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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
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