connecticut ashi certified home inspections: You Keep Me Hanging Out - 05/08/08 01:07 PM
I was in an attic the other day which highlighted through the deficiencies found the importance of specific design elements of these spaces.
The first photo shows roof trusses and rafters. The left side is framed with rafters supported by a beam and purlins. The purlins are installed under every third … (6 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Don't Lock Me In - 04/25/08 12:56 PM
Door locks are something no one really thinks about when leaving their house. Lock it and leave. They are there to protect our home from unwanted visitors. But a lock can trap you in your home as well.
The door lock at the right is on the inside of the home. … (4 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Don't Lock Me In - 04/25/08 12:54 PM
Door locks are something no one really thinks about when leaving their house. Lock it and leave. They are there to protect our home from unwanted visitors. But a lock can trap you in your home as well.
The door lock at the right is on the inside of the home. … (5 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Where There's Soot, There's Danger - 04/15/08 03:39 PM
I was out conducting an energy audit the other day and came across this serious, potentially life threatening hazard.
I knocked on the door and the owner greeted me and let me in the home. I went to put my tools down on a table near the front entry and immediately … (4 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: What's the Surprise Inside? - 01/30/08 04:33 PM
It never ceases to amaze me what people will use to substitute for the correct component. I found this Cracker Jack lunch box used for a chimney cleanout door. Pretty inventive, fits right in the opening. Kind of lends a little retro look to the chimney, don't cha think?
I have very … (11 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: A Screwdriver Speaks a Thousand Words - 11/28/07 09:53 AM
A great old home inspector once remarked that a screwdriver can be the only tool you'll ever need to do home inspections. Now I wouldn't entirely agree with that, as I love my gadgets, but it certainly is one of the top weapons in the home inspector arsenal.
As you can plainly … (7 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: A Screwdriver Speaks a Thousand Words - 11/28/07 09:49 AM
A great old home inspector once remarked that a screwdriver can be the only tool you'll ever need to do home inspections. Now I wouldn't entirely agree with that, as I love my gadgets, but it certainly is one of the top weapons in the home inspector arsenal.
As you can plainly … (12 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Bad Well Caps Can Cause Contamination - 11/27/07 04:31 PM
Many homes across the country rely on private wells as their water source for drinking, cooking, and bathing. Most home owners who have wells never think to routinely check their system or water quality until a problem arises. Contamination of the water, frequently from bacteria, is common but preventable.
Pictured are … (5 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Bad Well Caps Can Cause Contamination - 11/27/07 04:26 PM
Many homes across the country rely on private wells as their water source for drinking, cooking, and bathing. Most home owners who have wells never think to routinely check their system or water quality until a problem arises. Contamination of the water, frequently from bacteria, is common but preventable.
Pictured are … (6 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Why Hiring a Professional is so Important - 11/13/07 09:26 AM
Many homeowners today believe lead is no longer a concern. But recently the lead found in children's toys has rekindled awareness of this all too common toxin. Lead paint is estimated to be found in three quarters of the housing stock in the United States. Families wanting to protect their children … (4 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: My Experience from the ASHI Leadership Training Conference Chicago, October 18-20, 2007 - 10/25/07 11:27 AM
By James Quarello SNEC-ASHI Education Committee Chairman
The American Society of Home Inspectors Leadership Training Conference is put on yearly by ASHI to help facilitate building strong, competent and vibrant chapter leadership. ASHI recognizes that the face of the organization is through the local chapters. As such building strong local chapters is … (0 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Steam Heating System Conversions, Not Usually a Good Practice - 10/23/07 10:01 AM
Older homes were often heated by a steam boiler and cast iron radiators. Those old radiators not only threw a lot of heat, they held it for a long time. With steam the radiator had a valve that would release a small amount of steam into the air in effect providing … (5 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Steam Heating System Conversions, Not Usually a Good Practice - 10/23/07 09:46 AM
Older homes were often heated by a steam boiler and cast iron radiators. Those old radiators not only threw a lot of heat, they held it for a long time. With steam the radiator had a valve that would release a small amount of steam into the air in effect providing … (9 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Electrifying Heights, New Haven, CT - 10/03/07 12:28 PM
The wire that brings electricity into a home is referred to as the service drop conductor (blue arrow). This is connected to the service entry conductor (red arrow). The point at which they are connected (yellow arrow) is most often the demarcation between the homeowners' responsibility and the utility companies' responsibility. … (5 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Electrifying Heights, New Haven, CT - 10/03/07 12:24 PM
The wire that brings electricity into a home is referred to as the service drop conductor (blue arrow). This is connected to the service entry conductor (red arrow). The point at which they are connected (yellow arrow) is most often the demarcation between the homeowners' responsibility and the utility companies' responsibility. … (18 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Customer Service, What Did You Do, The Rest of the Story. - 09/29/07 06:52 AM
I had asked AR members to comment on how they would have helped a young woman, a past customer, who called with a mold concern. In the first part, Customer Service, What would you do? Part One. the details were given of the woman's situation.
