ventilation: I'll fix it myself! - 06/28/09 07:29 AM
I do love my job.  I was chatting with another home inspector the other day and we chuckled that if it wasn't for creative home owners and contractors not doing their jobs properly we would be out of work.  On a recent home inspection here in Salem, Oregon I popped my head into the attic space of a vintage 1950 home and discovered a very creative, green aspiring tenant.  At first glance the attic felt unusually warm and moist.  From the outside the gable vents appeared to be large enough and should have kept this attic effectively ventilated however the current renter … (10 comments)

ventilation: Not all vent systems work the same - 03/18/09 11:20 AM
I had the pleasure of inspectinga very creatively remodeled home here in Silverton, Oregon today.  This in particular had me scratching my head: 
 
The exhaust vent for the master bathroom was tied directly to the plumbing vent system.  I guess they are both "vent systems" however they do very different jobs.  The plumbing vent is built to hold water, so any condensation or rain water or bugs can all go down the drain no problem.  The exhaust vent for the master bathroom may begin to have issues with most of those things.
Very creative "custom" remodel job anyway.
 
 
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ventilation: Special Homes - 03/07/09 04:58 AM
I have a special place in my heart for manufactured homes.  I am fascinated by the building techniques.  In many respects they are much better than stick built homes.
  There can be a huge advantage when something is built in a humidity and temperature controlled environment.  Sight-built homes are exposed to inches of rain, freezing temperatures, heat waves and wind.  All of this temperature and humidity fluctuation equals expansion and contraction and building materials that fit good one day and have big gaps the next.
  Manufactured homes are built at stable temperatures and humidity.  The sheer volume of lumber that … (5 comments)

ventilation: What's still Lurking under homes - 03/05/09 02:23 AM
  I recently vented about a new home I had the pleasure of inspecting here in Salem, Oregon.  That home had some issues with a lack of vapor retarder and a lot of excess wood that was a big contributor to a advanced stage of current fungal rot.
  The home also had issues with lack of crawlspace ventilation.  In this climate ventilation of the unfinished areas (attic and crawlspace) is extremely important.  Moisture vapor that escapes the vapor retarder will rise and condense into liquid water if not allowed to ventilate and escape the confines of the crawlspace or attic.  … (29 comments)

ventilation: Grow mold in your attic (vent to the soffit) - 12/20/08 08:25 AM
Ah mold.  It is such a hot button.  I know just by putting the word MOLD into my title this post will get attention.
People are interested, but I am still surprised at the lack of knowledge or the inaccuracy of knowledge (even you agents, who need to know the basics).
This is not intended to be a general knowledge post. (go here for that)  This is a heads up for everyone on the issues concerning a currently accepted means of exhausting bathroom vents.  Currently it is acceptable to duct bathroom vents to an attic vent.  This is usually a good … (2 comments)

ventilation: Mold is Everywhere - 09/07/08 06:06 AM
Mold is everywhere.
Mold/fungus has microscopic spores that are airborne and are able to easily blow around the world.  Due to the spore's ability to be in the air there is no place on earth that does not have fungal spores present. (except maybe special industrial clean rooms and operating rooms)  With this knowledge of mold/fungus we can draw the conclusion that there is no such thing as a, "mold free," house.  All homes have spores present the spores are waiting for a conducive environment to grow.  "Conducive environment," means: temperature, food and water at the right levels.
Molds/fungi grow best … (5 comments)