Ten questions to ask your home inspector before you make the largest purchase of your life. Most realtors recommend, and many lenders require having a professional home inspection performed. A home inspection may save you thousands of dollars by revealing structural or safety issues that may not have been obvious. It
Many Decks are Unsafe Deck maintenance is often overlooked. Millions of decks have been built in the US over the last 50 years or so. Many of the early decks were constructed with redwood or cedar lumber which have a natural resistance to rot and decay. Unfortunately, redwood and cedar
How to get ready for a Home Inspection? So, you have a contract on your home, and the buyer wants to have a home inspection. How do you get ready for a home inspection? Don’t panic, instead prepare for the inspection. Here are some steps you can take to make your inspection
Grounding and bonding are required, except for outbuildings containing only one 120 volt grounded branch circuit. Electric systems at detached buildings require bonding and a separate grounding electrode system (GES), which is Ground Rod commonly a grounding electrode (ground rod) in our area. See attachment for wiring illustration. One
A sewer scope (camera inspection) should be part of every home purchase. Sewer camera inspections should be performed on prospective homes; if any of the following conditions are present. other homes in the area have had recent sewer work done There are large trees or bushes in the general area
Gutters and downspouts are not only attractive; they are functional. Fortunately, 95% of having a dry basement or crawl space is proper gutter and downspout installation and maintenance. Gutters should be cleaned at least once a year and more often if trees are close to the house. You can add
Modern Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) circuit breakers are safe and widely used.FPE Stab-Lok breaker boxes are a different matter. FPE Stab-Lok panels were widely used from the 1960s through the 1980s when they were finally taken off the market. Stab-Lok breakers were used widely in the 1960s through the early
Sump pumps are divided into two basic groups; pedestal and submersible. A pedestal sump pump will be about 30 inches tall and stick out of the sump hole with the motor on top. A submersible pump is designed to operate at or below the surface of the water in the
Aluminum wiring was used from 1965 until 1972 in some homes in our area due to a severe shortage of copper. Initially considered a safe and economical substitute for copper wire, aluminum was used throughout the country. The aluminum wire used at the time soon developed problems. Its use was
Open grounds in three-prong receptacles are a common issue found in older homes. This is an unsafe condition and should be corrected. The repair is relatively simple and does not require rewiring the house, as some mistakenly believe. Only those circuits with the ungrounded receptacles are needed to be addressed. This is
