MOLD AND THE RISKS TO YOUR HEALTH

Most people don’t know when mold is growing in their home. Since mold especially likes dark, moist places to grow it is often out of sight and goes unnoticed. That is until it starts to affect the health of anyone in your house, including your pets. Although homes near bodies of water are more susceptible to mold due to increased moisture, any structure can develop mold growth. You will never be sorry you had an inspection for mold in your home. Aurora Home Inspections, LLC has the experience and expertise to look for mold in all the places where it might be hiding.

How Do We Inspect for Mold?

A thorough mold investigation might include indoor air samples looking for mold spores. We also perform surface, bulk and swab sampling. We measure the temperature and humidity inside your home, and we determine moisture levels present in wood, drywall and concrete.

How Does Mold Affect Your Health?

You may be sneezing, coughing, have watery eyes. Usually you assume this is due to
allergies or a cold. The cause could be mold. Mold can lead to serious health issues
for children, adults, and even pets. People with compromised immune systems are
especially susceptible. Symptoms of illness caused by mold infestation can include
asthma attacks, itchy and watery eyes, coughing, throat irritation and sinus congestion.
Pets can exhibit symptoms of mold irritation as well. They might have an increase in
scratching, licking, or chewing on their skin.

Protect Your Health By Having a Certified Mold Inspection

Mold is very often undetectable as it is hiding in dark, moist places. Sometimes you can
smell it, but most of the time you don’t know it is growing in your home. Aurora Home
Inspections, LLC is the most experienced and competent Bergen County NJ mold inspector. Our inspectors know where to look for mold and all its hiding places.

If you suspect mold in your home, give us a call at (201) 476-9200 to schedule an appointment. You’ll
never regret having a mold inspection in your home!

Home Fire Safety Routine – A Priority

Smoke Alarms are the number one fire safety installations in your home. They need to be maintained and replaced when the manufacturer instructs. The batteries smoke alarms run on also need to be replaced regularly as directed. Planning an escape route is another priority in fire safety for your family. This escape route should be talked about and rehearsed on a regular basis, especially if there are children or older people living in the home. A Home Fire Safety Routine is a good way to keep everyone alert to the dangers of fire.

Smoke Alarms and Other Alerts

Most people assume that if they have a smoke alarm in their house, they are protected. Smoke alarms are great and have alerted many families to a fire in their home. These devices need to be maintained, tested and replaced on a regular basis. You should know when you last replaced the batteries too. While sensing technology in smoke alarms is always improving, most smoke alarms expire after 10 years. This is usually stated in the instructions that come with the device. The National Fire Protection Association says that “three out of five home fire deaths occur in homes without smoke alarms or from missing or dead batteries”.  A Carbon Monoxide alarm is also an important device for ensuring the safety of your home. First Alert, makers of home safety products, offers some sound advice for ensuring your family’s protection from fire.

How Many and Where?

Usually, one smoke alarm isn’t enough. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends a smoke alarm be installed in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of a home, including the basement. They also recommend one carbon monoxide alarm on each level and in each sleeping area.

These alarms should be installed properly. To prevent false alarms of your smoke detector take the time to read manufacturer guidelines on where to install them. For example, they shouldn’t be installed too close to ovens, windows, doors or ducts. Smoke alarms should ideally be placed high on walls or on the ceiling as smoke rises and placing the alarm high makes detection easier. The NFPA advises you to install dual-sensor alarms because they offer the best early detection of all types of common household fires.

Don’t Forget That Escape Plan

Installing and maintaining  Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors is essential to the safety of your home. But in the event of a fire or any other emergency you still need an escape plan. Walk through your house and look for all possible exits. You should try to have two ways out of each room. Ideally these escapes should be practiced twice yearly. Of course, the best defense is a good offense – learn the basics of house fire prevention.

Home Inspection is a Good Place to Start Fire Prevention

Aurora Home Inspections has been offering 5 Star Home Inspections, Buyers Inspection, Certified Move in Ready, Warranty Inspection, Vacation Inspection, Maintenance Inspection and Radon Testing to home buyers and home sellers in Bergen County NJ, Rockland County NY and environs. Home Inspection can help prevent things like home fires by making you aware of potential hazards in a house. Call us today at (201) 654-6505.

