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nashville home inspections: Panel Wiring 101... - 02/26/12 03:02 AM
Panel Wiring 101... As a licensed home inspector for the State of TN, there are guidelines that we must follow when inspecting a property. I cannot speak for other home inspectors in other states as each state, if licensed, has their own guidelines for inspecting. Here in Tennessee we must open electrical panels provided that the conditions are safe for the inspector. The purpose for this is that many properties have irregularities in the wiring system or panels. Most of these have been deone by creative home owners, handymen who thought they knew what they were doing, or electricians wanting to … (20 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Color Coordinating... - 02/14/12 03:14 PM
Color Coordinating... Every now and then I run across a home owner who likes to color coordinate. While color coordinating is okay, there are some things, such as outlets, that should be left alone. This is definitely not a good idea and especially when it comes to GFCI outlets. When these are painted over, the paint will often jam the mechanical test and reset buttons. If the buttons are jammed, the device may fail to trip resulting you going z-z-z-zt, which is not a good thing! I consider these a safety hazard and I recommend replacing the device.This … (80 comments)
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nashville home inspections: WDO's... - 02/11/12 07:41 PM
WDO's... Reporting on WDO's (Wood Destroying Organisms) by home inspectors varies from State to State. In Tennessee, home inspectors are not required to conduct pest infestation inspections as this is a separate inspection conducted by licensed pest control companies. However; when inspecting a property, savvy inspectors keep an eye out for these insects that can literally eat you out of house and home. Home inspectors are not a codes inspectors, but home inspectors must know the important local building codes to be good at what they do. “Acceptable Building Practices” or International Residential Codes (IRC) requires builders … (22 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Fuse Boxes - Are They Safe? - 02/10/12 04:11 AM
Fuse Boxes - Are They Safe? Many older properties still have fuse boxes. While, these antiquated devices are okay, fuse panels, unless altered can be deemed safe. I consult my clients to consider replacing these with modern devices. Here's why: Older style fuse boxes serve the same purpose as circuit breaker boxes in that the fuse controls the amount of electrical current from appliances within a home. However; fuse boxes are outdated by modern standards. The advantage to having circuit breakers in a home is that instead of replacing a fuse each time it is used, circuit … (24 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Plastic Dryer Vents - A Fire Waiting for a Place to Happen... - 02/01/12 05:05 AM
Plastic Dryer Vents - A Fire Waiting for a Place to Happen... Plastic dryer venting has been banned from residential usage for several years now. However; I still run into this material from time-to-time in newer and older properties. This product is considered a fire safety hazard and should be replaced if you have this present in your home. Most households use flexible foil as the connector between the dryer and the exterior discharge. Although not much better than it's plastic counterpart, it has been approved for residential use by Fire Marshal's in many municipalities. Optimally, the better … (55 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Size Does Matter... - 01/22/12 05:37 AM
Size Does Matter... I have been running into many 40 gallon electric water heaters in my inspections, especially in rehabs. While I understand that it is all about turning a profit; 9 times out of ten, I write these up as being improperly sized. Here’s why: The selection of a particular type hot water supply system for a house is determined by several factors including the utility connections available, utility rates, hot water demand, and owner preference. There are several methods which can be used to calculate hot water demand. Each possibly will give different results. While no one … (41 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Diehl Killerz ~ Blue Lagoon... - 12/10/11 07:17 AM
Diehl Killerz ~ Blue Lagoon... Well after much much ado, Big Diehl, Flubber and the adventures of Diehl Killerz makes its debut. This and ensuing episodes were designed to make a parody of the serious business of home inspecting. The whole purpose was to make folks aware that not everything that shows up in home inspection world is the dreaded "Deal Killer". Look for more episodes of Diehl Killerz and my mad marketing to come to a blog close to you sometime in the not too distant future... I hope you enjoy the pilot...
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nashville home inspections: Buyer Beware... - 11/12/11 05:32 AM
Buyer Beware... There are some folks that seem to put a lot of time and energy into doing things half a$$ed and pass it off to the unsuspecting public as "the norm". Now there is nothing wrong with maximizing profits. We live in a capitalistic society. However; there is a lot to be said about taking pride in the job that one does, their sense of doing right to others and total folly. Then too, there is the right way and the wrong way to do everything. When I see slipshod work, it often makes me wonder, if … (26 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Leave it to the Inspector to Spill the Beans... - 10/21/11 05:07 AM
Leave it to the Inspector to Spill the Beans... I'll swear, there is never a slow day in the home inspection industry. Think about it, as long as there are people, houses, and those who like to tinker and do things half-a$$ed; inspectors will always have blog fodder. -- (no need to check out Inspiration - we're already inspired). Lest I digress, while inspecting a house in the Nashville, TN, I always check behind the washer and dryer for anything unusual. And yes, I came across this unusual way to the washing machine drain line. Needless to say, it … (27 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Plastic Dryer Vents... - 10/20/11 04:42 AM
Plastic Dryer Vents... Plastic dryer venting has been banned from residential usage for several years now. However; I still run into this material when doing inspections of older properties. This material is a fire safety hazard and needs to be replaced if you have this present in your home. Optimally, a rigid duct is preferred, but if that is not feasible, a heavy gauge, flexible metal duct would be my second choice. The thin wall flexible metal tubing sold by the big box stores, would be my last choice. Although accepted by most municipalities, I have seen where this material … (48 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Inspecting Older Electrical Systems... - 10/19/11 06:31 AM
Inspecting Older Electrical Systems... When inspecting older properties, a Nashville Home Inspector needs to stay on their toes and leave nothing to chance, especially electrical systems. The picture to the left shows an older panel with wires tapped off the top of the main bus lugs which are leading to another panel. As the need for energy increased, many older electrical systems did not have the capacity to meet the expanding demand, hence taps such as this one. My concern is always for the safety of the occupants. Being rated at 60 amps, the wires leading to the sub-panel did … (55 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Trying to Save a Few Bucks... - 10/18/11 05:02 AM
Trying to Save a Few Bucks... <Sigh> I love my job . . . I love my job . . . I really love my job. How many times have we told ourselves that in attempts to convince ourselves that we are REALLY in the right trade or doing the right thing to eke out a living? While inspecting a total disaster waiting for a place . . . I ran into enough blog fodder to last a life time. In this picture, we see an electrical system encased in PVC water pipe. This material while great for cold … (51 comments)
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nashville home inspections: WDO's... - 09/21/11 05:40 AM
WDO's...
