RECENT BLOG POSTS
Home Inspections in Chicago: Galvanized Steel Piping Galvanized steel supply piping is often seen while inspecting older homes in Chicago. Galvanized steel was the material of choice for many years, due to its low cost and ease of installation. One of the drawbacks of galvanized steel is it...
03/24/2013
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What is an AFCI? An AFCI is a special type of circuit breaker that provides a higher level of fire protection than that provided by conventional circuit breakers, AFCI stands for "Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter" Why are they a good idea? According to statistics quoted by the National Fire Prote...
03/23/2013
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Ever put together one of those "flat pack" bookcases? Ever notice how there's a strap (or a bracket) that's included in the kit, and you're supposed to use this thing to tie the case to the wall? Most folks just toss this "extra" part out. Please don't be one of those people. Top-heavy furnitu...
03/22/2013
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I like starting my inspections on the outside. By doing the exterior first, I have a better idea of what I might encounter when I get to the interior. For example, if the gutters are clogged and leaky, the walkway slopes toward the house, and the foundation is low, I'm pretty sure that I'm goi...
03/21/2013
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When I'm on an inspection, one of the things that I look for is the combustion air supply for the furnace and water heater. Here in Chicago, it's not unusual to find the water heater and furnace located in a small utility closet. This is especially true in properties that have been rehabbed. For ...
03/20/2013
Why should I hire an inspector when my friend will look for free? It seems that every so often, my client begins by telling me about their friend or relative who's in the trades, and they're going to have this person come over to the house and look at it with me. The implication being, "I don...
03/19/2013
Will the inspector tell me if I should buy the house? A home inspection is a fantastic investment when you're considering a real estate purchase. A good inspection will tell you a lot about the house. We'll look at the major systems, get into details, and probably find a few things you didn't k...
03/18/2013
Q: What is a GFCI? What does it do? Why do I need it? A: A GFCI is a type of outlet. The initials stand for Ground Fault Circuit Interruption. It's a nifty little device that can save your life. Q: Why do I need one? I got circuit breakers already. Why should I get something on top of ...
03/16/2013
What do you do once you've had your home inspection? You've already been through a lot. So much has gone into bringing you to this point in the transaction. Finding an agent, getting the mortgage process started, looking at houses, looking at more houses. Paperwork. Fees. Look at more houses...
03/15/2013
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Sometimes, it's the little things. Like these little breaks in the electrical conduit. Don't look like much, do they? Actually, these little breaks are a pretty big deal. In and around the Chicago area, we use the conduit to carry ground. In other parts of the country, they do it differen...
03/14/2013