Home Maintenance - Naples Ft Myers Home Inspections https://anapleshomeinspector.com Estero home inspector-inspections Tue, 30 Dec 2025 09:47:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.1 https://anapleshomeinspector.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/cropped-NaplesFtMyersHomeInspectionsFavicon-32x32.jpg Home Maintenance - Naples Ft Myers Home Inspections https://anapleshomeinspector.com 32 32 233163760 Estero, Ft Myers & Bonita Springs Home Owners – Shady Spots in the garden? https://anapleshomeinspector.com/estero-ft-myers-bonita-springs-home-owners-shady-spots-in-the-garden/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=estero-ft-myers-bonita-springs-home-owners-shady-spots-in-the-garden Tue, 30 Dec 2025 09:45:59 +0000 https://anapleshomeinspector.com/?p=1674

Dress up those Shady Garden Spots

Home Garden

Shady spots in the garden don’t have to be barren. There are so many plants that will thrive in the shade–probably a lot more than you think– from perennials to annuals. Gardeners can choose ferns, woodland flowers and luxurious ground covers. Whether your shade garden will be an accent or a focal point, here are some plants that should fit right in.

Summer Color

A very pretty shade perennial to consider is bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis). It blooms with pink, heart-shaped flowers in May, but some varieties ― the “fernleaf” types ― will bloom all summer, which makes them a nice addition to an area filled with foliage plants.

Consider the ‘King of Hearts’ variety if you’re looking for a summer bloomer and ‘Bleeding Hearts White’ will bloom from spring through early summer. Most bleeding heart cultivars are hardy to USDA zone 4a.

Another plant that will add a pop of color to the shade garden is the annual ColorSummer Wave® Large Blue Torenia (Torenia ‘SUNrenilabu’). This little plant packs a wallop in not only color but fragrance as well (the leaves, not the flowers). It bears amethyst-colored, viola-like flowers from spring to fall. You’ll love this one for its heat and drought tolerance too.

Ground Covers

Epimedium (Epimedium spp.) grows to a height of 12 to 18 inches, making it the ideal ground cover. It blooms in the spring with small red or yellow flowers.

Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla mollis), a member of the rose family, is another ground cover to consider for those darker places in the garden. It blooms in the summer with small, yellow flowers.

Gorgeous Foliage Plants

No self-respecting shade garden would dare call itself complete without a few striking foliage plants and hostas (Hosta spp.) fit the bill. Hosta keeps a low profile, so it’s great for the front of the garden or bed, but you can place them in among the taller plants as well.

Give that barren spot a shot of the tropics by planting a fern or two. Ferns do require rich soil, very much like what you would find in the forest where they grow naturally. They also like moisture so don’t let the soil dry out.

If the shade in your garden is provided by certain trees – the black walnut, for instance – finding plants that will thrive beneath them may be challenging. In the case of the black walnut you’ll need to use plants that are resistant to juglone, a substance it emits that kills other plants. Talk to your local nursery professional for help in choosing the right shade plant.

The post Estero, Ft Myers & Bonita Springs Home Owners – Shady Spots in the garden? first appeared on Naples Ft Myers Home Inspections.

]]> 1674 Do You Have a Mold Problem in Your Home? https://anapleshomeinspector.com/do-you-have-a-mold-problem-in-your-home/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=do-you-have-a-mold-problem-in-your-home Tue, 16 Dec 2025 23:32:27 +0000 https://anapleshomeinspector.com/?p=1649 Do You Have a Mold Problem in Your Home? If your family seems to be sneezing and wheezing more than they should be, suspect a mold problem in the home. Physical symptoms of a mold infestation mimic those of allergies and the flu, with headaches and asthma as common complaints. What is Mold? Molds are […]

The post Do You Have a Mold Problem in Your Home? first appeared on Naples Ft Myers Home Inspections.

]]>

Do You Have a Mold Problem in Your Home?

Mold

If your family seems to be sneezing and wheezing more than they should be, suspect a mold problem in the home. Physical symptoms of a mold infestation mimic those of allergies and the flu, with headaches and asthma as common complaints.

