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santa rosa beach: Efflorescence (stains) - 05/17/09 08:04 AM
Efflorescence for Inspectors.
Efflorescence is an accumulation of minerals and salts on masonry surfaces, such as brick, cement, and sometimes stone. Inspectors should know how to prevent against and remove this unsightly residue. They must also be aware that, while efflorescence itself is not dangerous, it indicates the presence of excess water, which can lead to more serious structural and health issues. How Efflorescence Forms The earth contains natural salts that are present in the raw materials that make up masonry products, such as concrete, asphalt and stucco. These salts remain trapped within masonry in solid form until … (0 comments)
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santa rosa beach: Fire Extinguisher Maintenance and Inspection - 04/22/09 08:18 AM
Fire extinguishers are devices commonly found indoors and are used to douse fire and prevent its spread. They are small metal canisters that contain compressed gas (usually nitrogen) that, when activated, propel a directed spray of flame-retardant chemicals. Fire extinguishers are only effective if building occupants understand where and why they are used.Fire Type Fire extinguishers are distinguished based on the types of fires on which they are effective. These fires are classified by their fuel source and assigned identifying letters as follows:
"A" class - Fires that result from ordinary combustibles such as wood and paper. "B" class - … (0 comments)
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santa rosa beach: Water Heater/TPR Valves and Discharge Piping - 04/06/09 06:45 PM
TPR (temperature pressure relief) valves are safety devices installed on water heating appliances such as boilers and domestic water supply heaters. TPRs are designed to automatically release water in the event that pressure or temperature in the water tank exceeds safe levels. If temperature sensors and safety devices such as TPRs malfunction, water in the system may become superheated (exceed the boiling point). Once the tank ruptures and water is exposed to the atmosphere it will expand into steam almost instantly and occupy approximately 1,600 times its original volume. This process can propel a heating tank like a rocket through … (0 comments)
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santa rosa beach: Dryer Vent Safety - 04/06/09 06:40 PM
Clothes dryers evaporate the water from wet clothing by blowing hot air past them while they tumble inside a spinning drum. Heat is provided by an electrical heating element or gas burner. Some heavy garment loads can contain more than a gallon of water, which during the drying process will become airborne water vapor and leave the dryer and home through an exhaust duct (more commonly known as a dryer vent). A vent that exhausts moist air to the home exterior has a number of requirements:
It should be connected. The connection is usually behind the dryer but may be … (0 comments)
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santa rosa beach: Bathroom Ventilation Ducts and Fans - 04/06/09 06:36 PM
Fan Function Bathroom ventilation systems are designed to exhaust odors and moist air to the home exterior. Typical systems consist of a ceiling fan unit connected to a duct that terminates at the roof. The fan may be controlled in one of several ways:
Most are controlled by a conventional wall switch A timer switch may be mounted on the wall A wall-mounted humidistat can be pre-set to turn the fan on and off based on different levels of relative humidity Newer fans may be very quiet but work just fine. Older fans may be very noisy or very … (0 comments)
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santa rosa beach: Fiberglass Insulation - History, Hazards, Alternatives - 03/30/09 10:49 AM
Fiberglass is a type of fiber primarily composed of glass that is used in a wide variety of applications but is predominantly employed as a residential and commercial thermal insulator. Fiberglass is also used to create products as varied as automobile bodies, boat hulls, arrows, roofing, shower curtains, and tent poles. As an insulator it slows the spread of heat, cold and sound in structures, cars, and aircraft. By trapping pockets of air, it keeps rooms warm in the winter and cool in the summer and thereby serves as a convenient method to increase energy efficiency. Fiberglass is an attractive choice … (0 comments)
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santa rosa beach: Avoiding Litigation: Foundations - 03/15/09 06:47 PM
The word foundation is a timeless metaphor of strength and security, and people quite naturally have genuine concerns about the foundations on which their homes rest. For this reason, people need to be educated about foundations in general and specific types in particular, and I include such information in every report. This is what I include about slab on-grade foundations, and you are welcome to use all or any part of it that you might find useful.
This residence has a bolted, slab foundation. Such foundations are the most modern, but they can vary considerably from … (0 comments)
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santa rosa beach: "Just what does a Home Inspector do?" - 03/15/09 06:32 PM
John M. Acaron, CHI, CMI
www.HOMEINSPECTORUSA.biz
Office: (850-814-3889)
Think of a professional home inspector as a detective searching throughout the house for clues that lead to a conclusion of the home's overall condition. A certified home inspector performs a very important service. He inspects an existing home using professional standards and equipment as a measure to accurately report the condition of the home. A professional home inspector will inspect the property to the highest professional and ethical standards in the industry and provide the client with an accurate, comprehensive, easy-to-read, written assessment report thereafter. The inspector … (0 comments)
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santa rosa beach: Building a Home - 02/25/09 10:54 AM
If you want to build a new home, there are other things you need to know before you begin. Learn about construction standards and about buying land, so you know your rights. MPS Supplementing Model Building Codes The Minimum Property Standards (MPS) establish certain minimum standards for buildings constructed under HUD housing programs. This includes new single family homes, multi-family housing and health care type facilities. HUD Minimum Property Standards and How They Supplement the Model Building Codes Until the mid-1980's, HUD maintained separate Minimum Property Standards for different types of structures. Since that time, HUD has accepted … (0 comments)
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santa rosa beach: Child Safety - 02/25/09 10:48 AM
Childproofing Your Home - 12 Safety Devices to Protect Your Children
About 2-1/2 million children are injured or killed by hazards in the home each year. The good news is that many of these incidents can be prevented by using simple child safety devices on the market today.
