What is RecallChek? (Yes, it's spelled that way on purpose.) It is a registered service that can provide recall and safety bulletin information on just about any mechanical appliance. The service also provides safety information on other items such as blind cords which are hazardous to small children. The really cool thing about RecallChek is that if there are items in the home such as microwaves or other appliances affected by a recall or safety issue, the manufacturers are responsible for all repairs; no out of pocket expenses for home sellers or buyers!

How it works.... We copy the make and model number of all mechanical equipment in the home. The information is sent via FAX or electronic spreadsheet to RecallChek Headquarters where model numbers are matched in the database. RecallChek issues a report within 48 hours, separate from the home inspection report.

We here at Ace Home Inspection, LLC offer the RecallChek as a free enhancement to all of our clients. Our belief is that this is valuable and essential safety information which has the potential of saving property and lives. Numerous home fires and personal injuries happen every year due to equipment under recall (New stuff too!  https://support-us.samsung.com/cyber/recall/otr/e/s_step_1e.jsp). If we prevent one such event, it is well worth the energy and resources used to gather and submit the information.

If you are interested in making RecallChek an enhancement to your business please contact us at (478)954-9791 (middle Georgia only) or directly to RecallChek (800)544-8156.

Ace Home Inspection, LLC is Nationally Certified, Insured and a member in good standing with both ASHI and InterNACHI, the home inspection industry's two most recognized and respected organizations. We are also proudly affiliated with the BBB and Warner Robins Chamber of Commerce.

Howard Tennyson
Ace Home Inspection, LLC
Office (478) 954-9791
Fax (888) 273-9868
acehomeinspectionllc@gmail.com
http://acehomeinspection.biz

Warner Robins Home Inspection Company Offers A Tip... Check Your Plumbing Vent Collar On The Roof. Ace Home Inspection LLC of Warner Robins,  Offers a Money Saving Tip.

Spring is on the way and with the season brings the rain. Here’s a quick tip to save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in repairs…. it involves a $10 item.

One of the most common deficiencies noted during a home inspection on homes older than about 7 years is a deteriorated plumbing vent collar. These collars are located on the roof and are made of a black plastic type material. They are designed to slide over the plumbing vent tube and prevent water from entering the attic space. After about 7 years (at least that what I see here in middle Georgia) they begin to crack where they contact the plumbing vent. A small crack is enough to let water penetrate into the attic. Larger cracks allow water to run into the attic and cause major damage to the insulation and the sheetrock below.

If you notice a small tan colored stain on your ceiling it may be from a leaking plumbing vent collar. Walk outside and see if there is a plumbing vent in the general area. If so, see if you notice cracks on the collar, just be aware the cracks may be on an area only viewable from the roof (please do NOT go onto the roof!  I don’t want you to hurt yourself). 

If you are pretty sure the collar is the culprit, contact a licensed roofer for replacement of the collar, sealing the cracks is a temporary repair at best. You would be well served to replace all the collars at one time if they are the same age. The collar itself is a very inexpensive item….call around for estimates as rates for installation vary greatly.

Ace Home Inspection, LLC is Nationally Certified, Insured and a member in good standing with both ASHI and InterNACHI, the home inspection industry's two most recognized and respected organizations. We are also proudly affiliated with the BBB and Warner Robins Chamber of Commerce.

Howard Tennyson
Ace Home Inspection, LLC
Office (478) 954-9791
Fax (888) 273-9868
acehomeinspectionllc@gmail.com
http://acehomeinspection.biz

Warner Robins Home Inspector Offers Some Advice Concerning Insulation in Attics.

Disclaimer: Contact your physician before attempting physically challenging activities. Also, if you are unfamiliar with moving through an attic, hire a professional. Many older homes with low pitched roofs are extremely difficult to move through.

The winter months bring cooler temps, lower humidity and the perfect opportunity to get up in that attic to check your insulation! Summertime heat may prohibit a good investigation of your attic. Attic temperatures can reach 130 degrees+ in the summer months....not only uncomfortable, but dangerous. This time of year is the perfect time to check it out!

