wild heron: Home Inspector Wild Heron
- 09/25/09 12:49 AM
We are the Right Choice: We are experienced, seasoned professionals (Degree Engineers) and Certified Professional Home Inspectors who have examined over thousand of properties (Residential & Commercial) for prospective buyers and sellers in our local area. We are a local "INDEPENDENT" Professional Home Inspection & Environmental (Mold testing) company working just for you and your best interest before the investment is finalized. HOME INSPECTOR USA does NOT belong to any REALTOR's Association. HOME INSPECTOR USA sets the standard for HOME INSPECTORS, MOLD INSPECTORS, COMMERCIAL INSPECTORS & MOLD testing / ALLERGENS testing Inspectors in the Panama City Beach, Rosemary Beach and Mexico Beach area. Distinguished by … (0 comments)
wild heron: Central Humidifiers
- 08/18/09 12:30 PM
Humidifiers are devices that humidify air so that building occupants are comfortable. Central humidifiers are hard-wired into a house's plumbing and forced-air heating systems. What is humidity? Humidity refers to the amount of moisture in the air. "Relative humidity" signifies the amount of moisture in the air relative to the maximum amount of water the air can contain before it becomes saturated. This maximum moisture count is related to air temperature in that the hotter the air is, the more moisture it can hold. For instance, if indoor air temperature drops, relative humidity will increase. How do central air humidifiers work? … (0 comments)
wild heron: Meth Labs
- 08/10/09 02:35 AM
Methamphetamine (also known as "crystal meth" or "meth") is a highly addictive and illegal stimulant. A meth lab is an illegal drug-manufacturing site, often a house or apartment, containing equipment and potentially toxic chemicals required to produce meth. Facts and Statistics About Meth Labs: In 2003, more than 17,000 meth labs were seized by police in the United States. Seizures in recent years have been significantly fewer, but authorities estimate that tens of thousands of homes may be contaminated by toxic chemicals from meth labs. Far fewer meth labs per capita have been seized in Canada than in the United … (1 comments)
wild heron: Vinyl Windows
- 08/07/09 07:51 AM
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), commonly known as vinyl, is a popular and useful plastic. One of the most common applications for vinyl is in windows, where the material offers a number of advantages and disadvantages. A few facts about vinyl and vinyl windows: Vinyl is the second most produced plastic by volume worldwide (after polyethylene), and the most produced plastic for building and construction products. The first vinyl windows were manufactured in 1954 in Germany in response to post-war wood shortages and the rising price of aluminum. Thermal Industries introduced the first vinyl windows in the United States in 1964. They … (0 comments)
wild heron: Inspected Once, Inspected Right! Anyone Else, is Just Looking Around!
- 07/20/09 07:22 AM
How many times we have had this coversation with many of our fellow REALTOR's? I will say countless....The fact of the matter is that a Home Inspector must spend the necesary time to uncover all the deficiencies that might exist in the house he is inspecting. Understanding, that is just a visual inspection and you can only do so much on the date and time of the field work. But, you should have the correct type of tools to make a sound judment regarding the condition of the house. We at HOMEINSPECTORUSA we tell it how it is! Regarless wether the … (0 comments)
wild heron: Lead Facts
- 07/09/09 06:01 AM
Lead is a poisonous metal that was once commonly used in the manufacture of paint, gasoline, and plumbing. While U.S. law has banned the use of lead in new construction, existing lead-based paint and plumbing in homes may present a significant health hazard, especially for children. Inspectors who are not trained in lead detection should not perform lead inspections due to potential liability issues. They can, however, learn the basic facts about lead so they can answer questions from concerned clients. A few interesting facts about lead and lead poisoning: Before 1955, paint in homes was composed of up to 50% … (0 comments)
wild heron: Combination Lock Boxes (inspector friendly)
- 07/09/09 01:30 AM
Lock Boxes Lock boxes are compartments in which house keys can be securely contained and selectively accessed while a home is vacant. Until the last few years, almost all lock box locking mechanisms were opened through a combination of letters or numbers, although lock boxes that open electronically, known as Supra lock boxes, are now common. Inspectors may need to know how to operate them. Common LocationsInspectors should take the time to ask about the lock box location when scheduling the inspection for an unoccupied property. Commons locations include: the front door (on the doorknob). Some listing agents prefer they … (1 comments)
