Mold, radon and pestsHow Often Should You Test for Radon?Learn when to retest for radon after occupancy changes, renovations or an older home-sale result, without treating two years as a universal mandate.
Small repairs, seasonal checks, what to watch
Home Maintenance
Practical upkeep guidance from working inspectors, covering the small repairs and seasonal checks that prevent the expensive ones later. Pick a topic below, or start with the newest.
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The small jobs that keep a house out of trouble
Guides from the NextDay Inspect team on the repairs, seasonal checks and warning signs we see on the job. Newest first, or pick a topic.
Mold, radon and pestsHow Often Should You Test for Radon?Learn when to retest for radon after occupancy changes, renovations or an older home-sale result, without treating two years as a universal mandate.
Mold, radon and pestsBasement Mold Testing: When a Professional Test HelpsUnderstand when basement mold testing is useful, when visible growth calls for moisture action, and how to choose a focused professional scope.
Mold, radon and pestsTermite & WDO Inspections: Cost, Warning Signs & Home Sale StrategyTermites and other wood-destroying organisms eat home equity quietly. What a WDO inspection covers and why many lenders require one.
InspectionsThe Negotiation Shortcut: Instantly Price Your Home Inspection RepairsRepair estimate reports turn a long inspection document into priced line items, handing agents and buyers immediate negotiating leverage.
SeasonalThe 10-Year Rule: Is Your Home Approaching the Danger Zone?Around the ten-year mark, water heaters, HVAC and roofing start failing on schedule. Which systems to watch and how to get ahead of them.
Mold, radon and pestsThe Attic Aftermath: Why Winter Moisture Turns Into a Mold CrisisLearn what attic staining, condensation and changed insulation can suggest, and how to discuss moisture history, safe access and testing scope.
SeasonalThe Ultimate Spring Cleaning Checklist: Simple Steps for a Deep CleanA room-by-room spring cleaning checklist that breaks the deep clean into short, doable sessions instead of one long lost weekend.
PlumbingFrom Red Flag to Fixed: DIY P-Trap RepairReplacing a leaky P-trap under the sink takes about 15 minutes. A step-by-step walkthrough, plus when a drip hints at a larger moisture issue.
AppliancesCleaner Dishes Start with a Cleaner DishwasherIf dishes come out dull or the machine smells, the dishwasher itself needs attention. Filter care, cleaning steps and smarter loading.
Mold, radon and pestsYour Home’s Worst Tiny Enemy: Termites ExposedRegular termite inspections catch colonies while the damage is still minor. What professionals check and the early signs you can spot.
InspectionsDishwasher Inspections: A Field Guide for InspectorsA checklist approach to inspecting dishwashers, covering the common defects, leak points and electrical safety items worth flagging.
Mold, radon and pestsRadon Testing: Ensure Home Safety with These Essential TipsHow radon testing works, what an acceptable level looks like, and the mitigation options when a home tests high. Written for first-timers.
SeasonalHome Maintenance After a ThunderstormAfter a big storm, walk the roof line, gutters, siding and grounds. A checklist for catching thunderstorm damage while it is still small.
InspectionsNegotiating Repairs after a Home InspectionWhich inspection findings are worth negotiating, how to frame repair requests, and when credits beat repairs in a real estate deal.
Mold, radon and pestsMold Prevention in Your HomePractical moisture-control steps for your home: repair leaks, manage humidity, watch recurring dampness and know when to ask for experienced help.
SeasonalHow To Winterize Your House: 5 Simple Ways to Prepare for the ColdSeven jobs to knock out before winter arrives, from insulation and weatherstripping to the small tasks that keep pipes and people warm.
Seasonal10 Tips to Make Your Home Winter FriendlyFurnace filters, thermostat checks and a pre-season tune keep the heat steady when temperatures fall. A short winter-prep rundown.
Electrical and HVACLandscape ShadingWell-placed trees block solar heat before it ever reaches the house. Where to plant for afternoon shade and what it trims off cooling bills.
Electrical and HVACResidential Foundation InsulationFoundation insulation options compared, with what each approach does for heat loss, moisture control and pests over the life of the house.
Electrical and HVAC10 Easy Ways to Save Money & Energy in Your HomeInsulation, air sealing and heating tweaks that lower utility bills without a major renovation. A practical primer for almost any house.
InspectionsHome Maintenance BooksNextDay Inspect clients can add two practical home maintenance books after their inspection, a handy reference set for the years ahead.
AppliancesClothes Washer Filling SlowlyWhen wash cycles drag on, low water flow is the usual suspect. How to check the inlet screens, hoses and valves to speed the fill back up.
PlumbingThat Leaky Garden HoseMost leaky garden hoses are worth saving. Swap the washer, splice out the damage or fit new connectors instead of buying a replacement.