Recommended insulation values vary by region (see chart). A confusing aspect of attic insulation is the different "R values" (Resistance to heat flow).

Heat flows from warmer to cooler spaces. In the winter, this heat flow moves from heated living spaces to unheated attics, garages, crawlspaces and to the outdoors. Heat flow also moves indirectly through interior ceilings, walls, and floors-wherever there is a difference in temperature. During the cooling season, heat flows from the outdoors to the interior of a house.

Heat lost in the winter must be replaced by your heating system and heat gained in the summer must be removed by your cooling system. Properly insulating your home will decrease heat flow by providing an effective resistance to the flow of heat.

The types of insulation have varying R-values. Take into consideration the density of the insulation, compressed insulation does not offer the R-value it should and "fluffed-up" insulation also provides lower R-value. There is much talk in the insulation industry presently due to fraudulent practices (http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1320&dat=19821201&id=MrURAAAAIBAJ&sjid=q-kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2784,96118).

To get a precise check of your attic/ceiling insulation R-value, a trusted insulation contractor should be hired for a thorough evaluation. To precisely determine the R-value requires "core samples" which are measured and weighed. That being said, we can still get an idea of what is going on with our insulation by simply examining and measuring what we have (or don't have) and comparing that to the R-value requirements for our region.

•·         Sprayed  foam insulation:  R-value 4.5 to 6.5 per inch

•·         Rigid insulation:  R-value 4.0

•·         Mineral  wool:  R-value 3.1 per inch to 6.5 per inch

•·         Cellulose:  R-value 3.2 per inch

•·         Fiberglass:  R-value 3.2 per inch

Insulation will compress over time. If a home is 20 years old or older, chances of significant compression and loss of R-value has probably occurred. Adding insulation over this insulation could substantially lower heating/cooling costs. The good news is, you can use an efficient and cost effective new insulation over the older insulation and you may qualify for tax break incentives! Note: Be sure not to cover any fixtures that are not rated for insulation contact or allow insulation to contact chimney or gas appliance flue pipes.

There are many helpful hints concerning insulation found by web searches. Chances are, a question you have about your particular insulation has an answer already out there. Ace Home Inspection, LLC of Warner Robins Georgia offers buyer's and seller's home inspections, Radon Measurements, Mold Survey & Sampling, Recall Check for mechanical appliances, Water Testing, Surface Lead Testing, Pool and Spa Inspections and a FREE 90 Day Limited Home Warranty. All of this provided by an ASHI and NACHI Certified Home Inspector who truly strives to provide you the best service possible.

Howard Tennyson
Ace Home Inspection, LLC
Office (478) 954-9791
Fax (888) 273-9868
acehomeinspectionllc@gmail.com
http://acehomeinspection.biz

Tip from Warner Robins Home Inspection Company, August 16 2009. As a seller prepares their home for prospective buyers, here's a helpful tip to speed the inspection process along.

The electrical panel is one of the many items on the home inspector's list of things to check. In preparation for the inspection, ensure the area in front of the panel is clear. The required workspace to remove and inspect the panel is a cleared area approximately 30" either side of the panel, 3' 6" in front of the panel on an insulated wall or 48" on an uninsulated wall (cement block) and a height of 6'6".

The above picture is an example of what NOT to do. This situation is inconvenient for the home buyer who paid for a home inspection which will be incomplete because the access to the panel was blocked. Another point is a blocked electrical panel violates building code requirements (NEC 110.26).

The home inspection process can be easy if prepared for correctly. Check back here for more tips on how to smooth out your home inspection. Ace Home Inspection, LLC of Warner Robins Georgia offers buyer's and seller's home inspections, Radon Measurements, Mold Survey & Sampling, Recall Check for mechanical appliances, Water Testing, Surface Lead Testing, Pool and Spa Inspections and a FREE 90 Day Limited Home Warranty. All of this provided by an ASHI and NACHI Certified Home Inspector who truly strives to provide you the best service possible.