Termites: The Silent Destroyers

Termites are insects that feed on wood and are closely related to cockroaches in taxonomic rank. They are one of the most successful groups of insects on earth, with some “queens” living up to 30 to 50 years. 

There are many reasons that termites have gained the nickname “silent destroyers.”

In fact, you can say there are five billion reasons.

Termites cause more than $5 billion in property damage in the U.S. each year. If left unchecked, they can silently chew through the structural stability of a home, eating away at wood, flooring, and even wallpaper. To make matters worse, the damage they leave behind is not typically covered by most homeowners’ insurance policies.

This is why reaching out for a local termite inspection at the first suspected sign is crucial in keeping damages to a minimum. 

How to Spot Termites

Spring is the prime-time for termite populations as they emerge in search of new structures to invade. Termite explorers, referred to as swarmers, will look for hospitable homes, and are particularly attracted to structures that may have sustained damage from severe winter weather or have dead or decaying wood on the property. Once these swarmers have determined a home to be a good fit, it’s likely that they will settle in and begin a new colony, growing into a full-blown termite infestation over time.

The following are some signs of infestation to help you spot termites in your home.

Mud tubes – Subterranean termites, the most destructive termite species, build mud tubes to provide moisture while they travel between their colony and food source. Mud tubes are most often found near the home’s foundation.

Wood damage – Termites tend to eat wood from the inside out, so wood that sounds hollow when tapped often signifies a termite infestation. Homeowners should also look for blistering pieces of wood.

Frass – Dry wood termites produce wood-colored droppings as they eat through infested wood. If a homeowner finds a small pile of what looks like pellets inside or outside the home, it could be a sign of a dry-wood termite infestation.

It’s a good rule of thumb to have your home inspected for termites once every two to three years, and every year if you live in the south or in warmer climates. If termites are suspected, a pest control professional will be needed to eliminate the problem. At Aurora Home Inspections, we offer termite inspections to all of Bergen County NJ and the surrounding area. 

Termite or flying ant?

Many people will see termite swarmers in homes during the spring and mistake them for flying ants; this can end up being a costly mistake. Winged termites have a straight waist, straight antennae and their wings are equal in size. Flying ants, on the other hand, have waists that are pinched in the middle, bent antennae and two sets of wings, with the top set being larger than the lower.

Termites are also most likely to swarm in the spring, while flying ants may swarm at various times of the year.

Our Top 10 Termite Prevention Tips

The good news is that there are plenty of ways homeowners can help protect against termites, while in turn, protecting their greatest investment — their home. The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) offers this termite advice:

• Eliminate or reduce moisture in and around the home, which termites need in order to thrive.
• Repair leaking faucets, water pipes and exterior AC units.
• Repair fascia, soffits and rotted roof shingles.
• Replace weather stripping and loose mortar around basement foundation and windows.
• Divert water away from the house through properly functioning downspouts, gutters and splash blocks.
• Routinely inspect the foundation of a home for signs of mud tubes (used by termites to reach a food source), and wood that sounds hollow when tapped.
• Monitor all exterior areas of wood, including windows, door frames and skirting boards for any noticeable changes. Remove dead trees and replace rotting wood.
• Maintain an 18-inch gap between soil or mulch and any wood portions of your home.
• Consider scheduling a professional inspection annually. Wood-boring insect damage is not covered by homeowners’ insurance policies.
• Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house.

Termites cannot be controlled with do-it-yourself measures. If you spot termites or suspect an infestation in your home, contact a licensed pest control professional immediately to determine the extent of the problem and receive a recommendation of an appropriate course of treatment.

If you’re in the Bergen County NJ or surrounding area, Aurora Home Inspections can assist with all your termite inspection needs.

How to Spot Termites in Your Home

Aurora Home Inspections offers Bergen County NJ and the surrounding area home inspection services, including specialized services that detect the presence of termites, mold, or radon. We offer a 100% guarantee and include a 90 Day Limited Warranty, Mold Safe, Termite Protection Plan, Radon Protection Plan, Platinum Roof Protection Plan, Concierge Service, and Homeowner’s Resource providing access to professionals for questions related to your NJ home.

