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It’s a Gusher! - 02/28/12 04:04 AM
I’m not prone to gushing. In fact I don’t believe I have ever gushed. My two girls on the other hand are most definitely gushers. I wouldn’t want it any other way. Now I hear that in the oil business a gusher is a well that is gushing lots and lots of oil. This is good gushing, just like my girls.

The other morning while starting an inspection on a home with an on site water well, no oil wells here in Connecticut, I found the outside hose spigot was off. Nothing unusually about that in February. I headed to … (40 comments)

In Need of a Support Group - 02/27/12 04:02 AM
No, I’m not down on my luck; life hasn’t thrown me a wicked curve. There is no doubt however we all need a little boost to get us through a rough patch now and again. I was reminded the other day about the importance of a good support system.
While inspecting the basement of a house here in Connecticut, I rounded a corner in the basement and saw a saggy sight. This particular house was built in the 1960s. At that time copper was being used for the waste drain pipes as well as the supply pipes. Sometime in the early … (14 comments)

Waves - 02/26/12 05:12 AM
Wave washed plane Torrents to trickles Persuading Blue green emergence Tufts of red Distinguished Resculpting the terrain Inevitable revolution Ubiquitous

 
James QuarelloConnecticut Home InspectorFormer SNEC-ASHI PresidentNRSB #8SS0022JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services we offer in Connecticut click on the links below:
Serving the Connecticut Counties of Fairfield, Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven, Southern Litchfield and Western New London.
… (6 comments)

Pretty, But the Wrong Color - 02/25/12 05:18 AM
Pretty, but the wrong color sounds like something my wife would say while talking with her friends. I suspect it would refer to some article of clothing, furniture or accessory. I really have no clue. For some unknown reason, my brain put together this string of words to describe the burner on a gas fired boiler. Brains sometimes do weird stuff like that to you.
While looking at the burner on this older boiler, it is quite clear the flame color is predominately orange. It has a nice warm glow, doesn’t it? Unfortunately with a gas appliance orange is the wrong … (21 comments)

Copper Conundrum - 02/24/12 03:45 AM
I would speculate that most homeowners rarely if ever climb onto their roof. If they do, it is probably to clean their gutters. Most home inspectors on the other hand climb on to the roof with regularity. Of course not every roof is safe to climb or within reach of the inspectors ladder. It is usually assumed the reason the inspector traverses the roof is to inspect the covering. While that is true, it is not the only item on the inspector’s checklist with regard to the roof area.
One common item for scrutiny is the plumbing waste pipe vent flashing. … (8 comments)

The Birds, The Bees, The Woodpeckers and The Trees - 02/22/12 03:49 AM
This is not a life lesson for a young person with raging hormones, though it may sound that way. This is about flora and fauna for the homeowner.
Most every homeowner is at least casually aware that any plants, whether trees, shrubs or other vegetation should be kept at a distance from the house. Plants against or over the house create what inspectors call conducive conditions. Trees above the house for example block out sun light and diminish wind which in turn slows the natural drying process. Damp conditions promote the growth of microscopic plants and fungi, which can result in … (52 comments)

Planning Gone Awry - 02/20/12 04:41 AM

John Steinbeck wrote, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. I was reminded of this truism on a recent inspection as I tried to open the kitchen window in front of the sink. The crank handle of the window is obstructed by the faucet neck. The good news is the other window next to it is fine and this can be fixed with a different handle. 
Even when we plan well, something can still get in our way.
 
 
James QuarelloConnecticut Home InspectorFormer SNEC-ASHI PresidentNRSB #8SS0022JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more … (17 comments)

Wood and Water - 02/19/12 04:34 AM
Water of life, sculptor of the world. Carving, cutting whittling, caressing, shaping, washing all back to earth, palette anew. 

