We've all seen those outlets with the little "test" and "reset" buttons on the face of the outlet. These are called "GFCI" outlets. The "GFCI" stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. But what does that mean? And why are these types of outlets necessary? The Shocking Details Perhaps at some point in your life [...]
Imagine this: You move into a new home. You've worked hard all weekend, lugging dressers and couches through narrow doorways and up and down flights of stairs. Your brother-in-law has helped. But let's face it, most of the time he's just been sitting on the ONE couch he helped move in, drinking beer. Making annoying [...]
You may have heard the term "HERS rating" used regarding home construction and energy efficiency. You may have even seen and read through a HERS report, or you may have a HERS certificate for your own home. Or you may have read our first blog in this series, What Is A HERS Rating. Many [...]
Sometimes sewer issues go undetected until they do a good bit of damage to your home. As you might imagine, sewer lines need just as much attention and maintenance as other parts of your home. However, we tend to overlook them because we don’t know what we don’t see. If you suspect something might be [...]
Popular and attractive, but not without its issues, Manufactured Stone Veneer, or Siding Adhered Concrete Masonry Veneer, is a thin siding, manufactured from molded concrete, to mimic the look of natural rocks and stone. Designed to be installed over wood framing, stone veneer can give a modern look to any home. However, stone veneer problems [...]
If you’ve ever hired a home inspector and were present for the inspection, you may have looked at his/her tool bag with interest. Inspectors carry and use all sorts of useful gadgets. The right tools are necessary for conducting a thorough, top-to-bottom inspection of a home. In this article, we’ll discuss this subject in [...]
Starting with the 2012 IECC and IRC and carrying through to the 2015 and 2018 versions of these codes, there is a maximum air infiltration rate allowed, and measurement of air infiltration and blower door testing is mandatory. Due to the very tight air infiltration rates required, Mechanical Ventilation systems are also mandatory. Air Infiltration: [...]
So much to do, so little time... Home maintenance is a task that affects most all of us, from weekend warriors who struggle up and down ladders to check gutters, to the rental property owners and managers who must maintain multiple properties. Some property managers may manage hundreds of rental properties, which is a Herculean [...]
In an effort to reduce light pollution, many municipalities throughout Colorado have been looking at ordinances to regulate and restrict outdoor lighting in recent years. This effort is commonly referred to as the "Dark Sky Movement." The most touted advantages of reducing light pollution include increasing visibility of the stars and the night sky, reducing [...]
Moisture Control in Homes: What is the most basic protection that a home provides you? Shelter. We need shelter to keep bugs, critters, and beasts at bay. We also need shelter to protect us from the burning noonday sun, as well as from the cold winter winds. All of these things are easy enough [...]
