Blower doors are a valuable tool in energy audits. A blower door is a powerful, variable-speed fan that can be temporarily mounted into an exterior door frame to provide controlled air flow for analysis. The way that air flows through a building can have a serious impact on air quality, comfort and energy expenses. The use of a blower door allows air flow through a structure, and the resulting loss of heat can be immediately quantified, providing a way to pinpoint the location of air leaks. Blower doors were originally developed in the 1970s for … (0 comments)
connecticut home inspection: Flooding and Well Water
- 04/05/11 10:02 AM
When heavy precipitation causes flooding it is important to recognize that this can affect the quality of drinking water obtained from drilled wells, shallow wells and springs. Most at risk would include water sources that are in areas where flooding has occurred and is imminent, such as drilled wells located in well pits where groundwater tables have risen in the pit above the top of the well head, and shallow wells or springs located down grade from open pollution sources such as agricultural or animal waste run-off or nearby septic systems. Other indicators of pollution may include water discoloration or unusual … (0 comments)
connecticut home inspection: Japan and Preparing For Emergencies
- 03/28/11 10:13 AM
Japan and Preparing for Emergencies What a horrible loss of life. Countless people made homeless. Radiation contamination. Lack of food and water. Cities and towns swallowed whole by the ocean. After-shocks. It is devastation on a massive scale. Everyone's thoughts and prayers go to the people of Japan in their time of trouble. Charitable donations are made as we watch the news, dreading a nuclear meltdown. By all accounts the Japanese have taken many precautions (stringent building codes, sea walls, etc.) to avert just this sort of disaster. Some preparations helped while some went awry (building the nuclear plants close to the … (1 comments)
connecticut home inspection: Barbeque Safety
- 03/21/11 12:51 AM
With barbeque season coming homeowners should heed the following safety precautions in order to keep their families and property safe. Propane grills present an enormous fire hazard, as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is aware of more than 500 fires that result annually from their misuse or malfunction. The following precautions are recommended specifically when using propane grills: Store propane tanks outdoors and never near the grill or any other heat source. In addition, never store or transport them in your car's trunk. Make sure to completely turn off the gas after you have finished, or when you are changing the tank. Even a … (0 comments)
connecticut home inspection: Your Home Energy Audit
- 03/07/11 12:45 AM
Your Home Energy Audit Scheduling a home energy audit makes great sense. You'll get a detailed report from an expert showing you ways to save money and make your home more energy efficient. Many times you can get the audit for little or no cost - local utility companies sometimes offer free or low cost programs to customers (Connecticut CL&P customers can click on http://www.cl-p.com/home/saveenergy/rebates/homeenergysolutions.aspx). Energy-conservation contractors can provide free or low cost evaluations and also provide the needed services to upgrade the home (one example is http://www.drenergysaver.com). Some home inspectors offer energy audits, but normally for a higher fee and without … (3 comments)
connecticut home inspection: Sealing and Insulating
- 02/21/11 10:18 AM
Sealing and Insulating Your Home Sealing and insulating your home is one of the most cost-effective ways to make a home more comfortable and energy efficient -- and you can do it yourself. A tightly sealed home can improve comfort and indoor air quality while reducing utility bills. An en-ergy auditor can be hired to assess envelope leakage and recommend fixes that will dramatically increase comfort and energy savings. The following are some common places where leakage may occur: electrical outlets mail slots around pipes and wires wall- or window-mounted air conditioners; attic hatches fireplace dampers weatherstripping around doors baseboards window … (0 comments)
connecticut home inspection: Electric Heat and Mold
- 02/19/11 09:14 AM
Electrically heated homes may experience a higher level of indoor humidity because of a lack of a chimney, and therefore, have lower rates of air exchange. Also, since the heat is only dispersed primarily through natural convection it's dispersal can be uneven. The uneven heating through an electric heater can cause cool spots to occur, possibly dropping temperatures to below dew point at some areas, creating condensation. Make sure your dryer and bathroom fans vent to the outside, that you cover your pots with lids when cooking, and take shorter showers as needed. Eliminate any sources of moisture in the basement and crawl … (2 comments)
connecticut home inspection: Heating Flues
- 02/15/11 07:32 AM
The heating flue is a pipe connected to your hot water heater, furnace or boiler that exhausts carbon monoxide to the exterior of the home. The fumes produced by combustion need to go outside or a dangerous condition exists. The pictures below show flues that are not properly connected to the chimney of the home. Openings are present where gas can leak out into the house. A reading was taken with a carbon monoxide detector - levels were indeed elevated in the basement and the occupants of the home were in danger of carbon monoxide poisoning. Check the flue pipe connections … (0 comments)
connecticut home inspection: Infrared Cameras and Home Inspections
- 02/09/11 06:58 AM
The infrared camera has become a valuable tool to home inspectors. While not needed on every inspection it proves to be useful when analyzing the following: Looking at insulation inside of walls and ceilings: The camera can note gaps or missing insulation inside wall cavities not seen by the naked eye. Wet areas or leaks: In most cases the home inspector will use a moisture meter to test any water-stained areas in the home. For those that are not readily accessible (like on a cathedral ceiling) the camera can tell the inspector if the stain is actually wet or dry (dry … (2 comments)
connecticut home inspection: Ice Dams
- 01/18/11 11:32 PM
Ice Dams An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow from draining. As water backs up behind the dam, it can leak through the roof and cause damage to walls, ceilings, insulation and other areas.
How do ice dams form?
Ice dams are formed by an interaction between snow cover, outside temperatures, and heat lost through the roof. Specifically, there must be snow on the roof, warm portions of the upper roof (warmer than 32° F), and cold portions of the lower roof (at freezing or below). … (2 comments)
connecticut home inspection: What's That Pipe?
- 01/17/11 01:16 PM
As a Connecticut home inspector a phase I hear pretty often is "what's that pipe on my roof?" Clients usually can't imagine that checking their plumbing system is one of the things I do while climbing on their roof.
The plumbing vent pipe allows sewer gasses to exit to the exterior rather than inside the home. It also allows air into the waste system, allowing traps to equalize and function correctly. Most homes in North America vent directly through the roof. There are also devices called air admittance valves (usually used when remodeling or adding plumbing fixtures) that can allow … (1 comments)
connecticut home inspection: Connecticut Home Inspections - Heating Tip
- 10/15/10 08:42 AM
For a quick read on the state of your prospective new home's heating system take a look at the maintenance tag affixed to the boiler or furnace. Heating contractors attach a tag to the heating unit upon installation and when performing a repair or tune-up. This service tag could tell you when the system was installed, how often it has malfunctioned, and how often it has been cleaned and serviced. Don't see a tag? That could indicate that the current owner of the home has not been properly maintaining the unit. Recommended service is each year for an oil fired heater and … (1 comments)
connecticut home inspection: What Allied Home Inspections Inspects On Your Home
- 01/04/09 12:21 AM
Need a house or condo inspection in Connecticut or NY? Hire Allied Home Inspections for your Connecticut home inspection and to examine the systems and components in the home. The assessment is detailed, lasting anywhere from 3 hours and up. I'll take as much time as needed on the inspection to give you a complete report, and save you money by finding out the most about your new home before you make a commitment. You will receive your written report that same day. My standard home inspection includes an examination of:
Foundation and structural components Oil and gas furnaces, heat pumps Central air … (1 comments)
What is a Blower Door?
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