The damp, chilly days of winter are here. Sealing your home’s exterior is vital to keeping pests and moisture out, while keeping the heat in. Not sure where to begin? Schedule a thermal imaging inspection along with your next home inspection from CalPro Inspection Group. A simple inspection can reveal your home’s greatest sources of energy loss.

Issue #1: Moisture

When is the last time you inspected your home’s doors and windows? Gaps may not be readily visible around these features, but even the slightest of gaps can wreak havoc on your home. Over time, sealants pull away from windows and doors, and allow moisture into the walls of your home. These leaks, in turn, can lead to mold and wood rot in the walls and subfloor of the home. Both of these issues are costly and difficult to repair.

Issue #2: Air Leaks

Similarly, these small, hidden cracks around your home’s windows and doors allow warm air to escape your home during the winter. This, in turn, makes your furnace work harder to keep your home at a comfortable temperature, causing your utility bills to climb. Similarly, your home’s energy efficiency is compromised. In the summer, your home will experience similar issues: warm air leaks into the home, forcing your AC to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature.

Issue #3: Pests

During the winter, pests are eager to gain access to our homes. Pests will scale walls and shimmy through tiny cracks in search of food and shelter. Common entry points include damaged vent screens, unprotected gable vents, areas compromised by wood rot, cracks around windows and doors, torn screens, vents, pipes, and more.

Solution: Seal It Up

Protecting your home from the above winter woes is relatively simple. Grab a tube of silicone caulking, and seal all potential entry points around windows and doors. Similarly, repair damaged mortar, missing shingles, rotten wood, and damaged screens. Place a grate over exposed drain pipes and a screen over gable vents. 

Schedule a Home Inspection

Water damage, air leaks, and pest infestations are not always easy to identify. If you suspect an issue with your home in Sacramento, San Jose, or the Bay Area, schedule an inspection with CalPro. As Northern California’s fastest growing inspection company, we offer comprehensive home inspections, thermal imaging inspections, mold testing, and pest control services. For more information, contact us today at (800) 474-3540.

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