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If youve noticed unusual signs of damage around your property, pests may be to blame. Rodents, insects and other types of pests can wreak havoc on properties and cause unforeseen damage that ends up resulting in costly repairs.

Here are four signs to look for to determine whether pests are damaging your home:

Unstable Floors
The sudden feeling that the floors in your home are unstable could be a sign of a pest problem. This may be especially true if you have hardwood floors that are damaged because of termites. You might notice the boards curling on your floor as damage persists. Flaking and crumbling may also become noticeable as your floors continue to deteriorate from the damage. Crushed-looking wood at structurally significant points can be another obvious sign of a pest problem.

Tap Test Failure
Damage that’s impossible to see can sometimes be detected by performing a tap test on wood surfaces around your home. Wood that’s solid all the way through should produce a thudding sound when tapped, and any hollow sounds could mean that termites or other pests are wearing away at the wood. Hollow sounds also mean that significant portions of your wood have already been lost. Calling a termite treatment specialist and contractor to repair the damage can resolve the problem.

Electrical Problems
If lights, appliances or other equipment around your home that’s powered by electricity start to fail, you might have a pest problem on your hands. Lights that dim or completely go out, as well as appliances that don’t have as much power or fail to turn on when plugged in, could mean that pests are damaging the wires. Rodents are known to chew through wires, which can also create a fire hazard in your home.

Mud Tunnels
Tubes that appear to be made of mud may be visible in your yard and even on the side of your home. These tunnels are often constructed by organ pipe mud dauber wasps to store their larvae. Termites are also known to build tunnels that look like mud but are made from a combination of soil and wood along with a substance consisting of their saliva and feces. You might find these lining walls and floors, acting as a sure sign of infestation if you find them in your home.

Learning about the signs of pest damage will make it easier for you to act quickly to resolve the problem. Pest damage isn’t always obvious, and taking the time to perform a thorough inspection will allow you to stay on top of any situation that may arise.

Source: Meghan Belnap/RISMedia’s Housecall

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

These five gardens will add natural charm to your home…

Formal Garden

Though they require effort to keep perfectly manicured, they recall a bygone era of grandeur that always impresses.

Container Garden

A low-key option that works anywhere, fill pots, planters or reclaimed materials with greenery and flowers.

Japanese Rock Garden

Also known as a Zen garden, if you enjoy meditating, this will be your new favorite place.

Kitchen Garden

Grow your own fruits, vegetables and herbs right outside your home and live sustainably.

Flower Garden

From a classic rose garden to overgrown wildflowers, flower gardens can be designed to suit any personality.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Is it time to upgrade how you store your wine? Perhaps a rack, or even a dedicated wine refrigerator, is no longer getting the job done. If youre contemplating making the leap to a wine room, youll be happy to hear that this feature has major appeal when its time to list your home. Collecting fine wine is a passion shared among many high-end homebuyers, and they consider adequate storage to be more of an essential than a luxury.

Here are a few tips for designing the perfect space to keep your vino collection.

Climate Control
Traditionally, the cellar has been the go-to place to keep wine due to the ideal temperature and humidity. These days, however, technology allows us to keep the collection anywhere in the house. Wherever you choose to store your wine, the key is to keep it at 55-degrees Fahrenheit and about 70 percent humidity. Glassed-in wine rooms are a popular look at the moment, and to create one, youll need to use insulated, UV-resistant glass, as well as a state-of-the-art cooling system.

Display
The wine room is just as much about presentation as it is about storage and will always impress guests. Depending on your preferences, there are tons of options for how you display each bottle, from traditional wooden to contemporary stainless-steel racks. Illuminating each bottle is a key component, and youll want to be sure to use LED lights that wont generate heat.

Capacity
Of course, you need to consider your storage capacity, as personal collections range from a few bottles to hundreds of bottles. You dont want your wine room to look empty, but youll also need the space to make a few additions as you wait for each bottle to reach its peak.

Tasting Area
A tasting area inside or near your wine room is a thoughtful feature that comes in handy when entertaining on a grand scale or having an intimate dinner party. After all, wine is meant to be enjoyed with close friends and family, so having a place to do so is just as important as storing it.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

All the green smoothies and exercise in the world wont keep your body healthy if youre living in a contaminated environment. In order to help keep your body happy and thriving, try these four quick and easy DIY projects to improve your homes health.

Inspect for Mold
Mold spores are everywhere, but when living in your house, they can give you pesky allergies or endanger your life.

To ensure your home doesnt have any dangerous mold growth, do a walk-through and know where to look. Mold loves humid, damp areas. This means your bathroom, washing machine, kitchen, attic and basement are prime real estate for all types of mold.

If you spot a suspicious area, use an at-home mold testing kit to determine if its harmful. Certain types of mold (like black mold) require professional remediation, so dont try to remove it yourself. However, you can treat most molds with a bleach solution, proper drainage and a dehumidifier. Just make sure youre on the lookout to keep your home safe.

Install a Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats do so much for your home. Not only do they help you save money on energy, but they can also monitor your air quality. Smart thermostats like Nests send an alert to your smartphone if it notices air problems. That way, you can make the necessary changes to breathe better. Installation of most smart thermostat models is relatively simple. Just make sure the product is compatible with your home, and follow the instructions carefully.

Change Air Filters
If you have an HVAC unit, you have air filters. These hardworking filters sift out impurities in the air so that they dont wind up in your lungs. If youre super sensitive and live with furry friends, replace your air filters every month or two. If you dont use the heating and cooling system often, you can stretch that to twice per year. You could also purchase air purifiers for your home to keep pollutants down.

Dust and Vacuum
Sorry to add to your chore list, but keeping a clean home is essential to your health. Dust doesnt just look dingy; its made of pet dander, human skin cells, dirt, grime, pollen and a lot more icky stuff that causes all sorts of health issues.

Do your lungs, eyes, sinuses, ears and immune system a favor by getting yourself a wool duster or disposable duster product. Then, run your duster along the backside of appliances, the tops of ceiling fans, under furniture and other places large collections of dust might be hiding. Once you see how dirty your duster gets, youll be glad everything you picked up isnt floating around in the air anymore. Finish by vacuuming all the carpets in your house to remove more dust and other particles.

Staying healthy is a 360-degree endeavor requiring you to mind what you put in, on and around your body. Follow these tips to tackle an essential part of home health and add to your overall well-being.

Source: Fatima Puri/RISMedia’s Housecall

Published with permission from RISMedia.