Doug's Blog

Common problem with furnace updates

Doug Gialluca (Smart Move Home Inspection LLC) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:09:11 -0500

There is a common issue with faulty HVAC systems in Older homes with modern heating equipment. Condensation can form in the older chimneys not designed for low flue gas temperatures and create water stains, efflorescence and deterioration of the chimney. The newer furnaces usually 92 percent and up require either a lining or separate plastic flue pipes exiting out the side of the house instead up a cold chimney. There are some manufacturers that may allow a liner depending on the efficiency rating and recommendations of the product.

There is a wealth of knowledge and experience that the average home buyer may not be aware of or have the time to investigate there selves. A home inspector can address many areas of concerns and safety to help consumers make a much more informed decision on one of the largest investments of there life.

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In memory of New York City and becoming an American

Doug Gialluca (Smart Move Home Inspection LLC) — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 12:59:26 -0500

I was going through my albums the other day and was sad to see this picture of myself standing at the base of the statue of Liberty. This picture was taken in September of 1996 when I took my son to visit the very place where so many of our ancestors came to make a new life in America. This is the same place where they were able to share there talents and hard work to build a greater place for all of us to live in unity. Why should we accept anything else? Unfortunately this is now a place for sorrow as we remember the life's that were loss here to a Nation that was the lender of the world.

I hope that we can look back at this and remember that we did not ask for this no matter how some may feel. I have a shirt on that is embroidered with a golden eagle that does say that I am American Made. However all of my ancestors are from Italy and this is a very memorable place to them, since the first thing that they would see approaching this bay is the Statue of Liberty, what a great feeling that must of been. There is no reason why others could. just as my ancestors did, take the appropriate measures to become a American.

Knob and Tube Wiring is a Concern

Doug Gialluca (Smart Move Home Inspection LLC) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:49:19 -0600

Knob and Tube Wiring is a Concern

The old knob n tube system was originally designed to carry very small currents. Back in the day, the most common need for electricity was for lighting. Today, the needs for the average family are considerably greater. More items will be plugged into the outlets drawing more electricity. Usually, the needed current is greater than what the knob-n-tube wiring was designed for. When you overload this old wiring, it becomes a very significant fire hazard and is one of the leading reasons that knob-n-tube wiring should be replaced in a lot of homes. However, not all homes need to be upgraded. If your home has this old system, you should hire a licensed electrician who has experience with knob-n-tube wiring to review it. Depending on the condition of the wiring, they may recommend removing all of the wiring, removing part of the system, or leaving it alone. One safety, non-expensive upgrade they may recommend is installing S-Type fuses to ensure that no one "accidentally" installs an oversized fuse in the main panel box or sub-panels. This helps prevent overloading of the wires.

Common Problems

In addition to the problems mentioned above, a professionally trained home inspector looks for insulation damage from rodents, people stepping on the wiring, and storage crushing the wiring. We also look for rolled or loose-blown insulation and debris from previous roof replacements covering the wiring. There needs to be a 3" space between the live wire and any flammables. Homes that have had insulation added in the attic over the wiring are just waiting for a fire to happen. As there are many do-it-yourselfers out there, we constantly see Romex wiring spliced into knob-n-tube to feed newly installed light fixtures, ceiling fans, or additional outlets. Remember, these lines were not designed for system additions and all of these greatly increase the risk of causing a fire.

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Furnace Check and Why?

Doug Gialluca (Smart Move Home Inspection LLC) — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:17:17 -0600

There are two major reasons, Safety and Efficiency.

Having your furnace annually serviced is one way to help extend its life. When your furnace reaches 10-12 years, it is strongly recommended that you hire a licensed HVAC (Heating Ventilation-Air Conditioning) company to perform a heat exchanger inspection. This test should be performed annually from this point forward until the furnace is replaced. Why? Just as a piece of metal is bent over and over again eventually fatigues and breaks, a similar force is being exerted on your furnace's heat exchanger. During operation, the thin metal of the heat exchanger is being heated to high temperatures (sometimes over 175 degrees Fahrenheit) and cooled down to room temperature (70 degrees F). Each time, the metal expands as it warms up and contracts as it cools. Eventually, the metal fails and a crack is formed. A crack will always develop in a heat exchanger. How soon depends on the conditions it has been subjected to over its lifetime.