wild heron: Burglar-Resistant Homes
- 07/08/09 06:04 AM
There are a number of measures that homeowners can take to ensure that their homes are not attractive to burglars. If clients are concerned about break-ins, inspectors can pass on to them basic strategies for burglar-proofing their homes. Some interesting statistics concerning break-ins in the United States: Theft makes up more than three-quarters of all reported crime. In 2005, law enforcement agencies reported more than 2 million burglary offenses. According to a survey, burglars enter homes through the following locations: 81 percent enter through the first floor; 34 percent of burglars enter through the front door; 23 percent enter through a first-floor … (0 comments)
Collar TiesCollar ties are designed to tie together the tops of opposing rafters. This helps brace the roof framing against uplift caused by wind. Collar ties must be placed in the upper third of the roof. Other facts about collar ties: They may or may not be required, depending on jurisdiction. Inspectors should not call out lack of collar ties as a defect unless they know that collar ties were required in the jurisdiction in which the home is located at the time the home … (0 comments)
wild heron: Garage Doors and Openers Inspection & Testing
- 07/01/09 12:09 AM
Garage doors are large, spring-supported doors. Garage door openers control the opening and closing of garage doors, either through a wall-mounted switch or a radio transmitter. Due to the strain that garage door components and openers regularly endure, they may become defective over time and need to be fixed or replaced. Defective components may create safety hazards as well as functional deficiencies to the garage door assembly. The following facts demonstrate the dangers posed by garage doors: Garage doors are typically among the heaviest moving objects in the home and are held under high tension. Injuries caused by garage doors account … (0 comments)
wild heron: Window Falls. (SAFETY)
- 06/14/09 01:28 AM
Every year, roughly 2.5 million children are treated in the United States for fall-related injuries. Of these, falls from windows tend to be the most serious and fatal, especially among male toddlers. Older children are more likely to be seriously injured by window falls as summer approaches and they spend more time around the home. This problem is heightened by the fact that windows are left open for ventilation more often during the summer months than the rest of the year. Inspectors should be ready to field questions from concerned clients, especially those with small children, about the dangers posed by … (1 comments)
wild heron: Anti-Tip Brackets for Freestanding Ranges (STOVE)/Safety
- 06/02/09 12:39 AM
This is an issue found in older homes, especially when the appliances have been updated.Anti-tip brackets are metal clamps designed to prevent freestanding ranges from tipping. They are normally attached to a rear leg of the range or screwed into the wall behind the range, and are included in all installation kits. A unit that is not equipped with these devices may tip over if enough weight is applied to its open door, such as that from a large Thanksgiving turkey, or even a small child. A falling range can crush, scald, or burn anyone caught beneath. Bracket Inspection Inspectors can confirm the presence of … (0 comments)
wild heron: Backdrafting
- 05/30/09 10:10 AM
Backdrafting is the reverse flow of gas in the flues of fuel-fired appliances that results in the intrusion of combustion byproducts into the living space. Many fuel-fired water heaters and boilers use household air and lack an induced draft, which makes them especially vulnerable to backdrafting when indoor air pressure becomes unusually low. Inspectors should try to spot evidence of backdrafting in homes. How does backdrafting happen? Fuel-fired water heaters, boilers, wall heaters, and furnaces are designed to exhaust the byproducts of combustion to the outdoors through a flue. These hot gases rise through the flue and exit the … (1 comments)
wild heron: Swimming Pool Barriers
- 05/25/09 01:19 AM