Howard Tennyson
Ace Home Inspection, LLC
Office (478) 954-9791
Fax (888) 273-9868
acehomeinspectionllc@gmail.com
http://acehomeinspection.biz

Warner Robins Home Inspector Offers Some Advice Concerning Squeaky Floors. Maybe the wet spring weather has swelled building materials or some people's hearing is more acute, but the complaints of squeaky flooring is on the rise. Here is a little advice concerning what causes squeaky floors and what is the best way to make it stop.

Squeaky floors are caused primarily from three conditions. The first and most predominant is the sub floor (plywood/OSB) is not fully secured to the supporting floor joists. The plywood has slightly separated from the joist and when the area is stepped on, we hear the plywood riding along the nail(s) that were used to secure the plywood to the joist. A way to correct this condition is to secure the sub floor to the joist with 1 3/4" drywall screws every 4" along the area that squeaks. Unfortunately this method requires pulling up whatever floor covering is over the squeaky area.

The second cause of squeaky floors is duct work that is attached to the underside of the flooring. When stepped on, the duct work acts like an oil can. This can be remedied by adjusting the duct work.

The third cause is diagonal bridging between floor joists that was improperly installed. These form an X between the joists, and if they were installed so they touch, this can cause floor squeaks. The bridging is supposed to be installed with 1/2" spacing.

With all the wet weather the spring brings, we may see and hear more problems with our homes. Water is the #1 enemy of your home (not including Natural Disasters) and there are ways to keep as much out as possible. If you own a home with a crawlspace and do not have a gutter system, please, save yourself unnecessary future grief and install a good aluminum seamless gutter system with downspout extensions that move as much water away from your foundation walls as possible. Roof, exterior wall cladding and trim repairs will also keep out unwanted water.

Keep your home dry and have a great Spring!

Howard Tennyson
Ace Home Inspection, LLC
Office (478) 954-9791
Fax (888) 273-9868
acehomeinspectionllc@gmail.com
http://acehomeinspection.biz

Recently a Macon Home Inspection revealed winterizing hazards that if not known in advance could have caused serious damage to the home and the possible retraction of offer on home by potential buyer. The items affected during the winterization process are primarily the plumbing systems, but the home electrical system is also involved. If one does not know what to look for when de-winterizing the home, serious damage to the home can be done.

The winterization process is accomplished in an effort to maintain the home plumbing system in an unused state that minimizes the possibility of water pipes bursting in cold weather and to extend the life of the plumbing, fixture and water heater life. In order to do this the main water is turned off, water heater is drained and the circuit breaker that powers the heater is off. Toilets are drained and water is turned off behind the toilet, air is sometimes blown through the plumbing system to drain lines or an anti-freeze mixture is added to the home water system. The drain valve to the water heater is left open as is the water supply to the washing machine and if the refrigerator is removed, the ice maker line is left open. Knowing all of this is crucial when it comes to de-winterizing; if a valve is left open or if the water heater circuit breaker is turned on with no water in the tank, serious damage to components or the home can flood.

Most winterizing companies will void any work they have done if another company de-winterizes. With so many foreclosures on the market, the number of winterized homes has grown. If an agent cannot get the original company to de-winterize the home because of time restraints or the company that originally winterized the home is no longer around, please ensure nothing is done to the home until someone VERY familiar with the process go through the home first before turning on any utilities.

Ace Home Inspection, LLC has extensive knowledge in the winterizing process. If you are an agent or a home buyer interested in a foreclosure property that has been winterized and cannot get the original company to de-winterize we will be happy to go over the process with you as part of our home inspection process.

Ace Home Inspection, LLC is Nationally Certified, Insured and a member in good standing with both ASHI and InterNACHI, the home inspection industry's two most recognized and respected organizations. We are also proudly affiliated with the BBB and Warner Robins Chamber of Commerce.

