Ar_home_b_search
 



pa home inspections: Attic Condensation - 04/10/10 01:53 PM
A common problem that is seen on inspections is attic damage from condensation and/or poor ventilation. This problem is much more common than people think and can be easily remedied/prevented for relatively little cost to the homeowner. Frequent occurrences take place when bath fans aren't vented to the outside, soffit vents are blocked with insulation, or inadequate insulation in the attic space. There are several approaches that a homeowner can take to prevent this from becoming a problem. The first thing is to make sure that all ventilation points terminate to the outside. This includes bath fans and plumbing vents. Another … (4 comments)

pa home inspections: Why flashing is so important!! - 02/21/10 10:00 AM
This was from an inspection yesterday that had some "issues" that went unnoticed by the current homeowner. The tip off was a drop ceiling system that showed severe signs of rust on the metal rails. After moving one of the tiles the pictures below tell the rest of the story. For some reason they only flashed the bottom half of the chimney. Maybe they ran out of flashing??
 
… (6 comments)

pa home inspections: What is going on here? - 02/10/10 09:12 AM
There are numerous problems with this picture. Can you identify them??
… (8 comments)

pa home inspections: Property Maintenance - 02/07/10 02:13 PM
Contrary to popular belief, most materials do not last forever. With the winter winding down (contrary to the groundhog) it is a good idea to go around the home and see what needs to be replaced or repaired from the damaging effects of the weather. A common area is around vent pipe boots and chimneys where tarring has occurred. The flashing cement that is applied doesn't have a lifetime warranty. It will shrink, expand, and crack causing leaks and water damage. Sometimes we get into the mindset that if it doesn't leak than it doesn't need repair. That changes when a … (2 comments)

pa home inspections: Winterizing A Vacant Home - 01/09/10 02:41 PM
This will be a short blog post. The best advice that I can give as a home inspector and a builder/remodeler is to hire professionals to winterize your home. Many people (including other inspectors) will agree with me that numerous problems arise when homes are improperly winterized. If you enter a home as an agent or an inspector and the meter is still attached, then the winterization process was probably DIY and more important ineffective. Always make sure that as a RE agent or inspector that if a home is winterized that the company/firm/person who did the work is the one … (5 comments)

pa home inspections: Dryer Vents - 11/12/09 05:39 AM
One very small but important item that is included in every inspection is the dryer vent. Every year fires are started from a lack of maintenance with this particular item. Some people feel that cleaning the lint screen is sufficient. This is far from correct. The actual vent that leads to the outside is where most blockages occur. This happens when the moist warm air from your dryer escapes with lint from the clothing. The damp lint is in perfect condition to stick to the walls of the vent pipe and eventually itself which deters proper venting. Several industry leaders recommend … (6 comments)

pa home inspections: Carbon Monoxide - 10/04/09 07:48 PM
Now that the heating season is approaching several areas of concern arise. The main one being carbon monoxide exposure. The best way to approach this potential problem is by having your fuel burning heat source serviced at least once a year. This service should not only be for cleaning, but also determine proper operation and a carbon monoxide test should be performed. This service is offered by many local HVAC contractors and is rather inexpensive for having proactive maintenance to your system.
Carbon Monoxide has many hidden dangers to a persons' health. For this reason alone I am offering carbon monoxide … (0 comments)

pa home inspections: Staging gone wrong - 08/30/09 12:27 PM
A recent inspection revealed that some people just don't want to sell their house. Many times people say "inspectors are deal breakers". Some cases this may be true, but I have never had a house let me down when it comes time for a deal to fall apart. The inspection a few days ago was a perfect example. The owner decided that after the house went under contract that he was going to remodel the bath room and began to demolish away. The only problem--- he didn't have the desire to finish. One full bath-now not functional. We proceeded to the … (3 comments)

 

Frank Carey

Wilkes Barre, PA

More about me…

Carey Inspection Solutions, LLC

Address: Exeter, PA, 18643

Office Phone: (570) 883-9494

Cell Phone: (570) 954-7723

Email Me

This blog/information newsletter will feature industry topics and events that are benficial to the industry and other realestate professionals.


Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog