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home inspections in connecticut ct: Hot Stuff - 06/02/12 04:35 AM
There exist in any house at any time numerous potential fire hazards. The one component with the most fire potential would probably have to be the electrical system. A short circuit causing an electrical arc can start a fire faster than a kid with a book of matches and a can of lighter fluid. Fortunately the likelihood of this actually occurring, the arcing not a kid with matches, is relatively slim.
So why, I seem to ask myself many times a week, would anyone want amp up the risk. Usually it seems due to simple ignorance and or the other common … (17 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: An All Electric House - 05/21/12 04:46 AM
Yes its true, there are many all electric houses. No gas or oil to provide heat or hot water, which in Connecticut can be a very pricy way to run your home. For those who aren't aware Connecticut has some of the highest electric rates in the country.
As a home inspector in Connecticut inspecting the electric system is one part of the home inspection process. One of the most important parts of the electrical system in each and every house is of course the electric service panel. Typically the panel is located in some out of the way part of … (8 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: Screwing - 05/15/12 05:01 AM
Depending on what you're screwing, I can go down several roads here, but will take the high one, using the correct screw for the job is vital. There is no question the favorite fastener in house construction is the drywall and the most misused. Now there are many screws that look like drywall screws, but are specialized for a specific use, for example the deck screw.
I recently happened upon a use for a drywall screw I fortunately haven't seen in some time, gutter fastening. When ascending my ladder, I always stop to take a gander at the gutters before stepping … (6 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: Making Permanent Bonds - 05/13/12 05:09 AM
On this mothers day, we celebrate arguably the strongest bond in nature, the mother child bond. No atomic attraction, no chemical bond, not even gravitational pull can be said to be as powerful. A mother's dedication is so inherent, she will sacrifice her own well being to protect her children.
Since I am a home inspector, I may not possess strong motherly bonds, but I do seek out bonding. No, not hanging out the guys, I look for it in electrical panels.
Electrical bonding and grounding is a subject that will put the most enthusiastic student into a stupor. Believe me, … (6 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: A Tale of Two Chimney's - 05/10/12 03:52 AM
First my apologies to Charles Dickens for a not well altered title of his classic book, but a good title as well as a good tome is timeless. Chimneys, specifically brick chimneys are very common on Connecticut houses, as I would imagine they are around this country. Inspecting a chimney requires more than just a look from the ground. So often the problems are hidden by the height and angle. Issues that the best binoculars or cameras will not see. Further it is hard to look at the flue from any other spot than at the top of the chimney.
The … (19 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: The Dangers of the SEC - 05/06/12 04:59 AM
The SEC, I would be willing to bet the farm many folks would think those initials are short for the Securities and Exchange Commission, the federal government agency in charge of overseeing stocks, bonds and other "securities". The last few years have been tough for the many people who own securities, they haven't been to secure. Since I'm not a stock broker or investment counselor, just a humble home inspector, this post has nothing to do with and everything to do with the SEC.
Confused? In the world of houses SEC is short for service entrance cable. Still confused? The service … (5 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: Sometimes They Get it Right - 05/04/12 05:04 AM
Anyone reading posts by home inspectors will eventually see the same theme regarding flipped properties, they are usually a nightmare providing LOTS of blog fodder. Not wanting to be a Debbie Downer all the time. I'm very pleased to report on a flipped house I inspected recently where the flipper did a great job.
Most often the a flipped house is prettied up with a new kitchen and baths, new floors and paint, but the 75 year old boiler is left untouched along with the outdated wiring, plumbing...you get the idea.
On this property the eye candy was kept to a … (26 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: Caulk, The Contractors Duct Tape - 04/30/12 05:12 AM
In the over 10 years I have been inspecting homes, I have seen many "creative" uses by homeowners for duct tape. The general theory seems to be, if a little is good an entire roll is better. Now "professionals" rarely rely on duct tape for finish work or repairs. The adhesive, crack filler and all around fixer upper for the contractor has to be caulk. Now don't get me wrong, caulk has many proper uses in construction and is necessary in the installation of many components, but the creative contractor mind often knows no bounds.
Or can be uneducated and misinform.
… (10 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: Sucking On Wood - 04/28/12 05:10 AM
Wood Mulch is a very common ground cover around Connecticut homes. It comes in a variety of colors people find appealing. It looks great, there is no doubt, when its new and fresh. As it ages, the color fades and the wood begins to decay. Generally mulch needs to be refreshed every year.
Which is another reason I dislike this colorful wood product.
After a year and usually with snow blanketed over it for a few months, last years wood mulch looks pretty sad. If you have mulch around your house, you or someone will have the job of putting down … (28 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: Not Everything is Written in the Rules - 04/26/12 03:36 AM
Rules, regulations, laws, they all are basically a set of defined parameters. We live by the rules, play by the rules and die by the rules or so I've heard it said. Yet in life there are unwritten rules. Like you don't date your best friends ex-girl friend or wife. Nope, you just don't do it.
With house construction the "rules" are called codes. Kind of like not dating your best friends ex, it's a bro code. Codes define the dos and don'ts of constructions. Much of these rules are safety oriented, but not all. There are also many installation parameters … (7 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: Once Again, New Does Not Mean Perfect - 04/23/12 04:33 AM
If you have been around the block a few times, you have no doubt learned that just because you purchase something new, does not mean it may not be flawed. We live in a society that sells incredibly complicated wares. Phones, computers, and cars are just a few examples that come readily to mind. The more complex an item, the more likely that there will be a defect or a problem. All that considered, its a testament to the quality of many companies that their products perform as well as they do out of the box...
most of the time.
Houses … (40 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: A Combo Pack - 04/22/12 05:01 AM
There is no doubt about it, things go better in combinations. Like beer and pretzels, Simon and Garfunkel, Butch and Sundance and Sylvester and Frank Stallone. Okay that last one may be a bad example. No question we like to have things in multiples. It's just more fun and often times simply practical. So while inspecting a house recently should I have been surprised to find a combo electric panel?
Actually, yes I was.
As I pointed out, many things are great in combos, but I find it hard to believe a combination fuse and breaker panel is one of the … (6 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: Too Many Posts - 04/20/12 04:37 AM
Blogging can be a challenging task. Coming up with a post every day, well at least a few times a week anyway can be daunting. One really can never have too many post in the little Active rain community. Besides if you were to have too many, you don't get any points.
For me as a home inspector posts or columns as they are often called, have an entirely different meaning and purpose. A post, column, pier whatever name is attached to this component, it is meant to due one thing, support something securely in place. When I see what almost … (9 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: Things I Shouldn't See or How to Flash Legally - 04/16/12 03:43 AM
Let's face it, there are some things in life we shouldn't, don't want to ever see. A few come immediately to mind, but they are too R rated to continue, sooo... I can give you a PG example. I really shouldn't, don't want to ever see my sister making out hot and heavy with some guy. It skeeves me even now to imagine it.
Getting back on track, this is a home inspection blog after all, there are lots of things I shouldn't be seeing in houses, yet I see all the time. In fact there is stuff I find done … (8 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: Influence - 04/09/12 03:43 AM
Life is bursting with influences. In fact I think it can be said that life is a continuous stream of influences that propel us through our daily lives. Stop and ponder that for a moment. A simple conversation, the alarm in the morning, the news on the radio, it all has an effect on us, on you.
Nature probably has had and continues to have a large influence on our lives. It unquestionably has a direct effect on our homes, with weather having the largest impact on any structure. A huge storm can destroy an entire house in moments. But let … (24 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: I'll Tell You Why, But Not How - 04/03/12 04:52 AM

