All Season Home's Blog

Thinkin' 'bout the chimney

Christopher Baczewski (All Season Home Inspections, Inc. ) — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:29:56 -0500

Now that it is spring here in the northeast It's a good time to have your chimney cleaned and inspected largely due to the fact that you currently will not need to use it. If you have a fireplace and you burn wood you should have it cleaned annually. Masonry chimney flues with clay tile liners take a real beating from years of wood burning and older chimneys often have cracked or damaged liners. Oil burners can create acids when the sulfur in the fuel mixes with moisture in the chimney, subsequently causing decay to the terra cotta liner. Choose a chimney sweep the same way you would any other contractor or inspector, client referrals, friends referrals and ask for references.

If you have an internal chimney, one that is inside the house, it can pose a real issue if there are any breaches. Internal chimneys that leak have the potential to vent flue gases into the building. Another item you'll want is a rain cap or spark guard, this keeps the animals out of the chimney while it is not in use, or while it is in use. More than once I've heard stories about birds that will rest on top of a chimney, get a whiff and after succumbing to the smoke they fall lifeless into the flue. Sounds gross but the worst part is that you now have an obstruction in you chimney.

Like it's said, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Seeya on the road,

Chris Baczewski

Dedicated to my craft and devoted to my clients.

Clogged Drains

Christopher Baczewski (All Season Home Inspections, Inc. ) — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:37:47 -0600

I get some of the same questions on a lot of my inspections, usually due to common problems that I find in all types of homes and buildings. Every few weeks I'm going to try and provide some practical advice for common disruptions in any homeowners or homebuyers daily life.

This entry deals with clogged or slow drains. Most sink and bathtub slow drainage is easy to remedy without caustic chemicals or the aid of a plumber. I don't lean toward drain cleaning fluids because they can be dangerous if not handled carefully. A better method is a plunger. If you buy a drain cleaner and it does not work you are out the money and still staring at water in the sink. If you buy a plunger it will work over and over again to clear countless numbers of slow drains, the trick is using a plunger the right way, and never using it after using a drain cleaner.(If the plunger works you could end up with a face full of caustic cleaner!!)

To clear or increase flow in a basin or tub you first need to put water in the fixture and run the water, being sure not to over flow the same while using the plunger. Do not push down on the drain with the plunger, this will only push the offending material deeper into the pipe and compress it , worsening the problem. Put the plunger to the side of the drain in the water standing in the fixture, push down to make a good suction, slide the plunger over the drain and pull up. Be sure to cover the overflow opening in the sink or tub so that you don't waste time sucking air. Repeat this action several times and you should see some real nasty material coming up into the fixture, keep the water running so that as you loosen the glog it breaks up and gets carried down the drain.

For clogged toilets=just put the plunger in and push down, it will force the offending material down through the toilets contorted works.

If that fails, call a plumber. Remember to buy a good quality plunger that is useful for both toilets and other fixtures. A good plunger will work for years and does not put chemical into the environment or damage pipes.

Go clog go.

Chris Baczewski, All Season Home

Happy New Year

Christopher Baczewski (All Season Home Inspections, Inc. ) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:58:16 -0600

Happy new year to all. Hopefully the new year brings a revival in the housing market in the northeast. These are the times that test us all and the entire real estate industry, but people need places to live and eventually will buy their dream homes. The important thing is not losing sight of our clients needs no matter how few or far between they may be. Perseverance, hard work and motivation are the keys that open locked doors for those willing to stay the course.

Chris Baczewski

Dedicated to my craft and devoted to my clients.

Winterizing your Home

Christopher Baczewski (All Season Home Inspections, Inc. ) — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 16:58:01 -0600

Winterizing Your Home

Just a few useful tips from your friends at All Season Home Inspections

Inside Your Home

Have your furnace or boiler system serviced to ensure it's working efficiently and not emitting carbon monoxide.
Clean permanent furnace filters and replace paper or disposable filters every four to six weeks.
Replace the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
If you have a wood stove or fireplace, have your chimney swept thoroughly. It should be cleaned before the soot build up reaches one-quarter inch thickness inside the chimney flue. If you use your fireplace often we recommend annual cleaning.
Check your water heater for leaks and maintain proper temperature setting (120 degrees recommended by Department of Energy). On older water heaters with less insulation, for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit you lower the temperature, you save 6 percent of your water heating energy.
Check the attic to see if insulation needs to be added or replaced. This is the most significant area of heat loss in many homes, so it is also important to see that it has proper ventilation. Inadequate ventilation could lead to premature deterioration of the insulation materials.
Check all windows and doors for air leaks. Install storm windows and putty, caulk or add weather stripping as needed.
Check basement and cellars for seal cracks or leaks in walls and floor.
Make sure all vents are clean and operating properly.
Clean and vacuum baseboard heaters, heating ducts and vents.
Remove or winterize air conditioning units.

Outside Your Home

Store or cover outdoor furniture, toys and grill.
Prepare for snowfall. Purchase rock salt or calcium chloride for melting snow and a shovel or snow blower if you don't already have one. Make sure you have the right kind of gas and oil on hand for your snow blower in the case of an unexpected snowstorm.
Caulk joints and minor cracks on exterior walls and siding.
Look for deteriorating finishes. Minor problems can be patched to preserve the wood. Put bigger jobs, such as scraping and refinishing painted or stained areas, on the calendar for next spring or early summer.
Drain and shut off sprinkler systems and other exterior water lines to avoid frozen and broken pipes.
Insulate exterior spigots and other pipes that are subject to freezing but can't be drained or shut off.
Rake and compost leaves and garden debris, or put out for yard-waste pickup.
Clean storm drains, gutters and other drain pipes.
Check the foundation for proper drainage. To do this, spray yard with a hose to see if water runs away from the house. A little bit of regrading to reshape the earth next to the house may help the water run away from the foundation.
Make sure piles of wood don't come into contact with or touch siding, inviting termites and carpenter ants into the house. Bring into the house only as much wood as you will burn that day.
Inspect the roof for loose, damaged or missing pieces.
Check attic vent openings for nests or other blockages.