Why It’s Good to Perform a Home Inspection in Winter
Many homeowners wonder if a home inspection can be performed during the winter months, leading them to delay purchasing a home until springtime. The most common worry about a winter home inspection is that the inspector won’t be able to see the roof, and it is clear that no home inspector will be climbing onto a snow-covered roof or removing snow to get a better look. While the condition of some things, like the roof, shingles or A/C system, may be more difficult to evaluate in winter, each season can tell you something important about the house you are planning to purchase, or about your own home. As is often the case, the advantages balance out the negatives. Let’s look at the advantages.
Ventilation
It is easy to spot condensation on windows in the winter. Condensation can indicate higher than normal levels of humidity in a home. This may not be a big concern if the condensation appears on windows in the bathroom after a shower or in the kitchen, however, condensation can mean that there is a problem with ventilation in a home.
Heat Loss
Evaluating the efficiency of a furnace is also much easier in a home inspection during the winter months. As the heating system will usually be on, an inspector can make sure the temperature is balanced in the home. By simply walking around a home, chilly areas can be easily noticed.
The same applies to attics. It can be difficult to detect issues in the summer when the temperatures in an attic can get really hot. In winter, cold spots are easier to detect.
Roof
As we mentioned, snow on a roof can prevent an inspector from evaluating the condition of roof shingles, but that situation gives him or her the opportunity to examine how the framing may be holding up under the weight of the snow.
Also, with snow across a roof, a home inspector will be able to notice if there are spotty areas where the snow has melted, or whether there are ice dams, and hanging icicles. Ice damming is one of those issues that reveal themselves only in freezing temperatures. These can all be signs of insulation problems. A poorly insulated attic. Will allow too much warm air to escape through the roof causing ice dams and damage to the roof.
Sales of homes tend to decrease during the winter months but sometimes life doesn’t cooperate with the weather. People get transferred and need to move and houses need to be bought. If you have been searching for your dream home and you happen to find it in the winter, there is no reason that you cannot have a home inspection done. Some simple tips to prepare for a home inspection in winter include clearing away snow from entry points, doors and outside pipes and plumbing. Of course, makes sure you schedule your appointment when there will still be enough natural light.
A home inspection should be done regardless of the season. At Mose Home Inspection, we perform hundreds of home inspections throughout the year. Our goal is to make sure you know everything about your home.