3 common house problems and their solutions

3 common house problems and their solutions

The house is where you spend most of your time, when you’re not at work or school. Over a period of years, the frequent use of some homewares or fixtures in your house will eventually take a toll on them and cause them to wear out or break. Careless use can also affect the efficiency and condition of these items, and can end up with you spending a lot of money.

There are so many things that can go wrong in a home at any given time, but there’s always a solution to everything. Read on below for the usual troublemakers and how they can be taken care of.

Chipped paint

Chipped paint

When the paint on your walls or floors starts to crack, it’s probably because of the improper application of paint. It can also be because of problems in the humidity. The adhesion of the exterior paint is lost when moisture is absorbed through the wood siding’s back part and passes through the surface under the paint.

When this happens, the first thing to do is to control the problems in moisture or humidity. Air sealing should be applied so the moisture doesn’t leak. If you’re just about to start painting, apply a primer to the surface first to guarantee adhesion and the durability of paint.

Macerating toilet

Blocked toilet

If the toilet doesn’t flush right away, it’s possible that the toilet has a blockage. Wet wipes, disposable nappies and cardboard products are the usual suspects when such things happen. Don’t keep trying to flush the toilet, though, as that may cause it to overflow.

The simplest way to unclog a toilet is to use a toilet plunger. For better suction, spread petroleum jelly around the ring of the plunger, or use a plunger with an extension flange.

Start by pumping lightly since the plunger is initially full of air. Plunging vigorously straight away will force air back around the seal. This will result in water flowing back and splashing up on you.

After pumping the plunger, release its handle slowly, allowing a little water to pass. You may pump more forcefully in the next few tries. Usually, it takes fifteen to twenty tries before the toilet is unclogged.

For more persistent clogging, the problem may lie in the sewer lines. This usually happens when the toilet is located in a basement. Here, the toilet is way below the drain line, which is why gravity can’t pull the waste down.

In such cases, it’s best to install a macerating toilet instead. This kind of toilet has a macerating unit, which is found behind the toilet. The waste is sent to this unit, where high-power blades will grind the waste until it’s liquefied. The waste will then be pumped out through a normal pipe that’s connected to the main sewer line.

Steamy window

Musty smell

If you notice a mouldy odour in the air, there may be problems with the humidity in your home. There may also be water leaks you haven’t discovered. High humidity, which can be caused by daily activities like showering or cooking, may cause walls or rooms to become damp.

Water leaks can cause moisture stains to appear in certain areas at home. In that case, you should locate the leak, seal it and and add insulation. You can hire a contractor to do it for you if you’re not confident of doing it yourself.

Another way to reduce indoor moisture is to open the windows at home to let the dry air outside mix with the humid air inside the house.

Put a few drops of your favourite essential oil into the furnace filter so that its scent permeates the house. Similarly, you could burn incense sticks or scented candles in the affected rooms. They’re a temporary solution, of course, so you should still find and remedy the source of moisture and leaks.

Important to remember

If you do have these problems in your home, don’t panic just yet. There are experts who can help you remedy these problems, and if you can’t contact them right away, you still have online articles to turn to for help. Aside from that, checking your house regularly for damage and carrying out repairs will help you avoid getting caught off guard and save money.

Have you ever had a particularly tricky house problem to crack? How did you solve it? Share your story in the comments section below.

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