Home Inspection Informational Blog

Clearance, Cans on Isle 3 (A Home Inspection Blog)

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:25:57 -0600

Okay, I have to admit, this is not a blog about the supermarket or department store. But it is about something I find quite often in attics. It has to do with older "canned" recessed lighting. Look at the picture below:

The picture is of the older canned lighting in the attic. If you look on the white can, just above the metal box in the picture, you can barely see a white label with red letters. The label generally reads something to the effect of, "Warning, risk of fire, 3-inch minimum clearance needed to combustibles." Of course "combustibles" refers to anything that can catch on fire, insulation being one of those. So there needs to be a minimum 3-inch distance between the canned lighting and the insulation. The reason for the clearance is that the older canned lighting can generate a lot of heat.

So the danger is real, but the solution is easy. Crawl up in the attic and move the insulation at least 3-inches away from the light. If the insulation looks like it might fall back towards the light, then add a sheet of metal to act as a barrier. So there you go, and hence the title, "Clearance, Cans on Isle 3."

I hope this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection and its value. Be safe out there.

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

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Pillar To Post is your local franchise providing home inspections for clients and real estate professionals located in Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Montclair, Chino, Chino Hills, La Verne, Claremont, San Dimas, Glendora, Azusa, Diamond Bar, Brea, Fullerton, Placentia, Fontana, Rialto, Corona, Norco and surrounding areas.

Wet Lights (A Home Inspection Blog)

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:21:29 -0500

Outdoor lighting is good, I think that's something everyone can agree on. It's great when you are trying to get the key into the lock at night, when you want the kids to play outside at night, to just sit and relax outside at night... any activity that you would like to do outside during night that requires sight.

So what happens when you come home late at night and the front porch light is not on? How do you see what you're doing so you can open the door? Isn't there some way to turn on the light? Oh no, the light switch is inside the house on the other side of the wall! Darn!

Well I've got the answer for you! How about the great invention pictured below that I saw during a home inspection:

Isn't that great! A light switch outside so you never have to worry about forgetting to put the light on and being stuck in the dark. What a great invention!

Okay, okay, in case you couldn't tell that was all sarcastic. The light switch at the exterior of the house is a nice way to get electrocuted in the rain. A weatherproof cover would help, but practically, when it's rainng you will still be touching the light switch with a wet hand and thus still have an electrocution hazard. It's one of those things that sounds good on paper, but...

I hope this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection and its value. Be safe out there.

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

Smokin' it up (A Home Inspection Blog)

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:02:58 -0500

Sometimes I take great pictures, and sometimes I don't, I guess that's why I'm not a photographer. Anyhow, let me describe the picture below a little bit before I get too far:

At the bottom right hand corner of the picture is a chimney on top of a garage conversion to living space. The garage is about 9-ft. from the window at the top of the picture at the house. And as it looks in the picture, the chimney is lower than the window.

Okay, do you see any problems with that?

The chimney needs to be a minimum of 2-ft above any part of the building within 10-ft and at least 3-ft above any part of the roof within 10-ft. Therefore the chimney will likely cause that nice smokey aroma in the room that has the window in the picture. I guess that's nice if you like that cabin feeling during the ice-cold winter. But then again, most people don't want to breathe smoke. In other words, without being sarcastic, this is a health and safety concern.

I hope this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection and its value. Be safe out there.

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

Aromatherapy in the Attic (A Home Inspection Blog)

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:00:52 -0500

Did the title get you interested? Wondering how you get aromatherapy in the attic? First of all, make sure you hire a home inspector who enters the attic, otherwise you'll never know. If the home inspector says (s)he'll be 45-minutes to 1 1/2 hours on-site, (s)he probably won't enter the attic, or if (s)he does, it won't be very thorough.

Now back to the topic. How do you get aromatherapy in the attic?

The picture above is the best way to get aromatherapy in the attic. You'll get a nice strong scent that's sure to get your attention. Thanks for stopping by. Bye.

