Category Archives: Pests

Home Inspector in NJ

Could Termites Be Feasting On Your Home? A Home Inspector in NJ Shares Stories

Home inspections, DIY, Pests, ,

Could Termites Be Feasting On Your Home? A Home Inspector in NJ Shares Stories          

What lives in your walls, can make your house fall, and makes a rustle-y sound? Termites! These pesky little critters cause over five billion dollars of damage in America each year, and even worse—your insurance plan usually won’t cover it. How do you know if you have termites, or if a property you are about to purchase has termites? By contacting a skilled home inspector in NJ. Keep reading to find out more!

Signs of Termites in Your Home

Termites leave plenty of evidence behind if you know how to look for it! Many people report unusual signs of wear in their homes as one of the first signs, such as loose or droopy drywall, peeling paint, “water damage” looking problems but without any sign of water, hollow-sounding walls, buckling floors, loose tiles, crumbling wood, stuck windows and doors, and termite debris. Some people report hearing a rustling sound from inside the walls, sometimes worse at certain times of year. These are all signs that a termite infestation may be happening!

Why Investigate Termites?

Insects are our friends… sometimes. Termites usually are not, which is why it pays to have a proper home inspection done to determine if these little pests are in your walls. Termites should live underground, but they like to burrow into the wood in your home as well. Left to their own devices, they will literally eat your house from the inside out, making every structure unstable. What could be worse? They leave the digested bits of your home behind, bringing additional moisture, debris, and contamination into your home.

Termite Inspection

If you’ve noticed any of the signs above, or if you have noticed swarms of flying termites around your property, mud tubes around the foundation of your home, or “ant frass,” a combination of sawdust, body parts, and digested wood—better known as poo!—you need to call a home inspector right away for a termite inspection.

Your skilled home inspector in NJ will inspect the perimeter of your home and its foundation, the interior of every room, and spaces like attics, basements, and garages. A skilled home inspector from Eagle Home Inspections can help you determine the size and scope of your termite problem, and provide tips for remediating it.

Home Inspector in NJ

Here’s How Home Inspectors in NJ Keep You Safe From Radon Poisoning

Home inspections, DIY, Pests

Are you at risk of radon poisoning? Home inspectors in New Jersey get calls on a regular basis from concerned homeowners asking if radon poisoning could get them in their homes. Here’s some info you need about radon and your health, and how home inspectors in NJ keep you safe!

What is Radon and Why Is It Bad?

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer—after smoking cigarettes! This natural gas comes directly from the earth, but just because it is natural doesn’t mean it is safe. Radon can seep into your lungs and gives off radiation that can cause lung cancer. Radon is actually a byproduct of uranium—that’s right, the same substance used in radioactive materials! Uranium is a heavy metal that is found throughout the soil and rocks across the globe. Radon can also come from building materials like concrete and granite, but this is usually at such low levels that it won’t bother you.

How Do I Know If My Home in NJ Has Radon?

Pretty much any home has some radon in it. The real question is does your home have dangerous levels of radon? To find this out, you need a skilled home inspector—or a kit and some advanced equipment! But for most people, calling a qualified radon home inspector in New Jersey is the fastest and most accurate way to measure the radon levels in your home.

What do I Do About Radon in my Home?

Working alongside your trusted home inspector in NJ, you can identify the likely sources of radon, such as cracks or leaks in the foundation of your home, or insulate basements or crawl spaces. Effective ventilation is vital, as good airflow dilutes the radon, making the air safer to breathe. After you’ve made changes to your property, don’t forget a follow-up radon test from your trusted home inspector.

Radon is no joking matter! For radon testing and other air quality issues inside your home, you need a qualified, experienced home inspector. The team at Eagle Home Inspections is waiting on your call!

Home Inspector in NJ

Should You Be Worried About Black Mold? Home Inspectors in Northern NJ Share Tips!

Home inspections, Buying and Selling, DIY, Pests, Smart Finance, Uncategorized, Water Issues

One of the things that plagues many homeowners is the threat of black mold, toxic mold, or toxic black mold. Home inspectors in New Jersey have encountered this environmental challenge a few times, but not as often as we hear questions about it! Here’s your basic primer on “black mold” and how a home inspection keeps you safe.

What is black mold, exactly?

Contrary to many people’s belief, there is no scientific “black mold.” In fact, up to 20,000 species of mold can be black in color, and many others that are green, purple, or brown, can look black in certain lighting. The mold that most people refer to as “black mold” or “toxic mold” is usually Stachybotrys, a specific type of mold that has been found in many homes where people have gotten sick. But keep reading, because your trusted home inspector has something even more important to share!

Will it kill me? Or make me sick?

Unlike actual toxins, like certain chemicals or botulism, coming into contact with mold will not immediately kill or harm you in most cases. When people have problems with mold, it is usually due to a number of factors, including allergies, immune system responses, and the types and severity of mold. Good news and bad news: While there is no single “toxic black mold” that will come in and get you while you sleep, mold of any sort can cause respiratory, allergy, and skin problems, as well as other reported health symptoms. Mold is also a sign of water or moisture collecting inappropriately in your home—something any home inspector in NJ will warn can create major problems such as structural challenges.

How do I ensure good air quality?

There are two ways to judge the air quality in your home—unofficial, and scientific. The unofficial way to check is to give it a sniff! Do you notice mold, mildew, or other unpleasant scents? Does a certain room always trigger a sneezing fit? For major issues, your nose knows! For a more scientific and accurate air quality inspection, you need expensive tools that actually collect and measure the particles in your air! Fortunately, your trusted home inspector in Northern New Jersey has these tools and technologies ready and waiting.

For the deepest peace of mind, and best assurance of clean air, hire a home inspector in NJ to help. Eagle Home Inspections in Northern NJ is ready to help address your air quality and mold issues today!