AppliancesAn Easy Fix for Rust Stains on ClothingRust marks on clothes will not survive a bottle of Whink. The application steps and precautions for getting fabric back to clean.
Walls, floors and windowsHow to Paint Over Dark PanelingDark paneling can make a room feel like a cave. Prep, primer and paint steps that brighten the walls without tearing anything out.
AppliancesFlood from the Washer Hose!Burst washer hoses rank among the top sources of water damage inside homes. Inspection habits and upgrades that head off a laundry flood.
PlumbingYour Nose Knows It’s Time to Clean the DisposalKitchen sink smells usually start at the disposal. Clean the splash guard, run ice through it, and finish with citrus peels to clear the odor.
Walls, floors and windowsSoot on the WallsSoot shadows on walls and ceilings have a few usual causes. How to clean off the residue, repaint properly and shut down the source.
Electrical and HVACWhat’s Your Outlet IQ?An inexpensive plug-in tester reveals a lot about your outlets. How to check for wiring faults safely before they become real problems.
Electrical and HVACCan Lights? Make Them GreenRecessed can lights look sharp but can leak air and waste power. Simple upgrades that make them more efficient without losing the style.
AppliancesTune Your Refrigerator for High PerformanceRefrigerators run around the clock and quietly pad the electric bill. Coil cleaning, seal checks and settings that improve their efficiency.
Electrical and HVACA Ton of CoolingAir conditioners are sized in tons, and it has nothing to do with weight. A plain explanation of the term and what it says about capacity.
Electrical and HVACFix That Wobbling Ceiling FanA wobbling ceiling fan is annoying and hard on the mount. Tighten the right screws, balance the blades and check the box it hangs from.
Walls, floors and windowsSqueak, Squeak in the Hardwood FloorQuick tricks that quiet a squeaky board tonight, and the longer-term repairs that keep a hardwood floor silent for good.
PlumbingWater Heater Drip Needs AttentionWater dripping from the tube on a water heater points to the temperature and pressure relief valve. What it means and how to respond.
Walls, floors and windowsPaint Over That Water StainWater stains bleed straight through ordinary ceiling paint. A stain-blocking primer seals the mark for good, once the leak itself is fixed.
AppliancesClothes Dryer Venting – A Hidden DangerLint buildup in dryer ducts starts many house fires. How to clean the vent, spot the warning signs and keep the dryer running safely.
Walls, floors and windowsPatch the Hole Behind the DoorA doorknob through the drywall is a classic. How to patch the hole cleanly, plus the cheap bumper that keeps it from happening twice.
PlumbingStains Around a Toilet = Serious ProblemDiscoloration around the toilet base often signals a slow leak underneath. Other water leak clues worth checking before floors suffer.
PlumbingPlumbing Vent? What Plumbing Vent?Plumbing vents keep drains flowing and sewer gas out of the house. How the vent system works and the symptoms that show up when one clogs.
Walls, floors and windowsPaint That Metal RailingRust does not have to claim the railing. Sanding, priming and painting steps that bring wrought iron back and keep stains off the steps.
PlumbingFixing a Drip at the Bathroom FanA dripping bath exhaust fan usually points to condensation or a venting problem. Here is what causes the water and how to stop it for good.
Walls, floors and windowsGarage Door SafetyThe garage door is the heaviest moving object in most homes. Safety checks and maintenance that keep springs, sensors and openers honest.
Walls, floors and windowsMy Concrete Has CrackedConcrete cracks as it cures; that much is guaranteed. What control and expansion joints do and which cracks deserve a second opinion.
PlumbingWhy Is the Toilet Flushing Itself?A toilet that refills on its own is ghost flushing, and the culprit is usually a worn flapper leaking water into the bowl. An easy fix.
Walls, floors and windowsHow To fix A Squeaky Door HingeA squeaky hinge takes about two minutes to silence. The right lubricants to use, the ones to skip, and how to keep the noise from returning.
PlumbingRepair A Whistling Shower HeadA whistling or uneven shower head usually means mineral buildup. Soak away the deposits and restore a quiet, even spray in an afternoon.
Walls, floors and windowsThe Patio Screen Door is StuckA dragging patio screen door usually needs its track cleaned and its rollers adjusted. Ten minutes of maintenance gets it gliding again.
Electrical and HVACMaintenance Checks for Your HVAC SystemThe maintenance checks HVAC professionals run each season, and why a tuned system holds up better through heat waves and cold snaps.
Walls, floors and windowsFive Effective Fixes for Faulty WindowsOlder windows usually deserve repair rather than replacement. Fixing drafts, rot and stuck sashes to stretch more decades out of them.
Walls, floors and windowsFive Most Concerning Window ProblemsDrafty sashes, sticking frames and other common window complaints, with practical fixes to get them working before cold weather arrives.
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