A periodic home inspection is something every homeowner must conduct not only for regulatory reasons but also to put their minds at ease. Home inspection reveals any problems with the house, interior, and exteriors. While a cursory observation may alert the homeowner of any trouble, some of these damages have escalated only because they weren’t observed and treated from the beginning. While a lot of these problems are apparent to the naked eye, many of them are not visible because they are taking root in obscure spaces of the house such as a corner of the attic, inside a wall, or in a dark under space within the basement.

Here are 10 reasons why you could fail the home inspection.

1. Roof problems

The roof is the most critical and sensitive part of the house as it protects the entire house from the elements of nature, the first part of the house is hurt by rain, debris, wind, snow, and other outdoor elements, and finally, it is inaccessible. If the roof is old, then there is a greater probability of failing roof inspection when you get a professional home inspection in Dallas. The home inspector will flag issues such as brittle, curled, or broken shingles, loose flashings, or leaky spots.

2. Drainage and Plumbing Issues

The common cause for drainage issues is surface grading around the house, which can lead to severe foundation damage. In such severe damage cases, one will have to call in the surfaces of a “structural engineer near me”. They will understand issues of leaky basements, mildew, or spongy soil that can cause the foundation to shift. Drainage issues may be caused due to blocked gutters, narrow drains, or blockages in the storm drains.

Plumbing issues also lead to drainage problems. They are usually caused by malfunctioning water heaters, damaged pipes, and backed-up sewage systems. Discontinued plumbing systems in old homes are prone to failure and often become a target for home inspection red flags. The home inspector will report these as incompatible plumbing materials.

3. Foundation issues

The foundation requires proper care as it can affect the entire building’s stability. Structural engineers are called in by home inspectors when the basement and walls show serious conditions of disrepair. Some signs of foundation issues are doors and windows that stick, cracks in the walls above the doorways, sloping floors, L-shaped or horizontal cracks on the exterior foundation. If the house has some serious foundation issues, it will result in major repair works including sealing the exterior foundation with waterproof coating and adjusting doors and windows to ensure that they don’t stick.

4. Pest infestation

Termite infestation is a major menace as it eats through the wood in furniture, roof, interiors of the wall, and damages the entire structure. Home inspectors have experience with identifying termite infestation and can spot these pesky menaces and the extent of the damage they have caused. If there are significant issues, then they will call for a separate termite inspection with a pest control company.

5. Mold

The word mold is the harbinger of major repair work for the house. They appear discreetly and spread rapidly, and you may not even detect them till you detect a musty odor around the house. Mold is generally caused due to excessive moisture which is a sign of leakage and drainage issues. This in turn may be caused due to plumbing issues, problems with the roof, or drainage system. If left untreated, mold can cause deep structural damage to the building, besides being harmful to the residents.

6. Problems with HVAC and Electrical Wiring

Problem with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) or electrical wiring can occur due to overloading or old appliances and wiring system. These systems are checked during routine inspection ad any malfunction is immediately highlighted. The remedies are generally to replace parts or the entire system unless there are some minor repairs.

7. Structural issues

Common structural issues that are found include sagging floor joists, rafters, and door headers. They may be major or minor, or not apparent to the untrained eye. Generally, if the home inspectors are not completely satisfied then they will advise looking for “structural engineers near me” to give the correct estimate of the extent of damage and effective remedies.

A periodic home inspection will ensure problems are rectified before they escalate, and you do not get a failed inspection report.