nj home inspections: What To Do After You Receive Your Home Inspection Report - 03/02/24 07:06 PM
You had your home inspection, and you just received the home inspection report now what?
There is typically an inspection contingency period that ranges from 7 days to 14 days. This window of time is when the attorneys have agreed that you must have your home inspection completed and a request letter sent to the seller of the home. Other ancillary inspections and testing can be sent in after this period if agreed upon by both parties. It is important for you to understand the terms of this inspection contingency period. If you have your home inspection outside of this time limit … (7 comments)

nj home inspections: New Jersey Home Inspections and Wells - 11/09/22 01:45 PM
 
About 12% of New Jersey homes are served by private water wells. Although the majority of the components of a private well are not visible it is important for the NJ home inspector to understand how private water wells supply water and the issues sometimes seen with these systems. 
The most common type of residential well is a drilled well. A drilled well is typically drilled over 100 feet deep. They are deep and enter past the bedrock which supplies a more reliable well. Drilled wells are less prone to contamination because of their advanced depth. 
Well water comes from aquifers which are … (2 comments)

nj home inspections: Ice Dams and Home Inspections in New Jersey - 11/07/22 04:23 AM
 
New Jersey home inspectors should be familiar with what ice dams are how they form and what corrective actions a client can take to minimize the issue. An ice dam is a buildup of ice that builds at the edge of the roof close to the gutter. The buildup creates a dam or a wall that prevents show melt from getting to the gutters. Over time the ice dam will get larger that water flowing toward the roof edge will get trapped behind the ice buildup. This water can back up under the roof shingles and enter the home. Leaking water … (2 comments)

nj home inspections: NJ Home Inspections and High-Hat Lights - 11/06/22 04:07 PM
High hat lighting in homes can generate a lot of heat and can potentially create a fire hazard. NJ Home Inspectors should look for and identify if high hat lights in the home that they are inspecting are IC-rated or standard high-hat lights.
IC rated high hat lights are high hat cans that are approved to have insulation installed touching them. The IC means rated for insulation contact. It is important for New Jersey home inspectors to identify non-IC rated high hat light fixtures that have insulation installed too close to them because this is a significant fire hazard.  The fire hazard … (3 comments)

nj home inspections: Why NJ Home Inspectors Can't Test Central A/C in the Winter - 10/30/22 12:56 PM
There is a lot of confusion about why New Jersey home inspectors cannot test an air conditioning unit in cold weather. Often clients do not understand why this is the case. it important for home inspectors in NJ to inform their clients before the inspection that this is likely to be the case when doing home inspection in the winter months. 
It is tempting for a NJ home inspector to operate the a/c unit in cold weather in order to provide the information the client needs to make good decisions about the home that they are buying however it is not a … (3 comments)

nj home inspections: Termites and NJ Home Inspectors - 10/29/22 10:11 AM
A New Jersey home inspector who performs termite inspections should be knowledgeable about how to identify termites, termite damage and understand the life cycle of the subterranean termite most often found in New Jersey. 
The termites found in NJ are called Eastern Subterranean termites. Termites live deep underground below the level of the frost line. Termites are active all year long. Often there is some confusion about the termites going dormant or dying in the winter months, but this is not the case. Termites are active all year because their habitant is deep in the soil where it stays warm.  
Termites are rather … (4 comments)

nj home inspections: Hose Bib Confusion and New Jersey Home Inspections - 10/27/22 10:12 AM
Hose bibs seem like a simple faucet on the exterior of a home but there is often confusion regarding these simple faucets. it is up to NJ home inspectors to educate clients about hose bibs and how to properly maintain them.  
Hose bibs are a faucet attachment on the exterior walls of the home that provide water flow to do activities like water flowers, water the lawn, wash a car, or wash the home or driveway. Most homes will have at least one of these small exterior faucets. Sometimes these outside faucets are called bibs, spigots, or sill cocks but they all … (2 comments)

nj home inspections: Exterior Grading Issues and NJ Home Inspections - 10/25/22 05:39 AM
Something that New Jersey home inspectors and real estate agents encounter often while inspecting or showing homes to clients is ineffective and poor grading or surface water controls around the home. Proper grading and surface water controls are vital in keeping water from collecting close to the exterior foundation walls and ultimately seeping into the basement crawlspace or lower-level. Improper grading can also contribute to conditions that can cause foundation wall cracking and damage. Wet expansive soils freeze and exert hydraulic pressure on a foundation wall and can cause them to crack, bow shift. Almost every home that NJ home inspectors … (3 comments)

nj home inspections: Furnace Humidifiers and New Jersey Home Inspections - 10/24/22 05:10 PM
A furnace humidifier is an appliance that home inspectors in NJ and real estate agents will see regularly in homes. Home inspectors and realtors should have a basic understand of how a humidifier operates and the maintenance involved in its upkeep. NJ home inspectors do not have to inspect these appliances, but it is worthwhile to have a basic understanding of their operation and maintenance. On the same token real estate agents should be familiar with these units in case their home buying client asks them a question about the unit. The more information that home inspectors and agents can deliver … (2 comments)

nj home inspections: NJ Home Inspectors Should Understand Roof Truss Systems and Defects - 10/22/22 09:34 AM
It is useful to both home inspectors and realtors to understand what a roof truss is and the main issues that exist with them. With proper knowledge both realtors and inspectors can educate their clients regarding these sometimes-misunderstood structural systems. 
 
A roof structure is typically constructed of traditional rafters or a roof truss system. Home inspectors in New Jersey should be familiar with what a roof truss is and some of the problems that can occur which these systems.  
 
