6 Crucial Tests Every NJ Real Estate Homeowner Should Perform

Keeping your NJ real estate home and family safe could be as simple as cleaning the lint out of your dryer

 

Just because you may not be able to physically see danger existing in your home does not mean it is not hiding in places such as your basement, attic or floor. The fact is that your NJ real estate home has many ways to make you sick or even kill you, from odorless deadly gas to electrocution to fire. Although it may sound ridiculous, something as little as leftover lint in your dryer can destroy your entire home.

Here are the 6 critical tests that homeowners should do to keep their houses safe:

Carbon Monoxide Detector

While you are safeguarding against unseen risk, do not forget the other deadly gas, carbon monoxide. It is a very wise idea to purchase a carbon monoxide detector in conjunction with a radon test kit. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that every home have one in order to avoid the 500 senseless deaths each year that are caused by gas leaks from appliances and furnaces.

Mold Inspection

Moisture can destroy your home, and when mold spores spread, they can cause asthma- like symptoms as well as other respiratory conditions. Some strains can even be deadly if you are exposed to them. The main problem is not moisture outside the house but moisture inside that cannot get out, such as a bathroom vent or faulty roof job. Every homeowner should check their vents annually, and make sure their NJ real estate home is vented properly.

Radon Test

Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas that is odorless and colorless. Radon gas is formed from the natural breakdown of the soil and rock underneath a home and any home can have a radon gas problem. It is known as one of the deadliest home problems, causing approximately 21,000 lung cancer-related deaths each year, according to the EPA. It usually enters the home through cracks in the foundation. NJ real estate agents, home inspectors, and contractors can help test for radon prior to purchase. Some options to deal with the presence of radon include sealing the basement floor and installing ventilation or having to completely tear up floors and pipes to reinstall them.

Lint Inspection

While many NJ real estate homeowners may regularly clean the lint from their dryer vents, it is also necessary to clean the exhaust duct and dryer vent regularly. Neglecting to clean these items can lead to a house fire very quickly. Clothes dryer fires account for about 15,600 structure fires, 15 deaths and 400 injuries annually, according to the U.S. Fire Administration's National Fire Data Center. To avoid highly combustible lint from sparking a fire, homeowners should check their vents and ducts located behind the dryer periodically.

Know Your Electrical Risk

Every NJ real estate homeowner should know where their electrical panel is located as well as what each item in the panel controls. You need to know what to do in the event something goes wrong. Once you know what you are looking at, and which breakers connect to which outlets, you can see if your wiring is putting your house at greater fire risk. One dangerous wiring problem found frequently is homeowners using circuit breakers greater than the mandated 15 or 20 amps to control lights and receptacles for common household appliances. This is illegal as well as a fire hazard. Your panel should be labeled correctly and accordingly so you know what to do in the case of an emergency.

Test for Asbestos and Lead

Prior to beginning any home improvement project, you should know about your home, such as the year it was built. Chances are if your home was constructed before 1978, it contains some kind of lead paint or building material containing asbestos. Lead paint or asbestos-filled vinyl flooring usually are not problems when they are left alone, but they can be a big problem if they are disturbed by drilling or scraping. Lead test kits sold in hardware stores are inexpensive and deliver mostly accurate results if the old paint is exposed properly.

 

The NJ real estate market is changing rapidly and expanding into new avenues almost daily. Sometimes it can be very difficult to find the answers you need on a specific topic or issue. In times like these, you need a real estate professional who will provide valuable information and trustworthy advice. For more information about NJ real estate, call us today or click here to be connected with one of our top real estate specialists.