free because it has termites

3. Keep wood materials away from the house. Don’t store firewood or any other wood against or in close proximity to the house.

4. Repair Leaky Pipe and Gutters – termites dehydrate easily so they look for a moisture source. Leaky plumbing and faulty gutters provide a place for termites to get the moisture they need.

5. Good Drainage is critical to make sure the water drains away from your home. Pools of water near your home is an invitation for termites.

6. Protect the exterior of your home by keeping the paint in good condition, repairing cracks, and caulking. This eliminates potential points of entry.

7. Eliminate any wood contact with the soil. This one may not apply to many homes but some older homes may have wood that comes in contact with the soil.

8. If you have a house with a crawlspace, keep all wood and wood products cleaned up. Termites come up from the ground. Wood under your house is a great source of food and attracts them to your house.

Do it yourself inspection tips. What to look for.

1. Look for mud tubes around your foundation. These are used by termites to travel into your house to eat your wood framing. Some ants make tubes. Disturb the tube. If the insects start running around quickly it is typically an ant tube.
termite crawlspace termite slab

2. It is always a good idea to know what you are looking for. It is easy to mix them up with ants. Check out the pictures below.

3. Inspect your home regularly. With busy lives this may be a tough one to do. You can always hire a professional company to inspect your home and provide proactive treatments to protect your home year round.

Remember, a well maintained home is a Happier Home!
For more tips on home maintenance please visit http;//happierhomeinspections.com

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Time to change your smoke detector and CO2 detector batteries. - Happier Home Inspections It is recommended that batteries are changed in smoke detector and or carbon monoxide (CO2) detector every six months to a year.

Summer is coming to Plano Texas: Time to take care of your foundation.

Caring for your foundation.

If you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth, your foundation is a concern due to our clay soil. Clay soil shrinks and contracts depending on the moisture content. With our hot summers here is the DFW area the soil is going to dry out. Keeping the moisture content around your house's foundation is important to maintain it. So what can you do?

1. Drip irrigation.

A drip line irrigation system is a great way to keep the soil content even around the foundation. The system is set to one of your zones in your sprinkler system so it can be set as needed. When there are water restrictions and you can only use your sprinklers once or twice a week, this does not apply to your drip line.

2. Soaker hoses.

If you do not have a drip line irrigation system around your foundation and it is not in the budget, a soaker hose is your next best solution. My suggestion is to get a line splitter for your outdoor faucet, a programmable timer, and enough soaker hoses to reach around the perimeter of your foundation.

With the timer, once it is set, you only need to check the batteries once in a while you are set.

3. Extenders on downspouts.

Your foundation needs support. If you have gutters and are not extending the bottom elbows at least 36 inches, the erosion can remove enough dirt that your foundation is not being supported properly. The soil around your house should be no higher than 6 inches to wood siding and 4 inches from brick. However, you need to keep enough soil around the perimeter of your foundation. If you can see the bottom of your foundation, dirt is required.

Remember, a well-maintained home is a Happier Home!

For more maintenance tips please visit:
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How to get rid of that garbage disposal smell. - Happier Home Inspections How to get rid of that garbage disposal smell. These 3 methods will keep your kitchen smelling fresh and the second method is a kid favorite,.

Drywall cracks, what does it mean?

If you live in the DFW area and own a house, it is a good bet you have at least one crack on your wall. What does it mean?

When you see a crack in your wall, there are many things you need to consider before calling a specialist. Is it close to a door or under a window? Is the floor sloping around the crack? You also want to look at the shape. Is the crack straight or horizontal? Is there separation? Are windows and or doors close by sticking and or not shutting? Are there other stress indicators on the exterior wall close by? An inspector has to look at all of these things and more to determine when to recommend a foundation specialist.

To read more about drywall cracks please visit http://happierhomeinspections.com

How to turn the water off to your house Every home owner should know how to turn the water off to their house in case of an emergency, Waiting for a plumber means more damage and huge repair costs.

How to turn the water off to your house.

Every homeowner should know how to turn the water off to their house in case of an emergency. Knowing how to turn the water off to your house can reduce the amount of damage done.

Two tools every home owner should have and keep handy are water meter cover removal key and a water meter value key. These can be found at any hardware store for less that $25 combined.

What you need to know to turn off your water to your house.

Start by locating your water meter. On most houses in the DFW area have their meter located close to their mailbox, between the house and sidewalk, 5 feet from the street or in the back alley in the grassy area. Use the water meter cover removal key that fits your water meter. Insert it into the hole on the top. If your water meter cover does not come up, you will need to turn it until the level on the side opens up. Lift the cover off. Locate the water meter value. Use the water meter value key to turn the value so that it looks like a lock could be placed on it. For more maintenance tips and blogs please visit http://happierhomeinspections.com