Skylights represent a host of problems: from installation issues, to energy efficiency issues. Why someone would put something of so little resistance to heat loss at the warmest place in the room is confusing to me. I know they meet energy codes and all that—-but should they? It would seem that one would get a […]
Leaks Around Skylights is not always about Water Read More »
Living in a modern society, it behooves all of us to subscribe to the Consumer Products Safety Commission email of recalled products and safety announcements. Yesterday I received a notice that peaked my interest. It seems that most of these announcements have to do with some product made in China—and perhaps parts of this one were as
Don’t You Hate it When The Toilet Explodes? Read More »
You best hop to it then if you haven’t! If you do not keep your insulation washed you may be wasting valuable money in extra heating and cooling costs! OK wait a minute. Brain-fart. This is silly—NOBODY washes insulation—what the heck am I talking about? What I really mean is “wind-washing.” I have not seen very
Have You Washed Your Attic Insulation Lately? Read More »
A simple kitchen sink drain can sure get complicated. As you can see from this installation everything seems to fit together nicely and looks all nice and crisp and white—-so what can be the problem? The distance from the bottom of the trap has been dropped way down to allow for installation of the tail
Call a Real Plumber, Don’t Try And Do it Yourself Read More »
I know that MOLD is a four letter word, and only a few other things found during the course of a home inspection causes more angst for all parties involved. As inspectors, not only are we the ones that have to bring its presence to the attention of the buyers, but we also have to figure out
Breaking The Mold, How to Address it in an Inspection Report Read More »
The post previous to this was about water heater Deadband. This post is related in that it shows us another way that deadband affects use of hot water and the safety concerns posed by deadband. How difficult can it be to figure out what the water temperature in a home is? In the State of Washington,
What is the “actual” water temperature in my home really? Read More »
Siding materials need proper clearances between finish grade and the siding—regardless the type of siding. This requirement is not just to prevent damage to the siding—–it serves a couple of other functions as well. Maintaining proper clearances reduces access to wood structures behind the siding by wood destroying insects or damage from water that might
Siding too close to the ground—it’s vinyl—isn’t that “final?” Read More »
One of the biggest concerns my clients have may be foundation cracks. If the foundation has problems, the entire structure may be adversely affected. But are all foundation cracks “deal breakers”? Not necessarily. Let’s talk about some of these cracks and their potential cause: Horizontal cracks in a slab foundation “Cold joints” (horizontal cracks) are
Is Your Foundation Under a Crack Attack? Read More »
The business can be quite entertaining at times! I was inspecting the garage door at an Encinitas, CA home. A new door opener had been recently installed. When I tested the photo sensors, the door did not reverse, so I traced the sensor wires and found they were not connected. I looked up at the
“Four Tips For Garage Door Safety”- Home Inspector Read More »
If you’re having a new patio installed at your home, be sure your concrete contractor knows the required clearance to be maintained from the stucco weep screed. I consistently see improper patio installations while conducting throughout Riverside and San Diego Counties here in southern California. Let me explain what a weep screed is. The majority of
Does Your Weep Screed Weep?- Home Inspector Read More »