Oh wait, do you need a little explanation? Okay, the pipe pictured above is a vent stack. A vent stack is connected to the plumbing drains and simply allows air to circulate through the drain pipes so everything will drain properly. Because they're directly connected to the drain pipes, sewer odors and gases will travel through them and exit them. Therefore they must terminate above the roof line so the sewer odors and gases escape to the atmosphere above where the occupants can breathe. Therefore the pipe above should have been extended through the plywood sheathing for the roof in the attic and through the roofing material so the sewer odors can escape to the exterior... otherwise you get that nice aromatherapy sewer odor in the attic.

I hope this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection and its value. Be safe out there.

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

Closet = Danger (A Home Inspection Blog)

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:39:46 -0500

It's always nice to come up with new and creative ways to find space in your home. I certainly could use some more storage area. Below is a picture I took at a home inspection where a previous homeowner was creative and discovered they could use the space under their stairs for more storage.

The homeowner even put in a door to make it nice and accessible. This picture was taken from inside the garage? However there is a problem here... do you know what it is?

The walls in the garage where there is living space on the other side is built as a firewall. Therefore it would take longer for fire to penetrate the wall and allow the occupants a better chance at escaping the house and danger. The small door in the picture used for storage would therefore have to be a fire-rated door so it would take longer for fire to penetrate the door. Well, as you can guess, it wasn't fire-rated. Also, the door frame has to be gas proof so the gas fumes from the vehicles don't enter the house and harm the occupants. Once again, it wasn't.

So the nice area for storage they made actually ends up being a safety hazard. They need a solid-core fire-rated door, gas proof weatherstripping and an auto-close mechanism so the door closes and latches by itself, in case the homeowner forgets.

I hope this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection and its value. Be safe out there.

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

The Tale of the Tape (A Home Inspection Blog)

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:03:00 -0500

Yes, I do like boxing, and though the title of the blog may sound like the prelude to a boxing fight, you can prbably guess that boxing has nothing to do with this blog.

Okay, so you tell the seller there is a cracked wall. Well, they might be thinking it's a hairline crack that is typical, so they could care less. However, the measuring tape in the picture puts everything in perspective. I'd say a 15-inch damaged wall is a little different than a 1/4-inch hole in a wall.

Like I stated earlier, boxing had nothing to do with this blog... or did it? Maybe a boxer is the one who damaged the wall... anyhow, just a short blog to show the Pillar To Post difference while reporting items in our home inspection for you.

A Real Knock Out Home Inspection Blog

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:49:41 -0500

Of course as home inspectors we are very concerned about safety. Some safety items are more serious than others and some can be expensive or cheap to repair.

Main electrical panels are always a concern for safety. With all the power for the entire house running through the electrical panel, it's not to be taken lightly. Look at the picture below:

There is a missing breaker in the area labeled "dryer." In and of itself that's not a problem. The problem is leaving that space open. There are plastic covers that will fit in that area to cover the space, they're called "knock out covers." Kind of hits you like you're in the boxing ring, huh... at least it would if the knock out cover is missing and some one put their finger in there are put a tool in there... zap! Luckily it's an easy fix and the cost is very cheap. Just one of the many items we look for during our home inspections.

I hope this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection and its value. Be safe out there.

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

The Jets (Not the Football Team) - A Home Inspection Blog

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:11:57 -0500

Don't get me wrong, I do like football, I'm even getting ready for the draft in my fantasy football league, but I regret to inform you that this home inspection blog is not about football.

Today we will talk about jetted bathtubs... well, sort of. We will use jetted bathtubs as an example of the extra steps we take to provide you with a superior home iinspection report. Below is an example of a picture we include with all of our home inspections that have a jetted tub.

Wow, doesn't that make you just want to go in and soak in the tub!

We take pictures of these type of items because of all the foreclosures we have here in Southern California, but in reality, for any type of sale. The pictures proves that the jetted tubs were operating at the time of the home inspection. Therefore, if you do your final walk-through and notice the tub is damaged or the jets don't operate anymore, you can ask the seller to repair the item since it was previously operational. This is especially good for difficult short sale sellers who may decide to do some damages before they leave, or for vacant foreclosures that get broken into or vandalized (unfortunately not too uncommon around here in some areas). Otherwise I can almost guarantee you'll here these words, "The inoperable jetted tub was a pre-existing condition, therefore we won't cover it!"

