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A house
that is empty may be empty for a reason.
Numerous problems may plague a vacant
home. Problems such as:
•
Soil expansion -
No one regularly
cares for the
lawns of most vacant
homes. Soil deprived of
regular watering may
lose its natural
moisture. Once a new homeowner begins
to maintain the lawn, the dry
soil may expand. Resulting upheaval problems
could affect the dwelling’s
foundation.
•
Water heater -
If a water heater isn’t used,
sediment from stagnant water can build
up. That impairs regular function. If
the water heater hasn’t been used for a while,
igniting it again can cause thermal
shock.
 •
Appliances -
Motors in dishwashers
and garbage
disposals can
freeze up after the
appliances have
not been used for
some time. Seals
may dry up and
leak.
•
Thermal expansion -
The temperature in
a vacant home varies considerably. That
can cause thermal expansion in
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metal
window frames, hardware and weather
stripping, leading to cracks around
windows and in the binding of hardware
and weather stripping. Temperature
changes in lumber may crack
drywall and plaster.
• Roof
- if the drains,
flashing and roof are
not properly maintained, water can build
up. It can lead to leakage.
• Plumbing
- Rodents and other
pests often
nest in unused
pipes. These pipes are
also vulnerable to
waste solidification, which
leads to plumbing
problems. Sediment
blockage can
restrict water flow,
and dried-out washers
and gaskets can cause pipes and fixtures
to leak.
• Mechanical
- When a furnace is
reactivated after
not being used for a time, dangerous
cracks can develop in its heat exchangers.
Air conditioning systems, HVAC
systems and ceiling fans may be
unusable after being idle for an
extended period. If
you are listing a home that is or will become
vacant, please take special care.
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Anyone
experiencing symptoms should go
to an
emergency room. Let the physician
know that CO poisoning is possible.
How can you know if you’re at risk for
carbon monoxide poisoning? Ask
yourself:
1. Were the appliances properly
installed? Only
CORGI-registered
engineers should install gas appliances in
the home.
2. Is the appliance working properly?
Does the
pilot light blow out
frequently? Are there
yellow or brown
stains around the appliance?
Is there
more condensation inside
windows?
These may be signs that carbon
monoxide
is present.
3. Is there sufficient fresh air in the
room?
4. Has the appliance been maintained
properly? Like
installation, maintenance
should be performed only by CORGI
-registered engineers.
5. Does the flue or chimney get
blocked? If
any of these characteristics
are present, contact
our office so we can
put you in touch
with the proper
professional resources.
Any home
containing the fossil fuel burning appliance
should have at least two CO Detectors
installed, one near the appliance, furnace
or water heater and one in or near the
master bedroom. |
