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I have always warned people about excessive lint in the dryer vent. On today’s inspection we found this burnt hole where the dryer venting caught on fire. Be sure you have these maintained. “The U.S. Fire Administration (part of FEMA) cites that there are 2900 home clothes dryer fires every year Read more
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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