;
Good parents are always on the lookout to make their homes safe for their children. We install safety latches on cabinets, secure dangerous cleaners, medicines and chemicals to prevent accidental poisoning and protect children from outlets by covering unused receptacles to prevent shocks. One of the most overlooked dangers in the Read more
No I am not commenting on the supernatural here, we are talking about the mysterious stains that appear inside of homes. This “Ghosting” tells a story of poor insulation and leaky drafty homes. When insulating attics, is it best practice to completely cover the ceiling framing to reduce thermal bridging. Read more
In Washington State, we have a law that establishes the minimum requirements for the Standards of Practice for a home inspection. The state law exam has 24 multiple-choice questions, all are based on this standard. Most customers really don’t understand these standards. During the home inspection often the clients are so excited Read more
We have been using pressure treated lumber for decades to resist insect damage. It works great against termites and beetles, both organisms eat wood. But we have more wood destroying organisms than these two. Carpenter ants are easy to identify, in the northwest the most common one is called Modoc, Read more
This kitchen install has a few plumbing issues under the sink, what should the caption be? Here is another view..
Just passed out our certificates and we now have our summer session on the calendar. New inspection careers begin with top notch inspection and you can get that in 12 intensive instruction days at our classroom just south of Seattle. 929 SW 152nd St unit A, Burien, WA 98166 July Read more
Most homebuyers love it when there is fresh paint inside, as a home inspector, we look at it in a different light. What is under the paint? When we inspect homes, we have lots of tools to help us accurately report what we see, smell or suspect. One of the Read more
Spring time is when ants are likely to invade our homes. The most common household ant around here is the odorous house ant. They like human food and can be a real nuisance. Here is how to control them. Borax and Sugar Balls Ants love the sweet taste of sugar Read more
When a water heater malfunctions and overheats, the resulting failure can be super dramatic. Here is a great example showing a water heater blowing through a mock up house. Why? We all love to see stuff blow up..
We find a lot of problems with toilets. Always look at the base and see if the floor is discolored, this is often a sign of a leak at the wax ring. We frequently find that water has worked its way under flooring and will eventually cause damage to sub-floors Read more
What is the proper slope of drain pipes? That depends on the pipe size. It is important that liquids flow smoothly, which helps transport solids away without clogging. A pipe that is too flat will prevent waste from flowing away. The minimum velocity in a horizontal drain pipe is 2 Read more
Video post: 60 home inspection issues in under 3 minutes By Reuben Saltzman On March 21, 2017
This is a drain for a kitchen, not too surprising it drained slowly. This is a pretty easy fix, a few more pipe supports needed All plumbing needs supports, and depending on the materials, it may be from 2.7 feet to 12. Improper support can create air pockets and clogged Read more
The first day of class is complete. 1/12 the way through and already we covered a LOT of material in 10 hours. In the first day we concentrate on the laws and rules. Here is today’s sample question: What do you think? What would be the best answer? It is Read more
One of the most complicated things a home inspector must grasp is the rules around notching and drilling framing. We spend quite a bit of time going over these rules, and anyone taking the state exam had better study them. Since it is so complicated and important, you are likely Read more
Installing an electrical box in an finished space is not a project for every homeowner, but if you are handy and willing to get your hands dirty it is not too difficult. Remember NEVER work with live circuits and if you have any doubts about what you are doing call Read more
My daughter was telling me that her house was cold and furnace was not keeping up with the cold weather. It is not that cold and I knew immediately what the problem was. I told her to clean the air filter. When I told her she was skeptical but Read more
Arc faults breakers detect dangerous arcing condition that can start a fire. This is a very technical subject, so here is a short introduction video. Even better explained by IAEI News: INTRODUCTION Smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, emergency escape ladders these are all proven methods for making a quick and safe escape Read more
We are proud to be a Washington State Eligible Training Provider Click here to see our listing. ETP eligible students can use their state and/or federal training dollars for our School. Getting through the bureaucracy of government programs is never simple but we are excited to be able to offer this program to eligible Read more
Some may recognize this picture I shared about a month ago. This is a failure of the roofing structure, the trusses are separating and I strongly advised consulting with a Licensed Engineer before my clients make their final offer. I got a call back for a re-inspect of other issues Read more
This 12 day intensive course is State approved, we prepare you to take the required state exam. With real hands on experience and intimate knowledge of our curriculum the School of Professional Home Inspection stands apart. We not only teach this, we wrote it. We are committed to your success in your Read more
One of the most common problems we find in home inspections is attic pull down stairs problems. A huge percentage are installed wrong creating a safety issue that most homeowners are unaware of. Stairs are one of the most dangerous places in your home. Most are poorly installed, missing fasteners or Read more
Of course I always teach our class to strictly follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your ladder. Be careful with ladders, a LOT of people are injured on them every year. It is surprising how dangerous the ‘silent’ tools are. Think of ladders and screw drivers, etc. Saws make a lot Read more
In case you didn’t know, you don’t plug in water heaters with a dryer cord! I love the taped up connection, the things homeowners will do!
This is just crazy.. Really what could go wrong? I hope the power was off when this brilliant handyman hooked it up. I actually did not take this picture, but it appears to be a main feeder to a service panel. In most cases those big wires should have 200 amps Read more