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Sewer Lines in Older Homes

Doug Gialluca (Smart Move Home Inspection LLC) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:49:27 -0600

If you are buying or even selling an older house you can disclose the condition of the existing sewer line.

The sewer line is the responsibility of the homeowner from the home all the way out to the street where it taps into the city's line. Replacing a sewer line can cost the homeowner anywhere from $4000 to 8000 on an average line. If the street needs to be ripped up to replace the line, then the homeowner will have to pay for the street to be repaired also. During a real estate transaction, if a Buyer finds a problem with the sewer line after they move in, it becomes extremely difficult to place the onus back on the Seller. Many times, the Seller honestly did not know the sewer line had problems. That is why it can be so important for the Buyer to have the sewer line scoped on any home 20 years or older.

For $185-$350, you can hire a licensed Plumber to run a camera through the line. The cameras cost over $10,000 and good ones can record the entire process on videotape. This is the best way to know the true condition of that line and is irrefutable evidence to all parties involved.

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New Hot Water Tank Safety at a Price

Doug Gialluca (Smart Move Home Inspection LLC) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:36:08 -0600

Their technical name is Flammable Vapor Ignition Resistant (FVIR) water heaters. The basic idea behind the design is to prevent flammable gases, such as paint thinner, gasoline, or other household chemicals from exploding and catching the home on fire if they are in the vicinity of the water heater's pilot light. This new FVIR design allows the combustion air into the base of the tank, but not back out. If a vapor ignition occurs, only the vapor inside the base of the tank will burn. The flammable vapors outside the tank will not catch fire.

The new FVIR design also has a sensor on the inside of the base of the tank that shuts off the gas supply if an explosion occurs. This sensor is glass and a one-time use only device. If the water heater has a vapor explosion, the glass breaks triggering the gas to shut off. However, if this occurs, you can't simply replace the glass sensor. You have to replace the entire water heater.

This would probably help discourage the storage of flammable liquids in the house and basement.

Smart Move Home Inspection LLC

Chimney Inspection (How Important?)

Doug Gialluca (Smart Move Home Inspection LLC) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:26:41 -0600

There are some simple checks that an home inspection will find that may show the need for immediate repair before usage.

For example the area between the damper and the back of the fireplace interior wall usually brick or stone should be tight. This area many times is cracked or open for flames to reach into the wall cavities.This is an inexpensive repair, however very dangerous for a chance of a fire. The mortar joints in the fire box should also be tight. The damper should be operational and the mortar around the damper not loose or cracked.

In 1998, there were 18,300 residential fires in the United States originating in chimneys, fireplaces and solid fuel appliances, according to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. These fires resulted in 160 personal injuries, 40 deaths and $158.2 million in property damage.

Chimneys exist to contain caustic flue gases and exhaust them onward and upward into the atmosphere. The condition of the firebox, smoke chamber, and flue are crucial to ensuring a safe home. Below are a few indicators that you have a problem and need to hire a professional:

Professional home inspectors look for these issues with chimneys everyday. However, even the best inspector will admit that their knowledge on chimneys is limiting compared to that of a Certified Chimney Sweep.

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Smoke Alarms and Concerns

Doug Gialluca (Smart Move Home Inspection LLC) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:28:10 -0600

January is the deadliest month for house fires and fire-related deaths in America, according to the National Fire protection Association. While many households have smoke detectors, many consumers are unaware of the type of device they are using, which could make a huge difference in an emergency.

Two types of smoke detectors exist: an ionization alarm and a photoelectric alarm. The two have varying response times in specific fire situations.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology concluded that ionization alarms provide a "better response to flaming fires," while photoelectric alarms provide "considerably faster response to smoldering fires," after testing thousands of alarms for two years.

However, 90 percent of U.S. homes have the ionization alarms, which usually are cheaper than photoelectric.smoke detectors.

