Home inspector in Erie, PA

How does Lake Erie weather affect homes?

Erie is known for heavy lake-effect snow. That makes the roof and everything that drains water away from the house a priority in an inspection.

• Roofs: snow load, ice dams, flashing, vents and worn shingles
• Gutters, downspouts and grading that must carry melt water away from foundations
• Attics: insulation and ventilation, which affect ice dams and moisture
• Freeze-thaw cycles on masonry, chimneys, porches and concrete
• Basements and crawl spaces: seasonal dampness, sump pumps and foundation cracks
• Radon, which can be present in homes across the region

Housing in the city of Erie includes many older brick and frame homes. The lakeshore and suburbs add newer subdivisions, and rural townships have farmhouses, older country homes and some manufactured homes. Homes built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint.

Erie's older neighborhoods have brick and frame houses with porches, detached garages and basements that may show a history of seasonal dampness. Flat or low-slope roof sections on additions and porches deserve attention in snow country, because they shed snow slowly and can leak at seams and flashings.

Inside the attic, inspectors check for evidence of past ice dams, such as stained sheathing, rusted nails and compressed or wet insulation. Bathroom and kitchen fans that vent into the attic rather than outside add moisture and are a common finding in houses everywhere.

Seasonal homes and cottages near the lake may sit unheated part of the year. Plumbing that has frozen, water stains and closed-up musty spaces are the kind of details a careful walkthrough is meant to catch.