Roof trusses can be made of either steel or wood. Roof trusses are engineered computer designed structural members that are manufactured in a factory. … (3 comments)

nj home inspections: New Jersey Home Inspections and Septic Systems - 10/19/22 05:01 AM
It is important for New Jersey Home Inspectors and real estate agents to understand how septic systems operate in order to be able to educate their home buying clients about their function and maintenance. Inspecting septic systems is beyond the scope of a home inspection in New Jersey but having a basic understanding of septic systems is beneficial for home inspectors, real estate agents and their clients.
A septic system treats and disposes of wastewater from the home. A septic system has three main components. A septic has a waste pipe from the home, a septic tank, and a drain field often referred … (3 comments)

nj home inspections: Aluminum Wiring Found In New Jersey Home Inspections - 10/15/22 08:23 AM
luminum wiring is a major electrical defect and New Jersey home inspectors should be careful and inspect for this potentially wire during the electrical inspection of the home. During the years of 1965 and 1973 aluminum single strand wire was at times used in place of copper wire in residential homes. The substitution was primarily caused by the raising costs of copper wiring during this time frame. 
Very serious safety problems came to light with this electrical wiring.  The safety problems are caused by the very nature of the aluminum wiring. Older aluminum wiring connections become more problematic as time goes by.  … (6 comments)

nj home inspections: Home Inspectors and Temperature Pressure Relief Valves - 10/07/22 07:51 PM
Temperature pressure relief valves are a component that NJ home inspectors will encounter almost daily. A temperature pressure relief valve is a specialty safety valve that is designed to discharge if pressure in a hot water appliance such as water heater and boiler gets to unsafe levels. The valve is in place to prevent serious safety hazards caused by high pressure. If pressure in a vessel continues to rise to unsafe levels the vessel can actually explode like a bomb causing damage and possible death. The temperature pressure relief valve is designed to discharge when water temperature or pressure exceeds safe … (2 comments)

nj home inspections: Water Heater Expansion Tanks & NJ Home Inspectors - 10/04/22 05:44 AM
A question that NJ Home inspectors get often from clients is what is an expansion tank and why do I need one on my water heater? Thermal expansion is the tendency of matter to increase in volume when it is heated.  This thermal expansion is especially important in homes because there is a water supply system and rigid pipes. Water heaters produce domestic hot water in most homes. For this discussion we are going to be focusing on standard water heaters both gas and electrical that are found often in homes. 
Domestic water supply systems can be described as being open or … (3 comments)

nj home inspections: Dryer Vent Safety and New Jersey Home Inspections - 10/01/22 12:44 PM
One of the important things that a NJ home inspector can look for is a properly installed dryer vent pipe.  I can't speak for other home inspectors, but I really try to inspect the dryer vent. The dryer vent pipe is a crucial part of a safe clothes dryer system. Yes, at times the dryer vent pipe can be challenging to inspect and also can be challenging to determine its discharge point however, its type, length, and location can be a safety issue and should be inspected carefully. 
The reason that dryers are vented out is to release moisture and hot air … (5 comments)

nj home inspections: Attached Garage to Home Fire Rating and NJ Home Inspections - 09/28/22 04:36 PM
 Making sure that an attached garage meets fire rating requirements is something that is crucial when performing home inspections in NJ.  
Garages that are attached to a home should meet certain fire rating requirements so a fire that starts in the garage will not quickly breach the garage walls and enter the home. Having proper fire rating materials in place can provide the occupants of the home with more time to escape the dwelling in the event of a fire emergency. Vehicles and other flammable materials are typically stored in garage which makes them vulnerable to fire hazards. Another benefit that having … (3 comments)

nj home inspections: Knob & Tube Wiring and NJ Home Inspections - 09/26/22 05:26 PM
Knob and tube wiring still exists in older homes today and it still can be found during New Jersey Home Inspections. Knob and Tube (K&T) was an early residential wiring that was used in homes from the 1880's to the 1940's. It is considered to be obsolete and by some unsafe. 
Knob and tube wire is a system of wiring that is installed in open air. The wiring has both hot and neutral connectors. The notable missing wire is the ground. Knob and tube does not have a ground wire.  The wiring is protected by an outer sheath that is made from … (2 comments)

nj home inspections: What is Efflorescence and Why is it Important - 09/24/22 06:45 PM
Both real estate agents and New Jersey home inspectors should know how to identify efflorescence and the important role it can play at identifying water intrusion. Efflorescence refers to the deposit of salts on the surface masonry materials such as concrete, cement block, and brick.  
It has been my experience that both clients and newer agents confuse these white powdery stains with mold. Efflorescence is not mold although it helps create conditions conducive to the growth of mold. Mold is a living organism that grows, efflorescence is not living it is a mineral deposit.  One way to tell if you are looking … (5 comments)

nj home inspections: Asbestos Pipe Wrap & NJ Home Inspections - 09/20/22 06:35 PM
One issue that I often come across while inspecting older homes is asbestos pipe wrap. Asbestos pipe wrap was used from the early 1900's to the 1970's. The pipe wrap was used to insulate hot water and heating pipes. It gives the appearance of a white cloth like covering or wrap. Its purpose was to keep heat in the pipes to avoid heat loss. It was very good at its intended purpose however it had a very big drawback. 
As we all know asbestos fibers are harmful to the human body. Asbestos fibers cause damage to the lungs and can cause cancer. … (2 comments)

nj home inspections: Why a Home Inspection in New Jersey Takes Three Hours: - 05/23/11 09:48 AM
Over the last several weeks I have been getting questioned as to why a home inspection in New Jersey takes three hours. I think its inappropriate for a realtor to tell a home inspector that he or she is taking too long to inspect a home especially if the inspector is working for their client. Over the last week or so I have told several realtors that they are acting unprofessionally. Home inspections can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours depending on the size of the home and its complexity. Often the client will have many questions (which I welcome) … (1 comments)