Any safety device you buy should be sturdy enough to prevent injury to your child, yet easy for you to use. It's important to follow installation instructions carefully. In addition, if you have older children in the house, be sure they re-secure safety devices. Remember, too, that no device is completely childproof; determined … (0 comments)
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santa rosa beach: Can a comprehensive Home Inspection be performed in one Hour? - 02/24/09 02:56 PM
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santa rosa beach: Be prepare for a Home Inspection - 02/24/09 02:54 PM
No home is perfect. Anything from major damage to minor maintenance issues are often found. Even new homes are not immune - they could have problems with the plumbing, electrical system, heating and cooling system, or the roofing system just to name a few.For buyers, a Home Inspection vital to uncovering issues a home may have but are invisible to the untrained eye. Even if the home inspection finds more problems than you're comfortable with and you move on to a different home to start the process all over again, it is money well spent.
A Home inspection will give you … (0 comments)
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santa rosa beach: Maintaining Your Water Heater - 02/24/09 02:26 PM
Most people don't give any thought to their water heater-they just turn on the faucet and expect hot water to come out. Keep your water heater in peak operating condition by performing some simple routine maintenance.
One step you can take is to drain your tank. How often you need to do this depends upon the sediment buildup you are getting in your tank. Some experts recommend draining once a year. I recommend draining your tank once, and checking sediment buildup. Check it six months or a year later and compare the amount of build up to your previous amount. This … (0 comments)
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santa rosa beach: Got Mold? EVERY HOME SHOULD BE TESTED FOR MOLD - 02/06/09 08:02 AM
According to Dr. John D. Shane, Vice President of Laboratory services of PRO-LAB millions of homes across America have hidden water leaks that are promoting mold growth that can expose homeowners to mold spores. Mold has a potential to cause health problems like allergies, irritation (to lungs, eyes, skin, throat, nose) and are potentially toxic. Inhaling and touching mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals and normally healthy individuals may become sensitive to mold after exposure.
The EPA states that, "It is important to take precautions to limit your exposure to mold and mold spores. Avoid breathing in mold … (0 comments)
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santa rosa beach: Be prepare for a Home Inspection - 02/06/09 07:58 AM
No home is perfect. Anything from ajor damage to minor maintenance issues are often found. Even new homes are not immune - they could have problems with the plumbing, electrical system, heating and cooling system, or the roofing system just to name a few.For buyers, a Home Inspection vital to uncovering issues a home may have but are invisible to the untrained eye. Even if the home inspection finds more problems than you're comfortable with and you move on to a different home to start the process all over again, it is money well spent.
A Home inspection will give you … (0 comments)
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santa rosa beach: Do Your Granite Countertops Emit Radon? - 12/27/08 10:21 PM
There have been suggestions that granite countertops could emit radon gas. As with so many things, the answer depends on whom you ask. The Environmental Protection Agency "does not believe sufficient data exist to conclude that the types of granite commonly used in countertops are significantly increasing indoor radon levels." Read more about their position on this issue here. The Marble Institute of America says in a white paper "that radon levels associated with natural stone countertops in homes are low in comparison to background levels of exposure and natural stone is a minor contributor compared to other sources of radon … (0 comments)
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santa rosa beach: INSPECTOR CARTOONS - 12/20/08 05:41 PM
fOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: HOMEINSPECTORUSA
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santa rosa beach: Can a comprehensive Home Inspection be performed in one Hour? - 12/19/08 01:55 PM
John M. Acaron, CHI, CMI / (850-814-3889)
In our opinion, no home inspector, in any case, regardless of qualifications, certifications, or experience, can perform a comprehensive and thorough home inspection in an hour or less. Any home inspection performed in an hour cannot be a thorough inspection. A professional Home Inspector who spends an hour inspecting a home is taking advantage of their clients, making a mockery of the home inspection profession, and acting negligent in the process. By the time the inspector set up his equipment, survey the area (property), addresses in detail the basic systems (Roof, Electrical, Plumbing and … (1 comments)
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santa rosa beach: That's a lot of money for only a few hours work! Home Inspection - 09/15/08 08:03 AM
Many times we here: "That's a lot of money for only a few hours work!" As more and more home inspectors use time-saving, report generating software, include pictures (worth a thousand words) and even generate their reports on-site, they also start to make it look easy. I recently ran across a version of the story in How to Become a Marketing Superstar, a book by Jeffrey J. Fox. Anyway, the story goes as follows: That's a lot of money for only a few hours work!
Pablo Picasso, the painter, was dining at a restaurant in New York City. A fan … (3 comments)
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santa rosa beach: Can mold cause health problems? - 08/19/08 07:55 AM
Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens, irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances.
Allergic reactions to mold are common and include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. The most common health problems caused by indoor mold are allergy symptoms. Although other and more serious problems can occur, people exposed to mold commonly … (1 comments)
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John M. Acaron, BSME, CHI, CMI
Santa Rosa Beach,
FL
More about me…
HOMEINSPECTORUSA, LLC
Address: P.O. Box 9354, Panama City Beach, Fl, 32408
Office Phone: (850) 814-3889
Cell Phone: (850) 814-3889
Email Me
Commercial & Mold Inspectors have varying qualifications, equipment, experience, reporting methods, and yes different pricing. One thing for sure is that a comprehensive visual Home Inspection requires work, a lot of work. Ultimately a thorough Home, Commercial & Mold Inspection depends heavily on the individual Inspector's qualifications and own effort. Our knowledge, experience, expertise, engineering background and construction (residential & commercial) set us apart from the average inspector.
If you honor HOME INSPECTOR USA, LLC (HIUSA) by permitting us to inspect your prospective home or property, I guarantee that we will give you our very best effort.
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