John M. Acaron's (homeinspectorusallc) Blog

    Humidifiers are devices that humidify air so that building occupants are comfortable. Central humidifiers are hard-wired into a house's plumbing and forced-air heating systems.   What is humidity? Humidity refers to the amount of moisture in the air. "Relative humidity" signifies the amount o...

Attic pull-down ladders, also called attic pull-down stairways, are collapsible ladders that are permanently attached to the attic floor. Occupants can use these ladders to access their attics without being required to carry a portable ladder.   Common Defects   Homeowners, not professional carpe...

Garbage disposals are residential and commercial appliances designed to shred food waste so that it can fit through plumbing. They are usually electrically powered (although occasionally powered by water pressure) and are installed beneath sinks. Despite the convenience afforded by garbage dispos...

Amidst a wave of Chinese import scares, ranging from toxic toys to tainted pet food, reports of contaminated drywall from that country have been popping up across the American Southeast. Chinese companies use unrefined "fly ash," a coal residue found in smokestacks in coal-fired power plants in t...

 Backdrafting is the reverse flow of gas in the flues of fuel-fired appliances that results in the intrusion of combustion byproducts into the living space. Many fuel-fired water heaters and boilers use household air and lack an induced draft, which makes them especially vulnerable to backdraftin...

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) are special types of electrical outlets and circuit breakers designed to detect and respond to potentially dangerous electrical arcs in home branch wiring. How do they work?   AFCIs function by monitoring the electrical waveform and promptly opening (interru...

Adjustable steel columns, also known as screw jacks and beam jacks, are hollow steel posts designed to provide structural support. An attached threaded adjustment mechanism is used to adjust the height of the post.   A few facts about adjustable steel columns: They are usually found in basements....

Number 1 DEFECT: The #1 defect detected during the inspection process: moisture and drainage. This is the leading cause of dry rot, major structural damage and toxic mold. It is important that grading of the property slopes away from the home. The roof must be inspected and be watertight. Plumbin...

Home Inspector: Mold Testing & Home Inspection Services - Residential & Commercial ... We are the Right Choice:  We at HOME INSPECTOR USA are experienced, seasoned professionals (Degree Engineers) and Certified Professional Home Inspectors who have examined over a thousand of properties for pros...

Many times we here: "That's a lot of money for only a few hours work!"  As more and more home inspectors use time-saving, report generating software, include pictures (worth a thousand words) and even generate their reports on-site, they also start to make it look easy.  I recently ran across a v...