The smoke alarms should be replaced every seven years. The dual alarm is a better choice. The detectors should be cleaned once a year and the batteries replaced twice a year. If you have a new house the standard is to have one detector in every sleeping area, however the minimum in any house should be one on every level, and one near the entrances to all sleeping areas. Avoid kitchens, and bathrooms where there is higher humidity and cooking products that could effect the detectors. There are new products out that have the ability to record your voice to alarm children, Children have been known to sleep through a protector alarm, where the voice of a parent recorded on the detector would help awaken them. 'Smart Move HomeInspection LLC'

Getting Ready For A Home Inspection

Doug Gialluca (Smart Move Home Inspection LLC) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 15:42:04 -0600

Are you considering a Home Inspection? If you are I have a checklist for you to prepare for your Inspection. This is a simple list of ten thing's that you can do to assist and insure that the most critical areas are accessible.

An Inspector is limited to doing a complete inspection if some of these guidelines are not met.

1.Make sure all utilities are on: Water, electric and heating/cooling.

2.Nothing is in front of the electrical panel.

3.Any crawl space access door or attic scuttle is readily accessible and unblocked.

4.Sump pump and water meter locations are identified and accessible.

5.An extra 'property disclosure form' (if used) is available for the inspector.

6.The dishwasher is empty.

7.A list of any recent improvements (i.e., age of roof, furnace or boiler, replacement windows, water heater). It would be helpful if this list of any recent 'upgrades the home were available. Inspectors seek 'assets' as well as items of concern.

8.Information about any structural repairs, engineering reports, recent fires or major home owner insurance claims.

9.Information about any past radon or lead test results.

10.Personal property is moved away from foundation or basement walls.

For a more thorough inspection these guidelines will help, Thanks for reading and good luck on your next investment. ' Smart Move Home Inspection LLC '

Keeping Active In a Slow Economy

Doug Gialluca (Smart Move Home Inspection LLC) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:30:02 -0600

I have heard of company's not renewing there license or giving up. There are some real estate agents as well as inspection company's that are either hanging it up or letting there license go.

There may be some truth to the fact that some have been in business a long time, and they were looking for a reason to get out. When times are more challenging in the business there is always a bottom line to help end's meet. I myself believe that a quality job takes time. There are Inspectors that are very efficient doing two reports a day, however there is more margin for a missed concern or minor deficiency.

I know one real estate agent that is just going to let her license expire. That is OK if she is absolutely sure she wants to go another way. However its like anything else, when you have all of your eggs in one basket, and even if business is good you could suffer burnout at a early age. I believe it is always good to do some other things to complement your business and keep you sharp.

It is amazing even if you have a old hobby how it can add to your knowledge in other Fields and keep you from getting a bit dry, As a home inspector I have a previous history of doing updates on homes and many times it would help me have a better understanding of how serious a problem really is. I can perform a update to a house that I did not inspect and it helps me stay active. This can help fill in on off days and allow me to do some hands on repairs for clients.

Then as for real estate professionals, who would know better how to buy and sell a few investments that need some paint. That sounds easy, well there are many that have done so with some intelligent research. The bottom line is, the bottom lines to your business.

Have a great Year

Doug

Value and Condition go Hand in Hand

Doug Gialluca (Smart Move Home Inspection LLC) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:52:38 -0600

Value and Condition go hand and hand just as faith and works. I could never understand why a mandatory appraisal would not involve a home inspection also. The average home inspection will approximately cost the investors one tenth of one percent of the total value of the house. The value of the house is usually determined by local comparisons, growth, surrounding area's etc.

If the house is in a good area and has a great curb appeal with just a few visible deficiencies, why not buy it? After all, the bank appraised it at a higher than market value. How many more problems are going to effect the buyer five years from now with outdated appliances and other overlooked deficiencies?

The objective opinion of a home inspector can take a more thorough observation and recognize the life expectancies of possible failing components. The house of interest could have a much better selling point and a more satisfied buyer with a home inspection. There are many potential clients that may not understand how thorough an inspection is. The typical home inspection takes 2-3 hours.

There are some inspectors that present the report at the time of the inspection. I take approximately another three hours on the reports. I also include digital photography in all of my reports to help visualize defects as well as assets. At Smart Move Home Inspection LLC we take as much time as necessary to give you a more concise report that could be useful for many years to come.