Howard Tennyson
Ace Home Inspection, LLC
Office (478) 954-9791
Fax (888) 273-9868
acehomeinspectionllc@gmail.com
http://acehomeinspection.biz

Warner Robins Home Inspector Shares Advice With New Home Buyers. When I say "new home" I mean new construction. This is an old story that bears repeating; I only bring it up again because of a recent trend in new construction defects being discovered during the home inspection. There are many reasons for this spike in defects, the main one being builders that were in a hurry to get their homes on the market before they went bankrupt or quit the business. A couple years ago there were 300 builders in the Warner Robins, Kathleen, Byron and Middle Georgia area, now there are only 13. Hurried work and poor construction can be seen in many new homes as those 287 builders rushed to try to get some of their money back.

As more and more first time home buyers are purchasing homes because of incentives and the buyers market, many are lulled in to a false sense of security when purchasing new construction. Nothing could be further from the truth. My average home inspection report is 15-20 pages; a recent new construction inspection resulted in a 39 page report. Every system in the home with the exception of the brick exterior, driveway, sidewalks and windows required some type of repair or replacement. The builder ensured the home had great curbside appeal, but it didn't take peeling back many layers of the onion to find major problems. With the builder out of business there was no builder's warranty to fix the problems. After seeing the inspection report the bank that owned the property offered a reduced asking price which allowed the buyer to pay for many of the repairs. Had the client relied on the curb appeal of the home and the false notion that new construction has few defects, their dream home would have been a financial nightmare.

Broken roof trusses in attic of new home. There was one more that was broken and two with major cracks.

Ace Home Inspection, LLC serves Warner Robins, Macon, Perry, Byron, Kathleen, Bonaire, Centereville, Milledgeville, Cochran, Eastman and Fort Valley GA. We offer a full range of services including radon measurement, mold sampling, 90 day limited home warranty, on-line scheduling and we accept VISA and Master Card. All of this is backed up with our 200% Guarantee (see website for details). Please call (478) 954-9791 to schedule your appointment or immediately save $20 by using our on-line scheduling system at http://acehomeinspection.biz/schedule.html

Howard Tennyson
Ace Home Inspection, LLC
Office (478) 954-9791
Fax (888) 273-9868
acehomeinspectionllc@gmail.com
http://acehomeinspection.biz

Home Inspector in Warner Robins GA Earns ASHI Certification. As part of a constant pursuit of excellence in the home inspection profession, Howard Tennyson, President of Ace Home Inspection, LLC has earned the official designation of ASHI Certified Inspector.

The ASHI Certified Inspector designation is reserved for Home Inspectors who are members of the American Society of Home Inspectors and who have successfully passed the National Home Inspector Certification Exam, the ASHI Standards of Practice Test and also the ASHI Code of Ethics Exam. A thorough evaluation for Standards conformance of completed home inspection reports submitted to paid customers by the inspector is also a requisite for the ASHI Certification.

ASHI requirements for annual continuing education credits are designed to keep the skills and knowledge level on par with today's advances in home construction and mechanical systems. Any home inspection client will be well served by any ASHI Certified inspector.

Ace Home Inspection, LLC serves Warner Robins, Macon, Perry, Byron, Kathleen, Bonaire, Centereville, Milledgeville, Cochran, Eastman and Fort Valley GA. We offer a full range of services including radon measurement, mold survey, mold sampling, 90-Day Limited Home Warranty, on-line scheduling and we accept VISA and Master Card. All of this is backed up with our 200% Guarantee (see website for details). Please call (478) 954-9791 to schedule your appointment or immediately save $20 by using our online scheduling system at http://acehomeinspection.biz/schedule.html

Howard Tennyson
Ace Home Inspection, LLC
Office (478) 954-9791
Fax (888) 273-9868
acehomeinspectionllc@gmail.com
http://acehomeinspection.biz

A recent home inspection conducted by Ace Home Inspection, LLC of Warner Robins has saved a couple tens of thousands of dollars in repairs to their new home. While most new home owners tend to focus on mainly cosmetic issues, a professional home inspector is trained to evaluate structural and mechanical systems. These systems in new homes are usually installed in a professional manner but sometimes corners are cut leading to expensive repairs.