Call (201) 476-9200 Today or Click To Schedule Online 24/7 Right From Our Website.

10 Fall Home Maintenance Tips for Bergen County NJ Homeowners
by Aurora Home Inspections

Fall has hit, time to get the house ready for cooler temps.

These home maintenance tips should help, including: 

Close up and insulate the crawlspace vents;
Insulate exposed piping as needed, including waste lines in cold or unheated areas;
Do your annual boiler or furnace and hot water tanks maintenance, including changing filters on furnaces and oiling pump motors;
Have the chimney and all the flues inspected and cleaned by a reputable and licensed chimney company;
Install storm windows and doors;
Turn off outdoor water supplies;
Remove, roll out, drain and store hoses;
Cover up the BBQ grill (unless you use it all year);
Clean gutters and downspouts;
Look at the caulking around windows and doors, re caulk where necessary;
Trim trees and shrubs away from the house AND
Cover up and store away outdoor furniture!

Need an Inspection? Call Aurora Home Inspections!

Home maintenance is always necessary, but if you feel an inspection is in order we can help! A good Home Inspection can help you maintain, buy or sell your home with confidence. As experienced professionals we have seen a lot, and we’ll provide invaluable information to help turn you into a knowledgeable home owner who can identify problems in the making and take preventive measures to avoid costly repairs. A knowledgeable home seller will understand conditions that a future buyer’s inspector may point out, placing the property in better selling condition by making repairs.

Our inspection services include:

• MOLD INSPECTIONS
• RADON INSPECTIONS
• TERMITE INSPECTIONS
• PRE- LISTING
• BLDG & COMMERCIAL
• HOME, CONDO AND TOWNHOUSE

Construction material costs in 2018 are up about 10 percent compared to last year, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, and some raw materials, like crude petroleum, are up nearly 50 percent. Labor is also getting more expensive as construction workers are in high demand due to the skilled labor shortage.

So, as a homeowner getting ready to start a project, what can you do to mitigate these rising costs?

1. Don’t delay

Building materials are projected to get even more expensive and the project backlog for some contractors across the country is up to three or four months. Waiting to start the process of a home repair or improvement, especially a needed one like a new roof, could push off the repair for months due to the contractor’s schedule, and only cause the project to get more expensive as building material costs continue to rise.

2. Look for low-cost quality products

Home improvement isn’t the place to cut corners by buying the cheapest supplies, but in many product segments there is a low-cost leader — a product or brand comparable in quality to more expensive brands, but offered at a lower cost to provide the best value per dollar.

3. Choose a reputable contractor

Don’t cut corners when hiring a contractor. Even if it may be more expensive upfront, or result in a longer waiting period for work to start, hiring an experienced local contractor with a good reputation can save thousands of dollars in the long run.

“A good contractor should be able to show homeowners their license to practice and a certificate of insurance,” said Rick Taylor, Field Sales Training Manager for TAMKO Building Products, a leading manufacturer of asphalt roofing shingles.

A bonus, Taylor said, are certifications from the manufacturers of products the contractor installs, whether it be roofing, flooring or cabinets.

“Every company has the best way to install their products, and being educated on that preferred installation can go a long way in the product performing the way it was intended to,” Taylor said.

A reputable local contractor is more likely to do the job right the first time and be more willing to address any potential problems with the project in the future.

4. Plan, plan, plan

With any home improvement project, there are many decisions to be made, both large and small. Making as many of those decisions early in the process can reduce project delays or rework. Some of the decisions that can be made before the contractor ever starts to include establishing the scope of the project, identifying potential issues, having utilities mark lines and deciding what brands to use and product colors to install.

– (BPT)

Related Video:

How Much Does it Cost to Fix up a House?

Aurora Home Inspections has been providing 5 Star Home Inspections, Buyer’s Inspection, Certified Move In Ready, Warranty Inspection, Vacation Inspection, Maintenance Inspection and Radon Testing to home buyers and home sellers in the following areas of Bergen County NJ, Rockland County NY and all cities and counties in the area since 2006.

Friendly, Professional and Expert ~ Aurora Home Inspections

Call (201) 654-6505 Today or Click To Schedule Online 24/7 Right From Our Website.