 
 
James QuarelloConnecticut Home InspectorFormer SNEC-ASHI PresidentNRSB #8SS0022JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services we offer in Connecticut click on the links below:
Serving the Connecticut Counties of Fairfield, Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven, Southern Litchfield and Western New London.
… (10 comments)

Nailed or Screwed - 02/17/12 05:41 AM
Fasteners, not a fascinating subject by any stretch. I have listen to engineers talk about nails and screws on several occasion, wishing I had went and got a root canal instead. Yes fasteners are not all that interesting, however where they are used and what type can be very critical.
If there is one structure I find during home inspections that has routine fasteners issues, its decks. I’ve said before, decks are a favorite project of the minimally skilled weekend warrior and sub par contractors. Often the issues I find are to do with what else, fasteners.
By far the most … (23 comments)

A Plethora of the Unwelcome - 02/15/12 07:03 AM
There is no question about it; there are some things one does not want to find during a home inspection. Now I am not speaking as a sissy home inspector who doesn’t want to run up against a big ugly spider in a crawl space or a beady eyed rat in an attic, I for surely don’t. Little friends that drop by unexpectedly are part of the job. What I am speaking of are certain “biggies” that send chills down the spine of an agent and can send a buyer running, not walking for the door.
What can be worse is … (19 comments)

Sending Out A Signal - 02/12/12 07:56 AM
Inspecting homes can be like looking for a person who has become lost in the woods, you have to keep a sharp eye out for a distress signal.
During a recent home inspection on a snowy morning here in Connecticut, while looking over the exterior of the guest - pool house I noticed a sign. I didn’t know at the time it was important or that what I was seeing was anything more than it appeared to be, a vent through the roof. In this instance it was a vent for the heating system.
Vents through the roofs of homes are … (44 comments)

What Goes In, Must Come Out - 02/09/12 08:35 AM
There is nothing I can think of that has an infinite capacity on this planet. Sooner or later, if something is put in, the vessel reaches capacity and something must come out or a failure will occur. One example I use quite frequently as a home inspector is with regard to forced air type heating systems. For these types of systems to operate efficiently, not only must they “force” air into the rooms, it also must be removed at the same time. If the air is not given a way out, the system operates almost like a person trying to blow … (24 comments)

Cracking Up! - 02/08/12 08:15 AM

Sorry, but I do not have a good joke to share in this post. You may have thought about laughing when reading the title. Cracking up has another meaning, going crazy, but no, nothing too weird or outrageous today. What I find cracking up so very frequently are brick chimneys.
Brick and other masonry chimneys are a common sight on many, many homes here in Connecticut and the Northeast. Some homes may even have two or more. No question in my mind, brick chimneys are an attractive addition to the home. The problem I see however is many are neglected … (11 comments)

The Way It's Said - 02/06/12 06:55 AM
It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it. A simple phrase I’m sure everyone has heard repeatedly since they were very young. It simply means to stop and consider your words before you speak. In the business of inspecting homes this is good advice.
Home inspectors are hired for the most part by home buyers to examine a house to look for current or potential defects prior to purchase. Home buyers not only look to the inspector for good information, they expect it.
Vague language is typical in the business of home inspection. It is also a complaint I … (72 comments)

I'm Not Missing You - 02/05/12 08:47 AM
 

 
 
James QuarelloConnecticut Home InspectorFormer SNEC-ASHI PresidentNRSB #8SS0022JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services we offer in Connecticut click on the links below:
Serving the Connecticut Counties of Fairfield, Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven, Southern Litchfield and Western New London.
… (14 comments)

Height Junkie - 02/03/12 08:12 AM
As a kid I loved climbing trees. I wasn’t content to snake my away among the limbs, finding a good perch to sit and dangle my feet. No, I would try to climb to the very top. Shinnying up the thinnest branches that stretched out like fingers trying to grab the clouds. They seemed to be seeking the same thing as me, height.
I was a height junkie. I loved climbing trees or hiking the nearby mountains, where the view from the cliffs fed my fervor for altitude. I was and still can’t understand those that get squeamish about elevation. Vertigo … (15 comments)

The Scary Part….It works! - 02/02/12 08:29 AM
Many people in my experience love to DIY. Many more fancy themselves as DIY experts. There is no doubt with each finished project comes more confidence in ones abilities. Sometimes it’s over confidence.
Now I have no issue with anyone putting on a tool belt and tackling a home project. The thing I do have a problem with is when people delve into areas that absolutely should be left to the professionals. This would also include certain contractors as well.
The other afternoon while inspecting a home, I discovered one of the most horribly unsafe electric panels I have seen in … (14 comments)

 


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