As a home inspector I get asked a lot of questions. I'm also asked to explain myself a lot. It's a job with quite a bit of Q & A. When performing inspections and writing reports I try and follow a simple principle, Observe, Assess and Recommend, O.A.R. for short. This simply means I report what I see, explain why it's a problem and recommend a qualified person to repair the issue.
What I do not do is describe how a defect is to be repaired. I may discuss in generalities the repair process, but never in prescriptive detail. That … (19 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: Eight Years to Go - 04/01/12 06:11 AM
Eight years is a long time. My youngest daughter is going to be eight. Actually bad example, it seems like she was a baby only yesterday. Normally, in non parent time, eight years would be considered a fair amount of time. In my small work a day world of inspecting homes, years are on most of my customers minds.

"How many years do you think the ____ last?"
It's question I hear numerous times a week. Almost without exception my answer will be,
"I don't know."
I will then go on to explain what I see and other factors that … (14 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: But it Still Works - 03/28/12 05:38 AM
What I find astounding is when inspecting a house I find a component that by all rights should not be functioning. For instances an ancient heating system that that looks like a cauldron from hell, but fires right up the moment the thermostat is turned. Often things that look bad, usually operate the way the appear or not at all.
Usually.
The one thing or should I say force that does not go by the looks bad is bad rule is electricity. As I just alluded to, electricity is a force of nature that man has learned to harnessed. We understand … (11 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: Tales of The Dript - 03/27/12 05:29 AM
When strolling down the plumbing aisle at the local home improvement store, particularly the pipe section, can one not help remembering erector sets and tinker toys. The plethora of various shaped and sized pipes can be configured in a multitude methods. The mind reels at the possibilities. Then it's back to reality.
At least for the most sensible.
Recently while inspecting a furnace with an A/C coil on top, a splash of color caught my eye. The color was red. How appropriate.
Staring for a moment I saw this red tube was coming from the bottom of A/C coil section. It … (8 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: I’m No Expert, But… - 03/20/12 04:47 AM

Home inspectors by definition are generalists, not experts. You even might call us expert generalist. Or perhaps not. The thing with being a generalist is that one must know a little about a lot of things. It is almost a full time job in itself keeping up with all the bits and pieces of knowledge to be a well informed generalist.
Some of the ways to keeps up with all the information in this profession and to stay current is by attending seminars, going to home inspector meetings or reading up on various topics. Reading is always a good source … (51 comments)

 


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