Inspector Brian's Blog

Water expands as itfreezes, which putstremendous pressureon metal orplastic pipes. Nomatter how strong a pipe is expandingwater can causethem to break.Pipes that freeze most frequently are those thatare exposed to severe cold, like outdoor hoses,swimming pool supply lines, water sprinkler lines,a...

There was a time when the only remedy for sinking sidewalks or uneven foundations was to tear out the old pavement slab and pour a new one, and spend a great deal of time and money in the process. Today, a less intensive alternative known as mudjacking (also called concrete leveling, pressure gro...

An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow from draining. As water backs up behind the dam, it can leak through the roof and cause damage to walls, ceilings, insulation and other areas.   How do ice dams form?   Ice dams are formed by an interaction be...

It seems like 9 out of 10 inspections I perform are on foreclosed homes. The information my clients get is very valuable.Last month, the bank put in a whole new heating system for one client. Another has walked away from two houses that had numerous and hidden issues, that would have costed more...

The venting system almost always has issues. It seems to be one of the most overlooked parts of the home, until owners wonder why the home is not heating or cooling properly. Or worse if the mandated CO detector is going off.I can tell you that when a home inspector sees a service sticker on an H...

I seem to run into this quite often , and alot of times the work was done by the homeowner or a little known basement refinishing guy. No matter what your chosen career---there is a learning curve. In the trades when the boss tells the helper to go do something, the boss may assume that the helpe...

Each year, according to estimates by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), nearly 1 million people over age 65 are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with the products they live with and use everyday. The death rate from accidental injuries in the home is ap...

The Charles Schulz Philosophy The Charles Schulz Philosophy The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the 'Peanuts' comic strip. You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them. Just read the e-mail straight through, and you'll get the point. 1. Name t...

Home Repair Rip-Offs by Nick Gromicko and Rob London     Homeowners have more to worry about than being ripped off by shady contractors in this lagging economy, but such a climate brings desperation -- and with it, sadly, fraud. Of course, the majority of tradesmen are generally honest profession...

I did an inspection for a nice couple a few months ago. They moved in and have been very happy with their new home. Now, that trhe weather has gotten cooler, they noticed that there was a noticably cooler part of the house. They called a plumber to check the hot water heating system. The plumber ...