Inspector SnapShots

  Learn about:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asbestos Home inspectors routinely encounter asbestos materials installed in older houses. What is asbestos? It’s a mineral fiber. It can be positively identified only with a special type of microscope. In the past, asbestos was added to a variety of p...

  During a recent Walnut Creek home inspection, it was discovered that a homeowner had plugged in 5 extension cords and a washing machine into a power strip located in a Walnut Creek garage. Every year, thousands of fires result from surge protectors, power strips and electrical cords. The U.S. C...

Disconnect… to terminate a connection.  Ask any home inspector, disconnected heating and cooling ducts in the attics are a common occurrence. Why?  Because standard gray duct tape was used… It says ‘duct tape’ right on the label… It must be the right tape for ducts.  Right? Wrong!  During World ...

Just when the seasoned home inspector thinks he’s seen it all… a new photo op presents itself. To connect electrical service to a house...the non-insulated electrical service cable is secured to the house service mast with a wire holder clamped to the mast. In this photo, someone used a rope ins...

Home inspectors see cracks in concrete surfaces at nearly every home inspection. This backyard concrete patio developed a large crack within a few years of installation. What happened? Cracks of this size are typically caused by a combination of things: -          expansive soil -          poor ...

  Disconnect… to terminate a connection.  Ask any home inspector, disconnected heating and cooling ducts in the attics are a common occurrence.   Why?  Because standard gray duct tape was used… It says ‘duct tape’ right on the label… It must be the right tape for ducts.  Right?   Wrong!  During ...

Take one oscillating fan, wire for attachment and an extension cord... And you have all the makings of a low cost attic fan in the truest sense.   On the plus side: very creative thinking... On the downside: a portable fan at one exhaust vent is not effective... consumes electricity... adds more ...

Take one oscillating fan, wire for attachment and an extension cord... And you have all the makings of a low cost attic fan in the truest sense.   On the plus side: very creative thinking... On the downside: a portable fan at one exhaust vent is not effective... consumes electricity... adds more ...

ake one oscillating fan, some wire for attachment and an extension cord... And you have all the makings of a low cost attic fan in the truest sense.   Installing a portable fan at one exhaust vent (photo above) really does nothing, except consume electricity, produce more heat from the fan motor,...