A lot of people don't realize how easy it can be to use less energy in the home. With just a few simple adjustments you can save a lot of money.  Here are a few simple ways this can be done:

• Instead of using an air conditioner, which uses a lot of energy, try installing a ceiling fan.
• Maintain and replace filters in air conditioners and heaters
• Turn down your thermostat at night or when you are not at home
• Draw curtains over windows as this will insulate the room more efficiently
• Switch your incandescent lights to more energy efficient lighting such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or light enhancing diodes (LEDs)
• Conserve water in your home by installing efficient toilets and showerheads
• Did you know that chargers, such as for cell phones, iPads and laptops etc. use energy if they’re plugged in? When not in use unplug them

These are just a few of the many things that can make your home more energy efficient, however for a more detailed assessment of the energy reducing potential in your home, please contact us, your local Certified Home Inspector.

Earthquakes arrive without notice and bring with them a lot of destruction. How can you make sure your chimney would be safe in an earthquake? Did you know that your chimney doesn't just fall on the exterior of the home, but can also collapse in on itself, potentially causing a lot of damage and injury?

• Make sure that any damage previously incurred to the chimney is quickly repaired
• Check that the mortar is in good shape and repair areas that are crumbling
• Look out that the chimney is not visibly coming away from the building
• Make sure the chimney has sufficient bracing
• It is wise to prevent the areas below, around the chimney from being areas where you would spend time such as areas that children play or outside seating areas.

It is a good idea to frequently check that your chimney is structurally sound. A certified home inspector can advise you on many of the ways you can make sure of this. Please contact us for more information

Remodeling could greatly raise the quality of life for occupants of a building, however if you think remodeling is an investment, then you want to reconsider that.

Remodeling is rarely a sound monetary investment.

In one of the reports published by Remodeling Magazine, the majority of remodeling projects only increase the value  of the building by 60-80 percent of the cost of the project and on the average none of the projects yielded any profit. Therefore upgrading your homes are more correctly categorized as consumer spending rather than as real investments, which typically has the possibility of yielding some positive returns.

Seeing that the report only gave the statistics based on averages, there is every possibility that some certain remodeling projects yielded some profits for the home owner(s). For instance nearly half of the time, adding a wooden deck to a mid-priced house situated on the pacific coast will increase its value and displace the cost of construction. And even the most reckless projects evaluated in the research, like buying a backup generator or adding a sun-room could yield profit although they rarely do. Additionally, remodeling projects are more probable to yield profits if they are done on houses considered low-priced for their neighborhood. But generally, you should carry out a remodeling project just for improving the quality of life for your household and not for investment purposes. So even though you’ll lose more than one third of what you expended on a family room extension, your family will enjoy the extension enough to make up for it.

Many times on a home inspection it is common to see engineered floor joists. But what are these? Are they safe? What do you need to know about them?

First of all, engineered floor joists are very common and very sturdy. In fact, they totally beat out typical floor joists in almost every way - pound for pound.

They are basically two strips of wood with OSB board in the middle. It seams like that would not be very strong, but it is. Just like plywood is stronger than a straight peice of wood, so engineered floor joists are better as well. 

There are some things to keep in mind though. WHile moisture resistant, if they do get damaged they are vexpensive to repair. Also, there are usually pre-designated penetrations through the floor joists. Making an opening bigger than the one already designated or making an opening in another location can be structurally damaging.

All-in-all though, engineered floor joists are a great product that should work well for years to come!

I see some amazing (and not so amazing) things on home inspections. Some of the most interesting stuff has to do with the structure. SO I put together a little gallery dedicated to structural components. Some good, some bad, some neither. Enjoy!

Many times when I open an electric panel I see rust on the breakers or other areas like you see in the picture to the left. But how does water get into the electric panel?

A lot of the time it comes from the weather head or the electric meter. If those two exterior items are not properly installed or properly sealed, then water gets into them, runs down the service wire, and then eventually into the electric panel.

Another thing that happens is the area that the panel is in is damp. High relative humidity can cause rust to occur in the panel. While there is not usually active water in the panel, the rust makes things not work as well.

Be sure to have your electrical system properly inspected. Contact me today!

Dryer vents are something that we use all the time - but never really think about. Every year multiple homes have fires that are caused by dryers, human life is lost, and millions of dollars in damage done. So what can be done to protect you and your home?

First of all, cleaning is the key. Many times on a home inspection I will notice that the dryer vent is dirty and someone will say "That needs to be cleaned!". Unfortunately, that is usually when we arrange to clean the vent - when it is already overly dirty. Make a maintenance schedule to clean your dyer vent every few months (depending on use).

Also, make sure that the dryer vent head is free of plants and other obstructions. Having a dryer that vents into a bush or under a deck does not help the situation.

​Questions? Contact me!

Being an informed home buyer is extremely important, especially during your home inspection. But unless "ampacity" or "elastomeric" are part of your everyday vocabulary, then how can you stay informed in such a critical stage of the home buying process?

I work hard to make my home inspection reports detailed AND easy to understand. But if you ever need help understanding a term, we have provided a portal to the world's largest home inspection glossary below. Simple enter the word or term in question and see your results. Have questions? Contact us!

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