Tips & Tricks For Winter Home Inspection Plans

Sometimes, it's just not possible to always plan the right time of the year for purchasing a new home. Even though the warmer months might seem like the ideal time, it can be possible that you were able to buy your new home in the winter months.

In the winter season, the cold weather makes it very difficult to inspect a new home thoroughly. There will be piles of snow everywhere (especially if you live in an area where snowfall occurs) and the climate can be extremely hostile outside. Moments like these are when you need the ideal tips for performing home inspection with your trusty home inspector and that’s what we’re going to share here as well.

Home Inspection Suggestion Plans For The Winter Season

The Roof

The roof forms the most important part of the house, which is why it needs to be inspected at first. Professional home inspector in St Augustine states that during the winter, it can be possible that the roof of the house may be covered in snow, which can easily hide any damages or missing roof shingles. That’s why inspecting the roof is extremely vital.

Moreover, you'll come to know about any insulation issues inside the attic. This is because if you see the snow melting in certain patches on the roof, then it's highly possible that there are problems with roof attic insulation. Attic insulation problems can lead to the formation of ice dams on the rooftop, leading to additional damage in the long-run.

Thus, it would be prudent to simply clean the roof by shovelling the snow away and then inspecting it minutely.

The HVAC System

The winter season is probably the best time to test the home’s HVAC system. The HVAC system includes both the cooling as well as heating units. Since you’ll not need the cooling unit in operation during the winter season, it’s essential to test out the heating unit in operation.

Ensure that when you turn on the heating unit, the heat is spread in a balanced manner throughout the entire house structure. Moreover, there shouldn’t be any air leaks around the doors and windows, because the overall insulation of the house will be extremely affected.

The home inspector will also look for any signs of carbon monoxide leaks from the system or any possible repairs. If the system is many years old already, then you might have to think about replacing it because the efficiency of the system will be lacklustre.

The Plumbing System

During the winter season, the plumbing system must be checked for any signs of water blockages. There can also be instances of frozen pipes developing hairline cracks, which can burst at any time. Such a scenario can take place, especially when the heating system inside the home has been switched off or water doesn't regularly run through the pipes.

Proper plumbing maintenance before the winter season is a must and it can help you avoid any unnecessary costs or headaches later on.

The Drainage & Foundation

The home inspector should be actively looking for any damages to the house foundation. Any cracks at the bottom of the house must be taken care of because the foundation forms the base and if the base becomes unstable, then the entire house might collapse.

And then comes the drainage system of the house. It should be noted that any improper drainage system can flood your basement and even damage the foundation. There will also be signs of soil erosion.

Lastly, we highly suggest using the home inspection procedure as the perfect opportunity to learn more about your new house.