Home Health Checklist: A Complete Ohio Property Guide

1. Your Foundation

Assess Your Home’s Structural Health

Your home’s foundation or structural supports should be carefully monitored and maintained for signs of hydrostatic pressure. This forceful pressure builds up when water comes into contact with materials like concrete. From that point, the supports will have a hard time remaining at a consistent temperature. As a result, your supports will rapidly expand and contract until they eventually fracture under stress.

If not prevented properly, these significant damages become irreversible, and soon enough, you lose your home’s value. Similarly, this kind of damage can put your health and safety at risk.

These symptoms can occur inside and outside your home. Sometimes, signs of damage to the outside of your home can indicate signs of significant internal damage as well. Keep an eye on your chimney and reach out to a professional if it looks like it’s leaning or suffering from cracks. Also, be sure to watch for signs of foundation damage and keep an eye on settlement from the outside of your home.

2. Your Crawl Space

Pay Attention to What’s Under Your House

Ohio homes can have either a basement or a crawl space, but it’s not uncommon for these properties to have both. Keep in mind that crawl spaces tend to be more sensitive to damage than basements.

One of the most common signs of damage in crawl spaces is mold growth. Mold loves to take root in the insulation in your crawl space. To maintain good home health, you’ll need to make a consistent effort to keep this space as dry as possible. Allergies or respiratory problems may arise if mold and dampness are not addressed.

If you notice that your utility bills are rapidly rising, this could also be an indicator of a damaged crawl space. HVAC systems have a much more difficult time controlling the temperature in a space with constantly fluctuating humidity. Additionally, excessive moisture can cause your pipes to leak, resulting in worsening moisture in addition to higher water bills.

3. Your Basement

Thoroughly Check Your Basement

If you don’t have a crawl space in your home, you probably have a basement. Although basements are somewhat less sensitive than crawl spaces, you’ll still want to carefully look over this area. If you let your basement go unprotected from water damage, you can put your structural supports at risk while also giving mold the perfect place to thrive.

4. Your Concrete

Don’t Forget Concrete On Your Property

Not only should check the internal spaces of your home, but you won’t want to forget any exterior spaces as well. If you have concrete slabs that are sinking, cracking, or uneven, you should call a professional before the damage results in irreparable foundation issues. 

Enjoy these graphics?

Ohio Basement Authority: The Local Authority in Home Repair and Protection

If you notice signs of home health damage, don’t wait to contact your local professionals. The foundation, basement, crawl space, and concrete repair professionals at Ohio Basement Authority can help you conduct annual inspections throughout your home. We can also provide you with a free quote on any repair services or installations you may need to help you get your home back to good health.

Holly Richards-Purpura

Content Writer

Holly is a Content Writer for Groundworks who has written and edited web content for the foundation services industry for almost 10 years. With a background in journalism, her passion for the written word runs deep. Holly lives in Columbus, OH, with her husband. Along with educating homeowners, she also has a big heart for the Big Apple.

Related Resources

9 Reasons Why Your Home Has Foundation Cracks

Foundation cracks are common, resulting from several causes. Learn the sources of foundation cracks and what you can do about them.

3 Most Common Causes of Crawl Space Problems

Tired of dealing with musty smells and mold in your home? It may be time to encapsulate your crawl space. Learn about the causes of crawl space problems.

How To Handle Basement & Crawl Space Humidity

Does the air in your home ever feel heavy? This is a sure sign of high humidity, which likely originates from your basement or crawl space. Especially during Central and Southern Ohio’s wet and muggy summer months, hot and humid air can easily leak into your basement or crawl space. This unstable air leads to a […]

Concrete Lifting with Foam: How Does It Work?

Lifting concrete with foam is effective. How does it work? Learn how to lift sinking concrete with polyurethane foam injections.