An outdoor swimming pool barrier is a physical obstacle that surrounds an outdoor pool so that pool access is limited to adults. "Pool," in this context, includes outdoor hot tubs and spas. This barrier is often referred to as "pool fencing," although walls made from brick or stone can be acceptable as well. Children should not be able to get under, over, or through the barrier. Why are pool barriers important? According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), approximately 250 children drown every year in residential swimming pools. In states where swimming pools are open year-round, such … (0 comments)
wild heron: Garbage Disposals for Inspectors
- 05/18/09 01:52 PM
Garbage disposals are residential and commercial appliances designed to shred food waste so that it can fit through plumbing. They are usually electrically powered (although occasionally powered by water-pressure) and are installed beneath sinks. Despite the convenience afforded by garbage disposals, the strain they can place on septic systems should be weighed against any potential benefits they might provide. Why Use a Garbage Disposal When food waste is discarded into the trash it will place an enormous burden on waste management systems and harm the environment. Garbage disposals reduce the severity of these problems by routing food waste into septic … (0 comments)
wild heron: Chinese Drywall "Issues"
- 05/17/09 10:03 AM
Amidst a wave of Chinese import scares, ranging from toxic toys to tainted pet food, reports of contaminated drywall from that country have been popping up across the American Southeast. Chinese companies use unrefined "fly ash," a coal residue found in smokestacks in coal-fired power plants in their manufacturing process. Fly ash contains strontium sulfide, a toxic substance commonly found in fireworks. In hot and wet environments, this substance can offgas into hydrogen sulfide, carbon disulfide, and carbonyl sulfide and contaminate a home's air supply. The bulk of these incidents have been reported in Florida and other southern states, likely due … (0 comments)
wild heron: Modular vs. Manufactured Homes
- 05/14/09 12:43 AM
While the terms "modular home" and "manufactured home" refer to two very different things, they are sometimes used interchangeably. Perhaps some of this confusion stems from the fact that modular homes are, in fact, manufactured ("manufactured" might be an unfortunate label.) Also, traditional "site-built" homes are not necessarily better than modular homes, despite the stigma associated with their assembly-line origin. There have been cases where Realtors and builders of manufactured homes have misrepresented manufactured homes as modular homes, and buyers were not informed enough to know the difference. Everyone (especially inspectors, who make their living examining residences) should understand the distinguishing features of … (0 comments)
wild heron: Home Winterization
- 05/14/09 12:37 AM
Winterization is the process of preparing a home for the harsh conditions of winter. It is usually performed in the fall before snow and excessive cold have arrived. Winterization protects against damage due to bursting water pipes, and from heat loss due to openings in the building envelope. Inspectors should know how winterization works and be able to pass this information on to their clients. Plumbing System Water damage caused by bursting pipes during cold weather can be devastating. A ruptured pipe will release water and not stop until someone shuts off the water. If no one is home … (0 comments)
wild heron: Sump Pump Operation and Inspection Guide
- 05/14/09 12:34 AM
Sump pumps are self-activating electrical pumps that protect homes from moisture intrusion. They are usually installed below basement or crawlspace floors to remove rising groundwater and surface runoff before it has a chance to seep into the home. Accumulated water can cause interior damage and encourage the growth of mold, mildew, and fungus. Pumps should be maintained and equipped with all necessary components in order to ensure their reliability. How a Sump Pump Works A pit, known as a sump pit or sump trench, can be dug at the lowest part of the basement floor to capture and contain any flowing … (0 comments)
wild heron: Lock Box Key, Supra Key???
- 04/23/09 12:41 AM
The Supra Key Lock Box and the Lock Box Combination Key Holder has become quite popular for many Realtor's. The issue with the Supra key is that it is set up on a time set. Most of the Supra key is activated either at 8:30AM or at 9:00AM. Quite convenient for the Realtor but not for the early bird Home Inspector, many times when the house is vacant we want to start early (7:30AM) because of a full day with three or more inspection. Guest what? If the house is on a Supra Lock Box you will have to wait........:( While … (2 comments)
We are the Right Choice:
;)
;)
;)