This particular home had two major structural defects concerning the brick veneer. The color of the brick and mortar made it difficult to see the failures in construction. Close examination of the exterior, especially over door/window openings and corners sometimes shows trouble spots. The proper installation of the lintel and brick ties to the wooden structure is crucial.

After a thorough inspection of this beautiful home, the defects were found and reported in such a way as to make it easy for both client and builder to see and fix. The client was very knowledgeable in construction and was surprised to learn of these items as he thought he knew all of the problems that existed with the home. Here is their testimonial following the inspection:

"Ace Home Inspection,

I can't think of anything that could have made my home inspection better! Howard is very thorough and knowledgeable in identifying problems and potential problems. He was quick to notice problems that I should have seen. Ace Home Inspection has been very professional in every aspect from start to finish of our home inspection process.

The website is outstanding with a very easy to navigate interface. The final report included pictures and examples of construction examples to back up issues that were identified during the home inspection. This makes it easy to communicate issues with the home to the builder. This is helpful when purchasing a home or in my case, before the warranty is up on my home.

I have had many home inspections and this has been the best experience by far. I would recommend Ace Home Inspection to anyone looking at buying a new home or prior to a warranty expiring.

Thank you very much,

Rich & Arlene G."

Whether a home is brand new, old or somewhere in-between, a home inspection conducted by a trained professional is crucial. Investments in a home are a large part of personal budget demands. I would much rather spend $5000 on a vacation with my family than to spend it on repairs for my home, wouldn't you?

Howard Tennyson, President
Ace Home Inspection, LLC
Office (478) 954-9791
Fax (888) 273-9868
acehomeinspectionllc@gmail.com
http://acehomeinspection.biz

A recent client of Ace Home Inspection, LLC of Warner Robins shares thoughts after her home inspection experience (permission to use testimonials was granted by client). This was a bank owned foreclosure property in Warner Robins GA. She chose Ace Home Inspection because she saw on my website (http://acehomeinspection.biz) that I am retired military.

 After a long home search and tangled buying process, Ms. G was exhibiting some apprehension when I came off the roof to introduce myself. Her questions were short and to the point and I did everything I could to best explain what I was looking at and how the flow of the inspection would go. I tried my best to put her at ease and I asked her to follow me while I did the inspection...she seemed a little shocked.

 Ms. G shared with me some of her obstacles while pursuing her dream home. She had been living in a mobile home for many years and had outgrown it a long time ago. She told me she had her eye on this particular home since late summer of 2008 and got up the nerve to put an offer on it last October; her offer was rejected. About a month later the home went in to foreclosure and she again made an offer and it was accepted.

 Dealing with the bank was a hassle but this was her dream home and that motivation kept her going. As one can imagine the idea of having a professional home inspector come in to the picture and dash away her hopes and dreams was not a pleasant one. I deal with this not only from home buyers and sellers but also from Real Estate agents who have poured so much talent, energy and resources in to their client; for a home inspector to waltz in and not realize the impact of their presence is shallow and unprofessional (in my opinion).

 During the inspection I learned a lot about Ms. G and her family. We talked about home buying issues, her work environment, her kids and family and we shared our hopes and dreams for the future. By the end of the inspection I felt I had gained a friend; this made it even easier for the two of us to go over what was found during the inspection and how best to handle the discrepancies.

 I ask my clients to take a minute and fill out a feedback survey. I was very happy to read the Ms. G was happy with my service as it seemed to be a high point for her during her home buying process.

 ""The Inspector presented himself as very knowledgeable."

 "The Inspector's thoroughness was excellent, made recommendations."

 "I would recommend your service."

 "He helped me understand about the aspects of a Home Inspection versus an Appraisal. He answered any questions that I had. He was honest."

 In these hard times we need to rely on each other for support and kindness. The simple act of being able to listen and share has been lost to some, but when found in another it can make both people happy and uplifted.

Howard Tennyson
Ace Home Inspection, LLC
Office (478) 954-9791
Fax (888) 273-9868
acehomeinspectionllc@gmail.com
http://acehomeinspection.biz