We also take pictures of A/C condensers, furnaces, kitchen appliances, water heaters and other high-cost items since they are sometimes stolen from vacant houses. We have modified the way we perform home inspections and our report to change with the changing housing market.

I hope this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection and its value. Be safe out there.

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

A "Rail"lly Interesting Home Inspection Blog

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:26:33 -0500

As the title indicates, this home inspection blog is about hand rails. I find that hand rails regularly come up as an issue in home inspections. Many people seem to forget how important hand rails are in case you trip while going up or down steps, even more so for children and the elderly who have a harder time using steps.

In the picture below, steps were added in the landscaping without hand rails.

I point this out to the prospective home buyer so they are aware of the issue. Whether or not they eventually install hand rails is up to them, but at least they have the information and are aware of the safety concerns. Remember, here in Southern California, the home inspection is informational and does not mandate repairs be completed. However, some buyers will use the home inspection report to request repairs be completed. I, as a home inspector, simply give you the information so you are aware of the issues, your real estate professional will guide you after that (or at least they should).

By the way, a little "Where's Waldo?" fun: Can you spot the Pillar To Post vehicle in the picture?

I hope this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection and its value. Be safe out there.

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

Flashy Flashing (A Home Inspection Blog)

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:23:37 -0500

I think most people would agree that roofs are an important part of the house. Unfortunately, it seems we are calling out problems on roofs daily. I suppose with all these foreclosures and short sales, people just didn't have the money to keep up with the maintenance or have items repaired properly.

Now, to address the title of this blog. A flashing can be one of numerous items on a roof. I will concentrate on the flashing below, which is the metal piece you see under the electrical mast in the picture.

The purpose of the flashing in the picture is to avoid water from entering the hole in the roof that was made to accommodate the electrical mast (the pole that the overhead electrical wires enter to give power to the house). So the roofer had to make a hole for the electrical mast and wires, just no way to get around that (unless your electrical service comes in underground). Now that there's a hole in the roof, something needs to be done to prevent water from entering that hole. That's where a flashing comes in. The flashing is integrated into the roof to deter water from entering. Therefore they are critical components of a roof. There are also flashings where the chimney meets the roof, where a wall meets a roof, valleys and any other object protruding from the roof (like a skylight). The flashing below was barely integrated at the right part of the flashing and not integrated at all at the top and bottom part of the flashing (as oriented in the picture). So the "handy" roofer decided to use good old roofing cement. The problem with roofing cement is that it cracks over time and needs routine maintenance. Roofing cement is good for some parts of the roof, but is not sufficient to stop this flashing from leaking. Below is another example:

So the moral of the story is: Mr. "Handy" Roofer, don't get "flashy" with your flashings, just install them properly.

I hope this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection and its value. Be safe out there.

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

Don't Get Sucked In (A Home Inspection Blog)

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:38:56 -0500

Summer is in full swing and my last blog was about pool safety, so I'll continue with that theme today.

Below is a picture of a pool safety concern. Can you identify it? It's kind of like "where's Waldo?"

Well okay, not exactly like "where's Waldo?" since there is only one item in the picture.

The problem is the drain cover. Current standards indicate anti-vortex drain covers should be used for safety. "What's that?" you ask. Anti-vortex drain covers lower the suction force at the drain cover, otherwise there is the possibility a small child could touch the drain cover and not be able to pull their hand away because of the suction, or that someone with long hair could get the hear pulled into the drain because of the suction.

I hope this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection and its value. Be safe out there.

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

Pools, links and ladders (A Home Inspection Blog)

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:39:48 -0500

Well we're in the full swing of summer and "the heat is on." Therefore many people here in Southern California will be enjoying their pools on a daily basis. Unfortunately, many accidents happen around pools every year, some of which can be avoided.

Take a look at the picture below.

Yes, I know, I should be a professional photographer, but that's not what ‘m focusing on here.

The picture is a close up of a single link in a chain link fence around a pool. As you can see, the link is about 2 ¼-inches wide. This is a problem... "why," you ask? With links that wide, small children can simply use the links like a ladder. Don't you remember jumping over chain link fences when you were a kid? The end of your foot seemed to fit on the links just perfectly so you could climb over them.