I wasn't looking for a "right … (3 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Customer Service, What Did You Do, The Rest of the Story. - 09/29/07 06:49 AM
I had asked AR members to comment on how they would have helped a young woman, a past customer, who called with a mold concern. In the first part, Customer Service, What would you do? Part One. the details were given of the woman's situation.
I wasn't looking for a "right … (7 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Customer Service, What would you do? Part One. - 09/27/07 02:40 PM
I got a call the other day from a past client in Middlefield, CT who had found some mold in her home. I had inspected the house for her just over a year ago. She was very nervous, as I could hear in her voice, about the mold she had found.
I … (4 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Customer Service, What would you do? Part One. - 09/27/07 02:37 PM
I got a call the other day from a past client in Middlefield, CT who had found some mold in her home. I had inspected the house for her just over a year ago. She was very nervous, as I could hear in her voice, about the mold she had found.
I … (6 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: The Furnace Guy Doesn't Clean Your Chimney, a Sooty Problem in Wallingford, CT - 09/25/07 01:01 PM
If I had a dollar for every time I heard the remark; I thought the furnace guy cleaned the chimney; well I'd be retiring sooner. The fact is the "furnace guy" cleans the furnace, boiler and or water heater, he never touches the chimney. That's a job for a chimney sweep. … (1 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: The Furnace Guy Doesn’t Clean Your Chimney, a Sooty Problem in Wallingford, CT - 09/25/07 12:57 PM
If I had a dollar for every time I heard the remark; I thought the furnace guy cleaned the chimney; well I'd be retiring sooner. The fact is the "furnace guy" cleans the furnace, boiler and or water heater, he never touches the chimney. That's a job for a chimney sweep. … (1 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Realtors, Do You Challenge or Disagree With the Home Inspector? - 09/23/07 08:58 AM
Home inspectors and Realtors are both trained professionals. Each would be considered "experts" in their respective fields. Home inspectors should not be giving real estate advice and Realtors should not be dispensing home inspection opinions. Yet once again I have had Realtors, behind my back in this case, completely disagree with … (28 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Published Twice...No THREE times in One Week! - 09/20/07 02:33 PM
I just put up a blog this morning titled, Published Twice in One Week. Well Mr. Joseph Hagarty of House Master Home Inspections of West Chester PA responded to the blog with another article where I was quoted several times as a source. I don't know how Joe found it, but … (6 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Published Twice…No THREE times in One Week! - 09/20/07 02:29 PM
I just put up a blog this morning titled, Published Twice in One Week. Well Mr. Joseph Hagarty of House Master Home Inspections of West Chester PA responded to the blog with another article where I was quoted several times as a source. I don't know how Joe found it, but … (2 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Published Twice in One Week - 09/20/07 09:35 AM
I am proud to announce that my article New Construction Progress Inspections has been published, twice. First for the American Society for Quality Inspection Division September/October Newsletter. The article begins on page 5. This is the second time these fine folks have published one of my articles. I had my article … (10 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Published Twice in One Week - 09/20/07 09:32 AM
I am proud to announce that my article New Construction Progress Inspections has been published, twice. First for the American Society for Quality Inspection Division September/October Newsletter. The article begins on page 5. This is the second time these fine folks have published one of my articles. I had my article … (5 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Agency Files Against Builders; Contractors Accused of Misleading Department - 09/20/07 08:31 AM
I found this article yesterday in a local paper and believe it graphically illustrates the importance of checking and researching building contractors. It also, I believe, makes a point for hiring an independent inspector to oversee any building project. The cost of the inspector is well off set by the savings … (1 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: The Two Sides of Home Buyers - 09/18/07 08:37 AM
I received a call from a potential client yesterday who was a first time home buyer. She was in a hurry to have a home inspection done. She had called around to a few inspection companies and I was the first person she was able to talk with. Speaking with her I … (12 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Something Stinks in New Haven, CT - 09/15/07 07:27 AM
Sump pumps are a common piece of water control equipment found in many homes. They are meant to remove water from under the foundation floor before it enters the home and discharge the water far away from the house.
