TEST YOUR HOME I.Q.

• Position: Home repair - Brief Article

All across the country, spring is the time for homeowners to take a fresh look at their residences, assess winter's damage, and develop a plan for home maintenance. It also is the time many people choose to move to a new house or buy their first home. The following true-or-false quiz, designed to test your knowledge about home ownership and help determine if you need some professional advice, was developed by HouseMaster, a nationwide home inspection company.

1. Termites often may enter a house through the front door.

2. Most roof leaks are caused by worn roof coverings.

3. Horizontal cracks in foundation walls are more serious than vertical cracks.

4. Raising the thermostat setting increases the outlet temperature of furnace air.

5. Low water pressure usually is caused by arterial sclerosis of the piping.

6. Using a fireplace increases the energy efficiency of your home.

7. It is possible to smell radon gas when you enter a vacant house.

8. Replacing a fuse that blows out frequently with a larger size solves the problem.

9. Sealing attic louvers and vents will keep hot and/or cold exterior air out and conserve energy.

10. Water clarity and taste are not always good barometers of safe water.

    ANSWERS

1. True. With all of the front door's wood framing, it is a favorite entry point for termites.

2. False. Most roof leaks are caused by faulty flashings (the metal shields around chimneys, etc.).

3. True. Vertical cracks usually are caused by normal house settlement; horizontal ones, by external forces.

4. False. The temperature remains the same (around 105 [degrees] F); higher settings make the furnace run longer, not hotter.

5. True. The inside of water supply pipes (especially if they are galvanized) can become lined with...