So current standards indicate that links in chain link fences that are protecting pools should not exceed 1 ¼-inches wide. That's good information for a parent, or simply anyone who owns a pool, to have.

Of course there are many other options of protecting a pool, but I was just focusing on chain link fences for today.

I hope this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection and its value. Be safe out there.

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

Beware While Shopping Foreclosures!

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:46:47 -0500

I would estimate that about 80 - 90% of the homes we inspect these days are foreclosures... at least they're vacant. We often find very interesting things during these home inspections. But the warning I give you today does not concern home inspections (please read my other blogs for that).

We come across a lot of black widows at vacant houses. I'm no spider expert and have seen quite a few black widows in my life. I knew they are poisonous but never realized how dangerous they are. I was watching a show the other day with a name similar to "The Most Dangerous Insects." Anyway, in that show, the black widow was named... wow!

So my warning is to be alert for black windows (or any other insects) while looking at homes. Be especially careful if you have small children. We all know how they can run off in an instant. Below is a picture I took of a black widow which shows the "hourglass" on its abdomen.

Be safe out there.

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

Joseph Lang and Jimmy Zazueta provide home inspections for clients and real estate professionals located in Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Montclair, Chino, Chino Hills, La Verne, Claremont, San Dimas, Glendora, Azusa, Diamond Bar, Brea, Fullerton, Placentia, Fontana, Rialto, Corona, Norco and surronding areas.

Why Inspect a Foreclosure When the Bank Won't Do Repairs Anyway?

Tue, 19 May 2009 12:20:04 -0500

I have heard this every once in a while out there. And I guess the answer depends on what you are looking for a home inspection to accomplish. There are two common goals buyers have for a home inspection:

1. Find out all the issues with the home so you aren't hit with any huge, unexpected repairs.

2. Find repairs that are needed and ask the seller to repair them or receive a credit for the repair.

So I guess if you are looking solely for the 2nd option, you wouldn't necessarily want a home inspection. However, I'm not quite sure why someone would not want to protect themselves with goal #1 and know the deficiencies of the property?

Yes, sometimes you can walk into a foreclosure and see the walls damaged and the carpet stained and know that a lot of work needs to be done. But do you know if the heat and A/C operate? Is the main electrical panel wired properly? Does the plumbing operate properly? Is there proper ventilation in the attic? How does the roof look? Some damaged drywall and carpet might cost $5,000 or so. But if you need all of the aforementioned, you might be looking at well over $20,000.

Of course the choice is always yours, but hopefully now you have thought of all your options.

Your local Pillar To Post home inspectors, Joseph Lang and Jimmy Zazueta, hope we can earn your business.

Hopefully this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection and its value. Be safe out there.

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

Look What I Found at a Foreclosure Home Inspection

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:45:07 -0500

I would estimate that 80 - 90% of the home inspections we perform are vacant, usually foreclosures or short sales. Unfortunately many of them are left in very bad condition, making for extra long inspections. Some people take a sledge hammer to everything they see, some let their pets run wild and leave little presents behind, some leave personal items behind... and luckily there are also those decent people who leave the house in nice condition.

Anyway, I saw something I had never seen before the other day during a home inspection. Look at the picture below... but be forewarned, the image you are about to see may be disturbing to some...

I just don't understand it, why would someone leave their hand behind? I don't know about you, but I certainly need both of my hands. I hope it was not the hand they have to write with.

Okay, okay, this is what home inspectors do when they see a kitchen sink and the pipes underneath not connected... you gotta have some fun out there...

Of course, the beginning paragraph still holds true: many of the foreclosed properties we're inspecting are in bad condition and really need a professional home inspection.

I hope this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection, and maybe a laugh or two, and its value. Be safe out there.

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

How Does a Seller Pass a Home Inspection?

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:16:46 -0500

I hear this question every so often so I thought I'd address it. Of course here in Southern California, about 90% of the home inspections we perform are vacant houses, usually foreclosures or short sales. However I know there are still sellers out there.