Unlike as in some states, home inspectors in the State of Tennessee do not have to be licensed for pest control and are not required to put the presence of WDO's (Wood Destroying Organisms) in their report unless physical damage has occurred. However; when inspecting a property, I do keep an eye out for these little critters that can literally eat you out of house and home and report accordingly. While inspecting the crawl space in a property in the Spring Hill area of southern Williamson County, TN, I came across several shelter tubes indicating active WDO's. Why?There … (35 comments)
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nashville home inspections: What Would YOU Do? - 09/20/11 05:31 AM
What Would YOU Do? The most critical characteristic of stairs is that every step be the same. Building codes officials should enforce this rule - some do; some don't. On average, falls on stairs kill 4,000 people a year and another 2 million are seriously injured in the United States. Many different terms have been used in describing stairs and in this post, I will not get into detail about rise/run/spindle spacing etc. In the home inspection world, if something doesn't look right, it probably isn't. Walking up this staircase, that little voice went off in my head raising a … (61 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Codes Inspectors Miss More than You Think... - 09/04/11 05:59 PM
Codes Inspectors Miss More than You Think... I am critical with electrical issues especially when it comes to safety. While inspecting a new construction property located in the of Middle TN area, I was surprised to see so many problems in a recently installed panel. It has always been my practice to give the "tug test" on all wiring connections in panels. During the inspection of one of the sub-panels, I found one of the main leads to the was loose at the connecting lug. To me, this is a potential shock and fire hazard as aluminum wiring … (33 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Things that Go BOOM in the Night... - 08/23/11 05:58 AM
Things that Go BOOM in the Night... Gas is one of those commodities we bring into our homes, and like electricity, we take them for granted. Homeowners and sometimes service personnel often neglect simple safety features - that is until things go BOOM!!! in the night. The property was no stranger to inspectors, having been inspected twice by two other local companies. As the reports were lying on the counter, I had to snoop. Much to my amazement, neither had anything to say about this potentially unsafe condition. Even though there is a gas shut-off installed, shut-off valves can … (26 comments)
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nashville home inspections: The Cheapest Fix Isn't Always the Best... - 08/20/11 06:05 AM
The Cheapest Fix Isn't Always the Best... There is something about inspecting older, more experienced properties. Talk about hitting the mother load of blog fodder. No rehashed BPO's, short sales, market reports, and what have you here. Just pure, unadulterated fodder that does the blog good! In this vintage property, the HVAC system has gone through at least a zillion upgrades. In upgrades, where permits have not been pulled, contractors often take short cuts in order to save a few dollars. And let's face it, duct tape is one of those things that a HVAC contractor doesn't leave home without.
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nashville home inspections: Quit Peeing on My Floor... - 08/19/11 07:53 AM
Quit Peeing on My Floor... Let's face it, occasionally all of us at one time or other has had bladder control problem. Pressure builds up, a slight sneeze and... OOPS!!! How embarrassing. The same thing happens in your home's plumbing system. Pressure builds up in the storage tank, water valve gets turned off quickly and… Now, one could put a bucket under the valve extension or do something stupid like put a cork in it, but hopefully we ARE smarter than that. Odds are, the bladder in the expansion tank is either waterlogged or defective. Expansion tanks are … (18 comments)
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nashville home inspections: It Will Work, But... - 08/09/11 07:59 PM
It Will Work, But... I get calls from folks that are selling properties about items that have been uncovered during the inspection, especially if it involves a rehab. For the sake of profitability, it is not unusual for rehabbers to "make do" with what they have or items that have been installed. One of the items home inspectors check is make sure the size of the HVAC unit matches the foot print of the property. The "rule of thumb" guideline that inspectors need to use for cooling is approximately 650 square feet of living space per ton of unit. … (45 comments)
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nashville home inspections: Monday Morning Motivator & Some Points to Ponder... - 04/11/11 03:13 AM
Monday Morning Motivator & Some Points to Ponder... “Mondays are the potholes in the road of life.” ~ Tom Wilson I'm all too familiar with potholes. Those nasty ruts in my highway of life that produce an uncomfortable bump when I hit them while cruising 90 miles per hour, radio blasting, petal-to-the-metal, speeding down life in the fast lane. Let's face it, life is a road full of potholes. Some are small and shallow and although I frown at the inconvenience, I quickly readjust and cruise onward. It is the ones are large and deep that can be the … (33 comments)
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Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector - 615.661.0297
Brentwood,
TN
More about me…
Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Address: 7105 Crossroads Blvd; Ste 102, Brentwood, TN, 37027
Office Phone: (615) 661-0297
Cell Phone: (615) 473-8803
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