The value of a house cannot be completely known without knowing the condition of the house. The expenses that you pay within the first five years of your purchase date will add to the total cost of your investment. In the interest of everyone involved, get a home inspection.

Have a great day!

Doug

Smart Move Home Inspections LLC

Unprotected light fixture not uncommon in older houses

Doug Gialluca (Smart Move Home Inspection LLC) — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 16:38:07 -0600

There are many homes that were built before modern codes were established or had updates done along the way that were not always safety oriented. I find more than often simple issues that should be corrected may possibly save a loss of property or even life's. Overall this a rewarding business every time I help a buyer to be aware of hazards, and help protect the selling agent from a frivolous lawsuit.

The picture above is not a correction that would cause a buyer to back out of a deal, however at the same time they have a right to know how dangerous this could be by either having the light left on to create a flash point fire too close to storage. The other factor is the potential for a accidental contact with someone trying to reach into the storage area and possibly breaking the bulb. Then you have exposed electrical shock hazard or the glass exploding in your face.

Most of the time the owners have a large wattage bulb for more light that increases the risk. I found that most of the time this could be corrected with a inexpensive enclosed fixture with a cool running florescent bulb. A (cfl) compact florescent light is available at your local hardware and will give you more light for less energy use.

There are many items that could be a concern, or just a matter of updates and maintenance for your potential buyer or homeowner who would just want to evaluate there present home for it's condition.

Smart Move Home Inspection LLC

Inspectors Must remove the Electrical Panel Cover

Doug Gialluca (Smart Move Home Inspection LLC) — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 11:44:55 -0600

The home owner told me that the electrical panel was new. Yes it was new and loose on the wall. There was also a end table and lamp in front of it. I am not suppose to move anything so I did ask the home owner if she could move the table. This may have been why. The new owners could have had some serious issues ( life threatening).

Inspectors must remove the electrical panel cover, however this could have been my last one.

Look closely to the upper left corner of this panel !

Do you think that home buyers need a home Inspection? This is one reason why!

There was more concerns evident here, There is visible here a splice in the main service wire tapped leaning against the cover. There is also over trimmed and undersized wires connected to the main breaker. The Main breaker is questionable as providing proper protection.

There are a multitude of concerns that can be exposed by a experienced inspector, issues a home buyer, seller and the real estate agent would never think that could be a hazard. This is a example of a life threatening or loss of property issue that would only be found by a Home Inspector.

The cost of a home inspection on average is about one tenth of one percent of the cost of the investment. There is no way anyone could justify not getting a inspection to protect the buyer, Realtor and Broker.

Than most of all protect families from potential life threatening hazards that are so inexpensive to detect.

Good luck to everyone this year from: Doug Gialluca Smart Move Home Inspection LLC

Smart Move Home Inspection LLC

Doug Gialluca (Smart Move Home Inspection LLC) — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 10:05:09 -0600

Hi, I would like to introduce myself, I am Doug Gialluca the owner of Smart Move Home Inspection LLC.

I am Certified from the Home Inspection Institute and a five year member of the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI). I have six Certifications in home Inspection and 37 years in the construction industry. The business requires inspectors to now have 16 continued education units per year to remain in the association described. I have also taken the nationally recognized (CRI) Exam .

Repairing houses is a field for those who enjoy their accomplishments and have pride in their workmanship. I have performed most household updates and repairs; helping me recognize a deficiency apart from visual observations that may lead to a hazard if not repaired or maintained.

The general home inspection is an observation of the condition of a house by an experienced expert in the field. The home inspection business requires constant education in new techniques in building homes.

The home inspection overall is an opportunity for the buyer or seller to thoroughly review the visual condition of their home from top to bottom. I will take a minimum of three hours to inspect the site with a electronic report and digital photography sent via-email that same day.

The report will also be sent priority mail in a written form with a section on the basic home systems guide to help you maintain your house. The report will be sent within 24 hours in a three ring binder that can be expandable for other notes or disclosures.

I will not only write about deficiencies and assets, I will explain what I am seeing and the possible consequences.

Please call SMART MOVE HOME INSPECTIONS LLC at 330-324-0776 for quotes or if you have questions.