So how does a seller have the house "pass" the home inspection? First of all, a home inspection in California is not a pass/fail process. There is no requirement to have a home inspection and the reports are advisory for the client... nothing has to be repaired from the home inspection, with the exception of earthquake bracing. I have heard of some local cities sending code enforcement officials to do their own inspections, and they have the authority to require items to be repaired, but that's different from the home inspection. Having said that, the home inspection sometimes still can be used to negotiate the price or at least to be prepared for repairs that are needed.

So what can the seller do? There are certain things a seller can do to prepare the home for the buyer's home inspection. One option is to have the home inspected before it goes up for sale, therefore any repairs can be made and the seller will not have deadlines. When there is a time crunch, many times you are forced to settle with the only person who is available to perform the repair and end up spending more money. Or, the seller can at least be aware of repairs that are needed and can adjust the price accordingly if needed. Either way, the seller is aware of the items to be repaired.

The seller can also go through routine maintenance items themselves and take care of those. Painting, caulking in kitchens and bathrooms, cleaning rain gutters, replacing light bulbs, cover plates for light switches and receptacles as needed, running water and checking for leaks under sinks or back ups, changing the air filter and checking GFCI receptacle test buttons are all relatively easy items a seller might be able to do themselves. The better the condition a home is in, the easier the process of selling a home becomes. Take care of what items you can ahead of time.

I hope this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection and its value. Be safe out there.

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

Buyer Beware (A Home Inspection Blog)

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:06:04 -0600

Over the past year and a half much of my competition in the home inspection industry has dropped out for one reason or another. And recently it appears some have returned and seem to compete solely based on price. So I thought I'd share with you some insight on the home inspection process so you have a fair warning.

Let me start by sharing my own personal story of my experience with a home inspector when my wife and I purchased our first home. Our real estate agent stated we needed a home inspection and gave us 3-brochures. They then stated there is no need to spend too much money, so they recommended the cheapest inspection. We didn't know anything about home inspections at the time, so we listened to their advice. To make a long story short, we ended up selling in 10-months to up-size and we found out we had a recalled attic furnace when the buyers of our house had a home inspection. Though it would be about 2-years before I became a home inspector, it was the spark that triggered my interest and desire in customer service and professionalism and is the cornerstone of how I built my home inspection business.

So recently I have had buyers call and state that another home inspector offered to do the home inspection cheaper! Here are the questions I asked these prospective clients, many of which the other home inspectors simply don't offer. (Remember, these are specific to my area, and may not apply to other states)

1. Does the home inspector inspect full-time?

Though this seems like a trivial question, it is quite important. Those who inspect full-time have a vested interest in providing the best home inspection and customer service, since it's their only source of income. Is also shows that they have built a solid customer base, which 9 times out of 10 is due to superior service.

2. Does the home inspector carry Error and Omissions (E&O) insurance and General Commercial Liability (GCL) insurance?

No one is perfect, plain and simple. E&O insurance covers the buyer and home inspector alike and GCL covers any damage or injuries that might result by the home inspector's actions on-site. Though I've had my $1,000,000 insurance since 2004, I have never had to use it, but my clients have that peace of mind.

3. Is the home inspector a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI) or the California Real Estate Inspector Association (CREIA)?

Though it's not a guarantee, these associations at least weed-out most of the lower-quality inspectors by having minimum requirements and proctored exams that must be passed. Since there is no licensing for home inspectors in California, these associations are all the more critical since anyone can call them self a home inspector. The associations lay out minimum standards a home inspector must follow.

4. How long does the home inspector usually stay on-site?

Our home inspections usually last about 2 1/2 hours with another 30-45 minutes to put the pictures in the laptop, print out the report and review it on-site. We take the time to answer any questions you might have and then give you a copy of the report in a professional binder. Ultimately the answer to this question is your personal preference as a consumer.

5. How long has the home inspector been in business and how many home inspections have they performed?

The minimum requirement for this is whatever you desire. I have been in business since 2004, I hired an additional inspector in 2008 and have completed well over 1,000 home inspections. Remember our home inspections are the 3-hour home inspections and not the common 45-minute to 1-hour home inspections with some other competitors.

