Galvanized supply pipes are still fairly common in older homes around the country. It was a commonly used piping material before the 1960s. The pipes were seen as a cheaper alternative to copper and a better alternative to lead, which was commonly used when the piping material was invented. The pipes were dipped in a [...]
If you own a home built in the late '60s to early '70s or are planning on purchasing a home in this age range, it is quite possible that the home was built with aluminum wiring. So, this begs the question: Why do homes built during this time period have aluminum wiring? And more importantly, why is aluminum wiring an issue in homes?
The roof over your head is an especially important aspect of the overall performance of your house. A properly installed and maintained roof and attic system are key components that prevent moisture intrusion, manage water from roof runoff, and promote good energy efficiency and indoor air quality. Much like a crawlspace, an attic space can [...]
Home appliance technology changes over time. This can be easily seen in the difference between current washing machines or refrigerators and the ones we had when we were growing up. However, some of these changes are more subtle but can still affect us in sometimes costly ways. One example of this is the refrigerant in [...]
Federal Pacific Stab Lok electrical panels have a known history of failure and lawsuits. We are always on the lookout for these panels during our inspections and we recommend a full panel replacement when found.
Houses are complex structures with many installed systems working simultaneously to produce a safe and comfortable living space. Proper home ventilation is the key to good indoor air quality. While it may be easy to focus on the things that you see, like natural light through windows and paint colors, the comfort of a house [...]
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 [...]
One of the most common things we recommend during a home inspection is to "consider furnace filter replacement at this time". Why is such a simple action so often overlooked? And what impact does having a dirty furnace filter have on the home? Often the simplest things can cause the biggest concerns. In this article, [...]
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 you [...]
