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Just because your home is new don’t think your sewer is! If you are buying a new home in the Seattle area, almost certainly there was a home on that lot before your house was built. What do you think is the most expensive part of the sewer to Read more
Most roof framing today are pre-manufactured trusses. Wood (and steel for that matter) trusses are among the most efficient structural components there are. This is due to their shape and construction; and to the extreme competitiveness of the truss industry. There is virtually no extra material in a pre- engineered roof or Read more
With the cold snap finally here it is time to get serious about preventing the most common problem most people will have with their homes. Here are a few tips to prevent frozen pipes and safe ways to thaw them. The most vulnerable plumbing in most homes are hose bibs, Read more
We just wrapped up our last session, it has been a great class. Looking forward to our next class, we have 2 scheduled: December 1st, 2016 and January 2nd, 2017 Call us today for more information or to register for class Happy students make for good reviews Check out our Read more
This is a super important detail that is often done wrong. 2009 International Residential Code: Sidewall step flashing min 4 in. high & 4 in. wide, length Sidewall flashings must terminate in kickout flashing F56 [905.2.8.3]72 A lot of water gets directed down where the sidewall and roof-line meet. When Read more
I always tell my clients they should keep records for the repairs and maintenance of their homes. This guide below will help you keep up your home and saving records will be useful when selling your home. Buyers like homes with records, so do inspectors! Here is our yearly reminders, Read more
Today we are doing field training. We have spent the last 100 hours in the classroom learning all kinds of stuff, today we get to inspect it for real. Each student is completing a report and we will go over them all together to assure we are inspecting Read more
Today in class we learned all about water heaters. When considering a tankless water heater there are several questions that come up. The first thing to consider is to heat water “instantly” it takes a LOT of energy. Let’s consider a modern residential tankless gas model. Here is the math Read more
Great 1st day of class. The first day is always the hardest one, we learned all about Washington State Laws and rules. Washington State laws are the biggest single part of the home inspection exam Tomorrow on to the structures of the home, and hopefully the first field training day looking Read more
Gutters are one of the most important part of your home. In our area with lots of rain here, home rot from the gutters in. If you fail to maintain them properly, you will have more issues down the road. This is how NOT to attach the endcap on your Read more
The classroom remodel is done! New carpet and expanded teaching space. Next class starts in just over a week. New inspections careers start here.
We find leaky plumbing a lot, and studies have shown that up 14% of the average bill is due to leaks. If your water consumption is high or you feel that you are using a large amount of water, check for leaks To use your water meter to detect leaks, Read more
I had a fellow home inspector share this video on just how fast someone can break into garage. I never thought it would be so easy. Watch the this demonstration and see someone get in just 6 seconds. Of course once they are in the garage, they can take their Read more
It is a rite of passage every spring, these guys start coming out running around the home. Weather around here has to be about 70 or above and they activity really explodes. This is a carpenter ant, it is carrying another insect back to the nest as food. This kid Read more
As a licensed Home Inspector, we have to take continuing education to maintain our license. Just a couple weeks ago, we were in a class with a representative from Simpson, the company that makes all kind of metal connectors used in construction. The topic of the day was deck attachments, Read more
Even though vinyl siding is a low maintenance material, it still needs cleaning from time to time to remove dirt and grime. In humid climates vinyl siding may also develop mold or mildew, which should be removed as well. Cleaning instructions are usually available from the vinyl siding manufacturer, and Read more
Have you seen water around the base of toilet? Is the vinyl flooring have stains bleeding through? Does the flooring feel soft or spongy around the toilet bowl? I look at a lot of toilets, and it is amazing how many of them leak. Often these leaks are very small, but over time Read more
Propane Dangers A home in Port Orchard had a terrible explosion a few days ago, what a tragic story. It is too early to tell the cause for sure, but that home was heated with propane and they do not suspect a crime. This brings up some important points about propane dangers. Read more
Courtesy of Washington State Career Bridge Use this checklist and make your education more affordable. Grants and scholarships Loans Work study Tax credits Worker retraining and unemployment programs Programs for those with disabilities or blindness Other Resources Find out what it takes to support yourself with the statewide Self-Sufficiency Calculator. Low-income and on Read more
Stove Anti Tip Kits All freestanding stoves sold since the 80’s have required anti tip kits. Most are not installed, be sure to check your stove. Use Anchors to Avoid Furniture and Appliance Tip-Overs. Furniture, TVs and ranges can tip over and crush young children. Deaths and injuries occur when children Read more
Maureen MoogSOPHI Certified Home Inspector206-429-5255ATS Home Inspection Rebecca RiceSOPHI Certified Home Inspector206-303-7362Searchlight Home Inspection Gerald Daigler -Pacific Life Home InspectionsSOPHI Certified Home Inspector561 254-9680Pacific Life Home Inspections Joshua KirkSOPHI Certified Home Inspector206-651-5334PRO-TECH HOME INSPECTIONS Eric StovallSOPHI Certified Home Inspector206-861-3825HABITATEC INSPECTIONS Collin PointonSOPHI Certified Home Inspector425-247-1789 Wayne KirkSOPHI Certified Home Inspector253-642-7643MATRIX Read more
Builders have made great strides to make our homes energy efficient. This has resulted in new problems with the quality of the air. We typically spend 12 or more hours a day in our homes resulting in potentially long term exposure to unhealthy air. Some homes have from 2 to Read more
Most disposals have a reset button on the bottom. If there is no sound when you turn it on, check to see it the button is popped out. If the disposal makes noise but wont start turning, it is probably jammed. Often you can fix this with a wrench, turning the Read more
All LP siding has this pattern stamped on it, it won’t be on every board. A home with LP siding that has had proper painting and caulking can perform well for years, but this maintenance is often overlooked. Since it is made of pressed and glued wood chips, there are Read more
The “AFCI” is an arc fault circuit interrupter. AFCIs are electrical devices designed to protect against fires caused by arcing faults in the home electrical wiring. THE FIRE PROBLEM Annually, over 40,000 fires are attributed to home electrical wiring. These fires result in over 350 deaths and over 1,400 injuries Read more