6. How long does it take to receive the home inspection report?

Once again, this is your personal preference. With Pillar To Post, everything is done on-site. The report can also be printed out for your agent and can be emailed that evening at no additional cost.

7. Does the home inspector walk on roofs and enter attics and crawlspaces as long as it's safe to do so?

Yes, there are plenty of home inspectors who do not walk on roofs or enter attics or crawlspaces, there's simply not enough time if the home inspector is only spending an hour on-site. If you browse through my other blogs, you can view the numerous items we see while inspecting these areas. Many items can only be seen by actually walking the roof or entering the attic or crawlspace. It is a must in my opinion.

8. Does the home inspector carry a moisture meter, water pressure gauge, ladders, infrared thermometer, flashlight, circuit analyzer, mirrors, screwdriver and digital camera (just to name a few)?

These are just a sample of the tools and are minimum requirements in my opinion. Like they say, you need the right tools to do the right job.

Ultimately, though a good home inspection might cost you a little more up-front, you will usually see the savings in items to possibly be requested for repair or at least being able to anticipate costs for items that need repair. If your home inspector doesn't catch the problems then you don't know they need to be fixed.

In summary, like most things in life... you get what you pay for. I'm not saying my list is the perfect list or are the only qualifications, but in my experience they are very important. Please, please, please... even if you don't use our home inspection services, at least make sure you interview your home inspector and know his or her qualifications and exactly what they are offering.

I hope this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection and its value. Be safe out there.

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

Recalled Attic Furnace Info (A Home Inspection Blog)

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 09:57:29 -0600

My last blog was about a recall, so I'll continue that theme. I came across this a few weeks ago.

Now I didn't inspect this house, I simply saw it as I was driving, so I stopped and took a picture. Though I can't be sure, it looks like the fire was caused by the attic furnace (the rectangular box to the left of the chimney).

The recalled attic furnaces were built between 1983 and 1994 and were installed horizontally. The issue was a NOX rod that was defective and started fires. The Torrance Fire Department started the investigation and the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the official recall. Most serial numbers range from 8308 to 9452 and many of the model numbers end with an "X", but not all. Consolidated Industries was the main manufacturer, but there are many others.

A sample picture of the recalled attic furnace is below.

Pillar To Post keeps the official information from the Consumer Product Safety Commission on our laptops and we print those out for our customers when we encounter them. If you have any concerns about your attic furnace, you can get the full information from the Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov, you can contact a qualified HVAC contractor or you can contact me through this website and I'll email you the information.

I hope this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection and its value. Be safe out there.

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

AFCI Breaker Recall Info (A Home Inspection Informational Blog)

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:40:47 -0600

Part of being a good home inspector is being familiar with recalls. One such recall is listed below.

AFCI breakers were instituted for safety beginning in 2002 and are required in bedroom circuits. They provide protection against arcs, which could lead to scorching, overheating and fires. They are a good safety item. However there was a recall from the Consumer Product Safety Commission on some Square D AFCI breakers with blue reset buttons, as shown below. These are located in main electrical panels.

As a home inspector I have information for recalls on my laptop and print them out for additional information for my clients. You can look up the Consumer Product Safety Commission on the internet for further information about recalls, and even sign up to be alerted by email for future recalls.

If you have one of these breakers with a blue reset button, please contact a qualified electrician to make sure it's not recalled. If you would like the info sheet I give to my clients, email me through this site and I'll email it to you.

I hope this gives you a little more information about a home inspection and its value. Be safe out there.

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

You Might Have a Roof Leak if... (A Home Inspection Blog)

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 08:48:39 -0600

You might have a roof leak if...

...your shingles and roofing paper are torn up, damaged and missing.

...your shingles are overlapped improperly and there are exposed nails that essentially just put a bunch of holes in your roof.

...if you have a big huge stain on the ceiling with high moisture readings. Wait a minute, you mean your home inspector doesn't carry a moisture meter?

...if you have a bucket in your attic. Never mind, I'm sure it's not really a bucket, maybe its a laundry basket that got misplaced in the attic. All those with kids know how easy that can be.

...and finally...

You might have a roof leak if you have a hole in your roof!