What is Mold?
Molds are micro-organisms that use enzymes to break down and digest dead plants and animals. If conditions are right in your home – a moist environment is ideal – molds can get a toehold and not only make the human occupants of the home ill but destroy housing materials such as drywall, wood, and fiberboard as well.

How Can I Tell If I Have Mold In My House?
Aside from the physical symptoms of exposure to mold, mentioned above, the following are telltale signs of a mold infestation:

  • Odor: Mold has a very distinctive odor.       If you detect a musty smell, you probably have a mold problem.
  • Appearance: Mold grows in many different colors, from black to white and many colors in between. It also appears in different shapes. Some are thread-like while others may appear as clusters of black spots.
  • Excess Moisture: If you’ve had any problems with excess moisture in the home the chances are good that you may have mold. Peeling paint or wallpaper, stains on the ceiling and bowed or bulging walls are indications of moisture intrusion.

What to do if you find Mold in your Home
When you find mold, the first step is to find and eliminate the source of the moisture in the home.

Then, remove the mold. Removal from hard surfaces can be accomplished by cleaning them with a solution of 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

If the area to be cleaned is larger than 10 square feet, the CDC recommends consulting their guide Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings. Although it focuses on schools, the information can be applied to any building.

Ventilate the home adequately and use an air-conditioner or dehumidifier during humid months to prevent mold from forming in the future.

The post Do You Have a Mold Problem in Your Home? first appeared on Naples Ft Myers Home Inspections.

]]> 1649 How is your HVAC system? https://anapleshomeinspector.com/how-is-your-hvac-system/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-is-your-hvac-system Mon, 10 Nov 2025 17:26:53 +0000 https://anapleshomeinspector.com/?p=1610 How is Your HVAC System? Checking the heating and cooling system is one of the most important parts of routine home maintenance and one that many homeowners pay little attention to. Once they learn, however, that the price of a new system could set them back between $5,000 and $7,000 their interest in maintaining it […]

The post How is your HVAC system? first appeared on Naples Ft Myers Home Inspections.

]]> How is Your HVAC System?

HVAC

Checking the heating and cooling system is one of the most important parts of routine home maintenance and one that many homeowners pay little attention to. Once they learn, however, that the price of a new system could set them back between $5,000 and $7,000 their interest in maintaining it increases.

You may want to replace the system anyway when you consider that maintaining an old or inefficient unit is almost as costly as replacing it. In addition, the operating cost of a dated system is far more than that of newer, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems.

Heating and cooling your home, according to the experts at the Department of Energy (DOE), eat up almost half of your energy bill.

Before you replace that system, let’s take a quick look at what types of heating and cooling systems are available.

Central Heating and Cooling Systems

These are the most common systems in the United States. They’re inexpensive and popular because the air conditioning system can be combined with the heating system.

The central heating system works by heating air in a furnace and distributing it throughout the home, via ducts and heat registers.

The disadvantages of central heating include

  • Leaky ducts: If the ducts aren’t insulated properly or they leak, they waste energy.
  • Size of the ducts: because they are large they take up space that could be used for other purposes.
  • Dust: Ducts tend to gather dust which is then distributed into the living areas of the home.

Hot Water

Hot water is used in two types of systems, the radiator and radiant floor heating. Both systems work by distributing heat from a boiler to either the radiator or a system of pipes beneath the floor. Some radiant floor systems utilize electric cables instead of hot water.

Mini-Split System

This system is also known as the ductless air-cooling system. While it’s similar to the ducted system it’s smaller size makes it ideal for smaller areas.

Geothermal

If you want to go ultra-modern with your heating and cooling system, consider the geothermal system. The geothermal heat pump gathers heat from the earth and distributes it throughout the home. To cool the home, it does the opposite, taking heat from the home and depositing it in the earth.

Geothermal systems are quite efficient and can result in a 70 percent reduction in the cost of heating a home and a 50 percent reduction in cooling costs. The biggest drawback is that installation of a geothermal system is quite costly.

Even newer systems should be inspected, cleaned and serviced once a year.

The post How is your HVAC system? first appeared on Naples Ft Myers Home Inspections.

]]> 1610