Checklist: 7 things to change at home before it's too late

Alexandra SAVINA

It seems everyone knows how to be repaired - and if they do not understand what to do, then at least they feel when the time has come. But in reality it happens in a different way: very often we close our eyes for years to what may obviously become a problem and have a great impact on the quality of life at home - or in general puts us at serious risk. We collected seven things in the house that need to be fixed as soon as possible, until the problem has grown.

1

Smell of gas

In our childhood we were all taught that we should be wary of the smell of gas. But the older we get, the more often we hear: "Yes, it smells a little. But it's okay, I know that in the apartment a little" is leaking, just be careful. " Gas leakage is in any case a very risky situation, and you shouldn’t be sure to check your strength, and at the same time your neighbors. The procedure in which you smell gas you already know: cut off the gas supply, open the windows and call the emergency service. And do not try to repair gas stoves yourself: there is always the risk of making things worse.

2

Black mold

We do not think that at least one of the readers of this text wants to live in the same house with mold, and yet. Of course, you should get rid of any mold as soon as possible, but the so-called black one (in reality it may be greenish or gray) should be paid special attention. Prolonged contact with it causes health problems, such as irritation in the throat, which constantly makes you cough and sneeze and have pain in your eyes; it can cause rhinitis (runny nose) or asthma and so on.

Remember that mold can form in hard to reach places - it happens that it can be detected by smell, but not always. Mold likes wet areas - to cope with it, it is not enough to peel off the scurf and treat the surface with a special tool: you will have to deal with a source of moisture, possible leaks, and if you need to think about buying an air dryer. Do not save: if the mold, for example, struck the carpet, you can hardly save it.

3

Mol

Let's be honest: with moths (as, incidentally, with other pests living in the house) anyone can encounter - for sure you have ever noticed a flying insect in the apartment. You also probably know that moths can be of different types: a clothes wardrobe spoils clothes, grain feeds on cereals. Do not ignore the problem: the longer you postpone the fight against insects ("Only one flew by!"), The more likely they are to capture new areas of the apartment. And make sure that the moth is gone forever: do not feel sorry for damaged items and cereals - you are unlikely to want to eat them after a party of insects (in the extreme case, if the package looks whole, you can try to put the cereals in the freezer - but the idea that they can remain insect eggs, is unlikely to give you a calm). And make sure that the mole is really gone - it can live, for example, in a far corner of the cabinet in packages of dog food.

4

Problems with sockets

We all know that fires are better warned than extinguished. But, despite this, many calmly refer to sparkling or falling outlets, thinking that if they have been working for several years now, nothing terrible happens. Remember that even if nothing is happening now, it does not guarantee that everything will continue just as smoothly: if the socket falls out or sparkles when you insert the plug into it (as well as if the socket does not work or the switch gets very hot), about wiring problems. Remember that the old wiring should be changed: the fact that wiring for many years, may indicate, for example, old traffic jams, as well as switches and sockets left in the apartment since the times when your grandfather lived in it.

5

Leaking battery

Imagine life without a battery in central Russia is impossible - so it is important to follow it. The surest sign that the battery can be a problem - if it has been around for several decades and has not been changed since Soviet times: it is possible that its service life has long expired. But to understand that something may soon go wrong is possible by other signs: if the battery is slightly warm or cold, although it has to be hot, it may be a traffic jam or a blockage - and it’s time to call the master. Sometimes batteries should be washed - however, we do not recommend doing this yourself, in order not to make things worse. If the battery has begun to leak at all, this is a sure sign that it needs to be changed as soon as possible - even if it looks new and did not seem to cause problems before.

6

Old water pipe

Most likely, you, like many, do not even think about water pipes - at least as long as they do not bother you. Nevertheless, they need to be changed from time to time, preferably before the accident occurs. If none of the tenants of the apartment can remember when the pipes were last changed, perhaps the time has come. There are other signs of impending problems: low pressure may indicate that water pipes are clogged, and they may be buzzing at night due to the fact that the pipeline has worn out or is damaged somewhere.

7

Leaky plumbing

Many treat the leaking toilet bowl calmly - and sometimes they completely ignore drops for years, fearing perhaps the growth of water bills. Still, it’s worth finding out: if the fact is that chaps or cracks appeared on the toilet, perhaps minor repairs are not enough and soon you have to change the toilet entirely - there is always a chance that the plumber will collapse under you the most crucial moment. Another warning sign is an unpleasant smell that persists even after a thorough cleaning. There are a variety of possible causes - from the fact that the glossy finish of the toilet bowl began to collapse and it began to absorb odors to errors during installation or wear of some parts. In any case, you should not ignore the problem: it can get more expensive.

Photo: Vasiliy Ganzha - stock.adobe.com, pixelrobot - stock.adobe.com, Alexander - stock.adobe.com