Okay, so I made it a funny blog today, but it's really not that funny. All these pictures were taken of recent home inspections of foreclosed properties. Please don't try to save $25 - $50 and take the risk of having a poor home inspection. Your house is most likely your largest investment. Though the previous pictures were obvious, I can assure you that most items we find are not obvious.

I hope this gives you a little more information about a professional home inspection and its value. Be safe out there.

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

Condo tid bits (A Home Inspection Blog)

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:07:54 -0600

There are some items in condos that separates them from a normal single family residence home inspection. One of those items has to do with the picture below. Can you guess what it is?

Okay, I admit it, this is a tough one, especially when you're just looking at the picture and weren't on-site to see the layout of the units. The issue is that there were three units and this view was of the middle unit attic space. The attic was not separated. Someone could go up in the attic and crawl into another unit with no restriction... that's a little scary.

But there's another issue. The attics should not only be separated but should have a fire barrier. Think about it, if there's a fire in another unit, they will hear the fire alarms (hopefully) but you won't because the fire is not in your unit. You'll have no warning. But if there's a firewall, hopefully the occupants in the other unit will be alerted and will let you know there's a fire.

Just another reason why your home inspector should always go in the attic as long as it is accessible and safe.

I hope this gives you a little more information about a home inspection and its value. Be safe out there.

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

Crying Out for a Home Inspection

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:17:13 -0600

Sometimes there are certain things we find during a home inspection that just "cries" out for our services.

The roof was definitely crying out for some repair.

The tree was defintely crying out for some more room. How dare that house creep up on it like that!

And I don't know what they are crying out for, and I don't think I want to know...

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

Stair Safety (A Home Inspection Blog)

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:38:59 -0600

Stairs are always a concern during a home inspection because they are one of the most likeliest places for an accident or injury to occur. An important aspect of safety are the hand rails. Hand rails are needed so you can grasp on to something in case you lose your balance. Having lived in 2-story homes all my life, I can assure you that hand rails have saved me a few times.

Take a look at the picture below. Do you see a problem? (I think the tape measure might give it away)

Yep, you guessed it, the hand rail is too high for a 1-year old child... okay, that's a joke, most 1-year olds are just walking, if that, and hand rails aren't designed for them. The hand rail is actually much too low. The hand rail should be 34 - 38 inches above the stair. This hand rail was only 24-inches, therefore most people would have to bend over to reach the hand rail, and that alone could make you lose your balance.

I hope this gives you a little more information about a home inspection and its value. Be safe out there.

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

Bollards... say what? (A Home Inspection Blog)

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 09:44:39 -0600

Have you ever heard of a bollard? Probably not. Don't feel ashamed, you're one of millions of Americans that simply are in the dark on the subject. It's actually a very rare Northeast African bird... just kidding.

Maybe the picture below will help you?

Okay, that was a trick, I admit it. The bollard is missing in the picture. A bollard is a pole that is installed in front of water heaters and furnaces located in garages that prevents vehicles from hitting those units to promote safety. Not only do you want to protect the appliances but you also want to protect the gas lines from separating and preventing an obvious hazard and from the water lines of the water heater from breaking and flooding the garage and possibly the house.

So now you know.... and as G.I. Joe you used to say, "and knowing is half the battle."

I hope this gives you a little more information about a home inspection and its value. Be safe out there.

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection

Don't Open the Closet (A Home Inspection Informational Blog)

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 10:56:44 -0600

There are so many items that are looked at when Pillar To Post performs a home inspection. Some are major and some are informational or suggestions. We don't expect that everything on our home inspection will be taken care of immediately, but we want to provide a list that one can go through and hopefully complete to get their house in tip-top shape.

See any problems in the picture below?

The angle of the picture isn't the greatest so it might not be as easy to see. I was trying to show that the hallway closet door will hot the light fixture when fully opened. Of course if the door is opened hard enough, it might break the glass on the fixture or break the screw that secures it and the glass might fall below. Either way, it's a safety issue that most people probably wouldn't think about... until it's too late.

I hope this gives you a little more information about a home inspection and its value. Be safe out there.

Posted by Joseph Lang of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspection