What A Peer Review Taught Me: My Home Inspection Reports Need Work - 05/31/11 06:50 AM
I've always been proud of the home inspection reports that I produce, but a recent peer review of my reports turned my pride to embarrassment.  I swapped home inspection reports with a couple of home inspectors in different parts of the country for a brutal review of each others reports, and had my inspection report torn to shreds. These home inspectors spent several hours going over every line and every sentence in my inspection report, and I did the same for them.  They pointed out awkward sentences in my reports, photos that weren't clear, opinions on how much info was being … (13 comments)

Double Tapped Neutrals: This Isn't A New Rule - 05/24/11 06:05 AM
While I try to make most of my blog posts somewhat generic and appealing to most, this one ain't that.  This post is about a very specific electrical defect that I frequently run across, and I'm writing this post so I can give my clients a better explanantion of this defect.  Oh, and also so I can give my clients proof that this isn't some new requirement that I just heard about.
The problem I'm addressing today is double tapped neutral lugs in electric panels.  A 'double tapped neutral' is another way of saying that one of the screws on the … (18 comments)

Should You Drain Your Water Heater? - 05/17/11 06:22 AM
 
I've read a lot of water heater installation manuals, and they all give the same advice on water heater maintenance, but most people don't do any type of maintenance on their water heaters, period.  Today I'm going to go over the routine maintenance that water heater manufacturers recommend, and I'll throw in my two cents.  My take on water heater maintenance should be much more interesting than reading the installation manual.
Drain Flush the water heater Every month (yes, every month) you're supposed to flush some water out of the bottom of your tank.  There's a drain valve at the bottom of … (70 comments)

Carbon monoxide alarm requirements for Minnesota, including the little details - 05/10/11 06:34 AM
 
Carbon monoxide alarms are required in just about every type of dwelling in Minnesota, and it's been this way for several years now, but there is still a lot of confusion about this requirement. 
General Requirement  - This text comes directly from Minnesota Statute 299F.50:
Every single family dwelling and every dwelling unit in a multifamily dwelling must have an approved and operational carbon monoxide alarm installed within ten feet of each room lawfully used for sleeping purposes.
One and one half story houses: a carbon monoxide alarm installed on the first floor within ten feet of the stairway to the second floor does not … (7 comments)

How To Inspect Your Own Deck - 05/03/11 06:02 AM

As I'm sure you already know, May is Deck Safety Month, so it's a good time to talk about deck inspections.  Is your own deck safe?  Now is the time to check.  If you're going to have a party or a large gathering, you better be sure.  The best way to be sure is to pack as many people on to your deck at one time as you possibly can, and have them bounce up and down all at once.  If your deck doesn't collapse, it's safe.

Ok, that's a joke.  Seriously, the best way to know about your … (15 comments)