What is also commonly seen with sump pumps is them discharging into … (5 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Something Stinks in New Haven, CT - 09/15/07 07:22 AM
Sump pumps are a common piece of water control equipment found in many homes. They are meant to remove water from under the foundation floor before it enters the home and discharge the water far away from the house.
What is also commonly seen with sump pumps is them discharging into … (3 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: What's in a Price? - 09/12/07 11:38 AM
One aspect that all business people deal with on a daily basis is potential customers asking the one question that's been on their mind even before they picked up the phone, "how much does it cost?" Unfortunately a great deal of the customers' decision relies almost entirely on the price given … (2 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: What's in a Price? - 09/12/07 11:32 AM
One aspect that all business people deal with on a daily basis is potential customers asking the one question that's been on their mind even before they picked up the phone, "how much does it cost?" Unfortunately a great deal of the customers' decision relies almost entirely on the price given … (0 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: It’s Raining in the Attic, Inadequate Ventilation, New Haven, CT - 09/07/07 03:28 PM
When inspecting a 1940s colonial I noticed the roofing shingles had an unusual and uneven pattern of ageing. Viewing the home from the rear, the left side of the roof covering was distinctly more cupped, curled, and dried than the right side, which was fairly smooth.
Going into the attic I noticed … (1 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: It’s Raining in the Attic, Inadequate Ventilation, New Haven, CT - 09/07/07 03:21 PM
When inspecting a 1940s colonial I noticed the roofing shingles had an unusual and uneven pattern of ageing. Viewing the home from the rear, the left side of the roof covering was distinctly more cupped, curled, and dried than the right side, which was fairly smooth.
Going into the attic I noticed … (2 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: That's Not Rain Drops Falling Down Your Chimney, Meriden, CT - 09/07/07 02:32 PM
A common problem with oil fired heating appliances, especially newer more efficient models, is condensation of combustion gases inside the chimney flue. This appears on the unit and flue pipes as a rust like substance running through the flue joints. This problem is very often misdiagnosed as rain water flowing down … (8 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Building Inspector or Home Inspector, What's the Difference? - 09/07/07 02:28 PM
I received a call from a woman yesterday looking for someone to test the well and take water samples for a home she and her husband were purchasing. She also wanted a radon test done to confirm that an installed mitigation system was working. I suggested she also test the water … (18 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Building Inspector or Home Inspector, What’s the Difference? - 09/05/07 04:04 PM
I received a call from a woman yesterday looking for someone to test the well and take water samples for a home she and her husband were purchasing. She also wanted a radon test done to confirm that an installed mitigation system was working. I suggested she also test the water … (6 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: That’s Not Rain Drops Falling Down Your Chimney, Meriden, CT - 09/05/07 09:10 AM
A common problem with oil fired heating appliances, especially newer more efficient models, is condensation of combustion gases inside the chimney flue. This appears on the unit and flue pipes as a rust like substance running through the flue joints. This problem is very often misdiagnosed as rain water flowing down … (1 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Connecticut New Construction Progress Inspections - 08/28/07 06:39 PM
You should be considering more than upgrades when building a new Connecticut home
This article was written based on Connecticut contractor laws and regulations. The information and precautions however can be applied for any new residential construction.
Having a new customized home built can be an exciting experience. Getting through the process however … (7 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: No Support, Plainville, CT - 08/22/07 01:51 PM
Structural support is backbone or more apt the skeleton of a home or building. Without a correctly designed and installed support system the building will fold like a house of cards. Defects in the structural system can cause significant failures in the building.
On a recent inspection it was discovered in a … (16 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Improperly Grounded Electric Main Service Panel, Milford, CT - 08/21/07 04:08 PM
This main service panel was located in a home that was under going major renovations... for the last 12 years! The home was completely torn apart. No sheet rock on almost every wall and ceiling, no insulation in the walls or in the basement and crawl space ceilings. The structural supporting … (10 comments)
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