Bubbling paint. Water dripping from light fixtures. Mysterious smells. Groaning pipes and gurgling tubs. Doors that open themselves. Faucets that spew steam. Your house is trying to tell you something. But to understand what its trying to say and what you should do about it, first you have to learn its language. And thats what House Check is all about.

Its a concise guide to the sights, surfaces, sounds -- and sometimes smells -- of your house. With this guide, you can quickly figure out whats causing those odd symptoms and what, in a nutshell, you should do to set things right. The information in this chart is based on thousands of houses that authors Michael Litchfield and Roger Robinson reviewed -- from Vermont to California.

This easy-to-use flip chart is organized by major sections and systems in the house: roofs, attics, interiors, exteriors, plumbing, electrical, kitchens, baths, and basements. Over 600 symptoms are listed, with causes and solutions for each. The photos aid in the identification of symptoms and the drawings help you understand the underlying structures involved in the problem. With the information in this handy guide, you will be well on your way to solving those elusive house ailments.

Introduction

Roofs

Exteriors

Doors & Windows

Attics

Interiors

Kitchens & Baths

Basements

Electrical

Plumbing

Heating & Cooling

Gutters

Attached Structures

Bubbling paint. Water dripping from light fixtures. Mysterious smells. Groaning pipes and gurgling tubs. Your house is trying to tell you something.

House Check is designed to help you learn what it's saying. With this guide, you can probably figure out quickly what's causing those odd symptoms and what, in a nutshell, you should do to set things right. The information in its charts is based on thousands of houses we've observed, from Vermont to California.

Some house ailments are elusive, even for the pros. If one explanation doesn't pan out, try another. We hope this book works hard for you, but there's no way that it could contain each symptom you might encounter, or state absolutely what the cause is or the remedy will be. Moreover, building codes vary widely, so consult local codes before starting any repairs.

Playing It Safe
If you're unfamiliar or uneasy with some aspects of home inspection, play it safe and call a pro. It will be money well spent. For starters, stay out of flooded basements, electrical service panels, and furnace fireboxes. Always make sure electrical power is off before removing outlet covers or switch plates. If you suspect that you've got lead paint or asbestos, leave it alone and call an abatement specialist. Trying to remove such substances may make them more of a hazard than they presently are. In the charts, hazardous situations are marked with symbols.

Tools
You can do a decent inspection with a handful of common tools. Besides those shown in Fig. 1, here are a few tools you might want to have on hand:

• Flashlight
• Safety glasses
• Coveralls
• Work gloves
• Flat bar (to free access panels or doors)
• Sharpened screwdriver (to probe for rot)
• Binoculars (for roof inspection)
• Voltage tester

Happy hunting, and let us know how it goes. Your firsthand observations and suggestions for improving House Check are always welcome. Contact us at www.housecheckguide.com (Web site under construction).