Appliance Makeovers to Die For

It is probably fair to say that most significant home improvement projects usually encounter challenges along the way; be they surprises inside the walls, unexpected construction related problems, or unplanned cost overruns. However, appliance makeovers in particular also have the potential to create unintended consequences, some of which can be a matter of life and…

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A Home Inspector’s Journal: Plumbing Leaks and Plumbing Failure

Plumbing leaks from failed supply line fittings, old faucets and loose or damaged drain lines are one of the more common findings during an inspection. Leaks are often insidious, slow or even intermittent, escaping the attention of most homeowners until either discovered during an inspection or just noticed by chance. Many of these leaks occur…

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Are your gas appliances backdrafting?

The energy crisis of the 1970’s is often remembered for gasoline reaching the unthinkable price of $1.00 a gallon and restrictions on filling your car to odd or even days. For the building industry the energy crisis marked a change in the way we thought about construction – a change exemplified by the transition from…

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Don’t Forgo the Building Permit

Home inspectors are often challenged by structural modifications, additions and electrical, mechanical or plumbing installations which have been performed without the benefit of a building permit. With the ever growing trend toward doing it yourself and the abundance of advertising encouraging the homeowner to be their own contractor, the frequency of un-permitted projects seems to…

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Inspections Identify Furnace Heat Loss

Nobody needs to be reminded about the high cost of heating fuels, especially those with struggling budgets. Identifying air leaks and heat loss from central forced air heating units is therefore an important part of the home inspection process. Certainly there can be significant issues with heat loss from the duct system in the attic…

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