SmartRegs is an energy efficiency program that was implemented by the city of Boulder to take action in reducing the amount of energy and water used in the city's rental housing properties. This was an update to the housing code, requiring all rental units to pass the SmartRegs inspection before December 31st, 2018. SmartRegs supports [...]
Concerns have been recently reported in Colorado with new construction homes, where a certain type of floor joist, manufactured by a specific company, are defective. The reported Weyerhaeuser TJI Joist problems relate to only the Flak Jacket Protection product. Several builders in the Colorado area have been notified of the concerns, and in some cases, [...]
During a general home inspection of a house, we typically rely on what we can visually see and observe. And while we can often see signs of moisture damage or mold, we can't know what amount of mold may be present in the air when no visual indication of concerns are present. Performing mold air [...]
Understanding where to locate and seal blower door test common air leaks is important to ensure that a new construction home will meet the stringent requirements of the IECC and IRC code for maximum air leakage rates. Scott Home Inspection has performed hundreds of blower door tests on new residential homes, remodel-addition projects, and as [...]
AC working overtime... One of the more frequent service calls for HVAC technicians this hot time of year is an AC unit frozen coil above the furnace. Once the coil is frozen, the air flow through the system becomes blocked, and the house will not cool down. The condensate drain system can overflow and leaks [...]
Preparing a REScheck Report is one method for validating compliance with the IECC Building Code (International Energy Compliance Code). This report can be performed on new construction homes, remodels or additions. The REScheck calculation method allows a designer or builder to consider trade-offs of building material specifications, such as insulation and window specs, giving an [...]
Every now and then during a home inspection, we come across some eyebrow raising items, in this case birds in the attic. These guys were hard at work, likely attempting to build a nest under the very edge of the roof vent which seemed like a good idea at the time. Unfortunately, this roof vent [...]
Ten Steps to Home Energy Efficiency Saving energy, improving comfort, and reducing energy bills are all things any homeowner should want to do. Home Energy Efficiency improvements shouldn't be hard. There are steps you can take to improve the systems and features of your home that will incrementally result in energy efficiency gains. At Scott [...]
Blower Door Testing – IECC-2012 and 2015 Requirement: Starting with the 2012-IECC energy code and continuing in IECC-2015, blower door testing is now a mandatory requirement on all new construction residential homes. What is a blower door test? A blower door is a device used to measure the exact air-tightness of a home. In the [...]
Inspecting a fireplace is not one of the most fun things to do during a home inspection. Will the damper open? Will a bunch of soot dump down on your head as you are leaning into the unit with your flashlight? Or...will someone be staring back at you? That third option isn't one that normally [...]
