Don’t Lose Your Chill This Winter

I enjoy experiencing four seasons in New Jersey. This could easily be a Frankie Valli reference given the area, and while true, is more-so in the context of the weather. But you knew that, of course.

Now let’s try to keep this relevant to the home inspection realm. For starters, a change of season can mean a shift in inspection strategies and planning. Let’s take winter, for instance. Because it’s pretty inescapable at the moment. There are certain inherent limitations that come with this cold and blustery time of year. Personally, I try and limit standard home inspections to kick-off no later than 3 PM, as scheduling allows. This is to take advantage of the very limited amount of daylight we can squeeze out before 5 PM feels like midnight. Once the sun sets, we lose the ability to effectively inspect the exterior. Now if the scope of inspection doesn’t include exterior systems and components to begin with…then by all means book when the sun don’t shine. Or something like that.

In the midst of winter, and frankly spring and fall are absolutely prone to inclusion in this tidbit, a home inspection will likely disclaim activating the central air conditioning system…aside from a visual observation. When the temperature is below 65 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 24 hours, which happens for weeks and months at a time in New Jersey, the general “rule of thumb” is that operating a/c units under these colder conditions may damage the appliance. To avoid the risk of damage during the inspection, we’d recommend having an HVAC specialist perform a pressure diagnostic test. And be sure to obtain maintenance and warranty records, if available.

So what else is exciting about wintertime? Snow…which could be anywhere and everywhere along the exterior of a home. Sitting frozen on the roof, wedged right up against the foundation, burying HVAC appliances, or caked onto driveways and walkways. Even just hiding general grounds and grading conditions. The combination of cold weather and snow may also limit our ability to test outdoor outlets and hose bibs. Whether they’re inaccessible or seasonally deactivated, in the case of the hose bibs. In these snowy scenarios, it’s particularly important to have reference photos to compare the same components when seasonal conditions allow. And take steps to ensure they are properly inspected and tested prior to usage. The inspection report will always inform you of what was and wasn’t inspected (and why) - so you’re never left guessing!

Since we’ve spent the greater part of this literary adventure ragging on winter, which admittedly wasn’t my intent, here’s a fun little field project that summertime can’t offer. After it snows, maybe a day or so later, check out all the roofs in the neighborhood as you’re driving around. Look for the house that seems unusually clean of rooftop snow. If you work for an insulation installer - that’s your next customer. A roof that is particularly more visible than the adjacent houses means that there’s an insulation issue, because typically our attics aren’t conditioned living spaces. And heating or cooling your attic space may mean higher energy costs. Not cool.

As we hunker down during the colder months, there’s a few winter-specific talking points that come to mind, that are partially responsible for why I felt the need to share my profound thoughts with the masses in the first place. If you have low level appliance vents such as water heaters, HVAC intakes and exhausts, or dryer vents - make sure they can breathe! Keep them clear of snow drifts to thwart the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if they backdraft towards the house. If you have a whole-house humidifier, change the filter to avoid the potential for mold growth. If you have radiators or baseboard heating - I’m jealous! Be thankful you have comfortable, naturally humid warmth throughout your home. The dry air that the rest of us experience really takes a toll on people, pets, and the house itself.

Enjoy your fireplaces, but make sure to give them the TLC they deserve. If they’re woodburning, keep the firebox clean of leftover ash. And have a reputable company check the chimney liner for cracks or blockages. If you have a gas fireplace, make sure the vent/damper is open. And if the glass is removable, maybe tidy up the fake logs in case they’ve shifted throughout the year. I usually Windex both sides of the glass at the start of the season to remove the haze buildup. Oh…and do all of this BEFORE you fire-up the pilot light. Safety first. Always. Then change the remote batteries. Or you’ll end up grabbing your hot chocolate, shuffling over to the couch, pulling up the blanket, opening the book, telling Alexa to play Michael Bublé - only to have it all ruined because your remote is dead.

So what’s the bottom line here? Well right now I’d love to see the grass outside, for a change. And not have to wear three layers just to bring the trash out. But I digress. The bottom line is to recognize that each season means it’s time to reframe our minds when it comes to our houses. Whether it’s adapting home inspections, or checking off a few to-dos in your home so you can mark them to-done. Again, I’m writing this from the Garden State, so viewers at home in different climates may find very little of this relevant. Bummer…but thanks for being here regardless.

I just thought of one more thing before you go. Radon…it’s a naturally occurring radioactive gas, and is the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers. Winter is a great time of year to check for radon. Levels tend to be higher in the colder months due to the stack effect. I’ll let you Google that because it’s both cool and confusing, and may be part of another post on a different day. And since testing requires closed building conditions…that definitely seems to be the going trend around here lately.

If there’s anything pressing I left out, or if you just want to thank me for reminding you about the remote batteries, reach out anytime.