3 Common Property Issues and How to Prevent Them

No matter how much time and energy you spend on decorating your home and creating a cozy and comfortable environment, issues can still arise within the structure of your property. Should any such problem occur, it’s important never to ignore the issue and seek treatment as soon as possible to return your property to a safe and happy place.

1. Faulty Electrics

Having a safe electrical installation in your home is paramount to safety, as faulty electrics can cause fires and other dangers such as electric shocks. Signs of faulty electrics in your home include:

• A buzzing sound – electricity should run through your home smoothly and silently; therefore, any buzzing sound is a sign that there is a fault or frayed wires.
• Flickering lights – this can be a sign of a number of electrical issues, or it may just be an issue with one particular light fitting or wire. 
• A burning smell – this sort of smell coming from any electrical outlet or appliance can be a sign of a bigger problem 

Naturally, with any faulty electrical issue, you should call a professional electrician to deal with the problem. In terms of preventing the problem, you should ensure that you never overload plug sockets – such as through extension cords – and always maintain safe use of wires and cables, keeping away from sources of heat and water.

2. Blocked Drains

Plumbing issues and blocked drains are never fun for a property. Where blocked drains don’t exactly form a hazard to your everyday life, it can be very disruptive to the running of your household. Signs of a blocked drain include: 

• Slow drainage – you may notice that your toilet is suddenly very slow to flush completely, or your sink drainage is taking longer than usual
• Gurgling sound – smooth, effective drains shouldn’t gurgle or make unusual noises
• Foul odor – naturally, a blocked drain will produce an unpleasant odor due to the amount of backed-up waste

If you suspect you have a blocked drain or you need assistance with one, you should call a professional plumber who will be able to help you. Companies such as Pascoes offer same-day service so you can ensure that you get the issue sorted sooner rather than later. 

To prevent blocked drains, ensure that items you are flushing down the toilet are able to be broken down – for example, never flush wet wipes or sanitary items – and try not to overload any drainage system. 

3. Damp Issues

If your property has damp, this can cause long term damage not only to your property but to your health, too. Signs of damp in the home include: 

• Mold on walls – it may be hidden or very small, but you should watch out for signs of discoloration on walls.
• A damp smell – this could be very slight or only in certain rooms where the damp may have taken effect.
• Excessive condensation – this will manifest on windows and be very noticeable.

In most cases, damp can be treated through prevention and making changes within the home, but you can consult a professional to identify damp and offer guidance. To prevent damp, ensure that your home is well ventilated (such as drying clothes outside rather than putting on radiators) and that your home heating is working efficiently. You can also invest in damp-proof paint to treat minor problems of damp.