9 Small Defects In Your Home That May Burn A Hole In Your Pocket, If Ignored

Home owners often tend to ignore minor décor or structural flaws at home, as there is no pressing need to fix them. However, these issues might just be symptoms of a bigger problem. It would only be wise to address the problem at an early stage, to avoid spending a fortune to correct the situation later. Here are nine house-related problems that could be symptoms of a bigger problem. 

This is a common problem in many homes, which goes unattended. Home owners often wait for the dampness that appears on the walls in the rainy season, to go away on its own when it is hot again. Sometimes, tiles are used to cover the area. This is done without realising the damage that it can cause to the walls and if left unchecked, it could even reach the foundation. 

Leaking taps are not a good sign and indicate a flaw in the plumbing system. Although plumbing work can be expensive and cumbersome, a flawed plumbing system should be addressed immediately. 

If a thorough inspection, or deep cleaning or room fresheners and incense sticks in every room is unable to get rid of a foul, musty smell, the odour may simply be an indication of plumbing problems, such as loose pipes, clogged drains or dry pipes. In case the problem worsens, you may need to change in the entire plumbing system, from the kitchen to the bathroom, causing a great amount of financial burden. 

“When a builder hands over a perfect looking home, there is hardly any way to check how effectively the plumbing work has been done. To be on the safe side, the owner must get the plumbing checked before they move in,” advises Mohan Kumar, a private contractor who helps property owners redesign their homes in the NCR property market.  

This is another major issue caused by plumbing-related problems. Even if the problem is rare, it would be better to get it addressed as soon as it crops up. 

Something is not right with the wiring in your home, if more than one tube light or bulb in your home flickers, when you switch on an appliance. A fan that makes a whizzing sound at the start or towards the end, may also indicate a wiring problem. Get an electrician to check it out as soon as possible, as, if the entire wiring system fails one day leading to a blackout, it will cause a great deal of hardship and expense. 

From flooring to ceiling, tiles can be found in almost every part of the home. All the advantages they offer, notwithstanding, tiles are brittle. As it is almost impossible to find the exact tile in the market, if some of them are broken, the house owner tends to ignore the damage. This may lead to serious injury, apart from causing damage to the remaining tiles. 

One way to avoid this situation is to buy additional tiles, when you are getting it fixed for the first time. If that is not possible, use a different tile nevertheless. An odd one out is better than getting your feet injured or getting all the tiles in a room affected. 

People often deal with cockroaches, ants and rats at home, by using remedies such as rat poisons and sprays. However, these may reappear after a small interval. “Apart from spreading bacteria that cause several maladies, rats and cockroaches do a great deal of damage to the foundation of your home. To keep them at bay, house owners must conduct regular pest control exercises,” says Kumar. 

This could indicate that white ants, popularly known as termites, have found their way from the ground to the wood. “It would be best to find out the problem at an early stage and get it fixed with the help of a professional. It may become quite difficult to get rid of the termite problem, if a large part of the furniture has been affected. In that case, changing the furniture could be the only option,” says Liaqat Ali, the owner of a furniture studio in Noida. 

Many inexperienced home buyers may often mistake lack of sunlight for coolness and count this point as a positive. Very little exposure to sun, will keep your home damp, apart from impacting your own physical and mental health. In case such a mistake has been made, living with it is a bad idea. Corrective measures must be applied, to ensure that the house gets more sunlight. You may have to change the position of the doors or windows. If you cannot figure it out yourself, get in touch with an architect, who could help you to set things right.