Is Your Foundation Under A "Crack Attack"?- Encinitas Home Inspection

One of the biggest concerns my clients have may be foundation cracks. If the foundation has problems, the entire structure may be adversely affected. But are all foundation cracks "deal breakers"? Not necessarily. Let's talk about some of these cracks and their potential cause:

 Congratulations! You searched and searched and finally found your dream home! Do you realize the importance of a home inspection before you buy? This may be one of your largest purchases ever. Would you buy a car without giving it a test drive? Of course not! Doesn't it make sense to have a set of experienced eyes examine your new home before you invest your hard-earned dollars? Of course!

My Home Inspector Said Aluminum Wiring Will Catch My House On Fire!

Single-strand aluminum wiring was installed in many homes built in the mid 1960's to early 1970's. After a decade of use, inherent weaknesses were discovered with the wiring. Neglected aluminum wiring connections become increasingly dangerous over time and may overheat and create a fire hazard.

Does Your Weep Screed Weep?- Temecula Home Inspector

If you're having a new patio installed at your home, be sure your concrete contractor knows the required clearance to be maintained from the stucco weep screed. I consistently see improper patio installations while conducting home inspections throughout Riverside and San Diego Counties here in southern California.

"Four Tips For Garage Door Safety"- Encinitas Home Inspector

The home inspection business can be quite entertaining at times! I was inspecting the garage door at an Encinitas, CA home. A new door opener had been recently installed. When I tested the photo sensors, the door did not reverse, so I traced the sensor wires and found they were not connected. I looked up at the garage door opener and almost broke out laughing. There were the new photo sensors installed on the ceiling! Did the installer even bother reading the installation instructions? I guess this is what you do when you have parts left over!

Have you been asked about discounting your fees in exchange for a promise of future business? "If this works out well, I have A LOT more work to send your way. Take that into consideration when sending me your quote."

I used to have a bad habit of actually believing what people told me. That's not really such a bad thing, but from a business standpoint, it can be a huge (and expensive) liability.

Polybutylene Water Piping Found During Home Inspection

When asked about the probability of polybutylene water pipes leaking, Steve Stenros of First Choice Inspections says, "It's not IF it is going to leak, it's WHEN! If your home was built between the late 1970's to mid-1990's, you may have polybutylene in your home."

Polybutylene is a plastic resin that was used in the manufacture of water supply piping from 1978 until 1995.

Carlsbad Home Inspector Battles Rats!

It's Springtime! Steve Stenros, owner of First Choice Inspections and a CREIA-certified MCI inspector, leaves his office every morning prepared for battle. His adversary? Rodents. San Diego county is home to the wood rat. Rats carry diseases and can be a health hazard if they enter your home. They can also chew your electrical wiring creating a fire hazard.

If you have any brush within a few thousand yards of your home, you have probably had your own battle with these creatures. Steve regularly enters attic areas and crawlspaces as part of his home inspection process, and he does not enjoy coming into contact with these critters. "I once had a foot-long rat climb down an exhaust fan duct and enter the attic five feet from me!", said Steve. His home inspection report always point out the importance of keeping the vegetation around a home trimmed and neat.

Oceanside Home Inspector Finds Surprise In Furnace

What were they thinking?! I was at a home inspection in Oceanside, California. I turned the heating system on, grabbed my ladder, and started up the stairwell to inspect the forced-air furnaces located in the attic area. As I got to the top of the stairwell, I heard a loud vibration noise. The floor and ceiling were shaking something terrible! I quickly set up my ladder and entered the attic access in the master bedroom closet.

"Consolidated Furnaces Are A Fire Hazard"- Fallbrook Home Inspector

If you have a horizontal, gas-fired furnace in your attic and your home was built between 1983 and 1995, you should contact a professional home inspector and have your furnace evaluated. Somewhere between 750,000 and 1.2 million inferior-made furnaces were manufactured by Consolidated Industries between 1983 and 1991. These units were distributed nationwide and many still exist in homes today. As a Fallbrook home inspector, I often find these units installed and in use in many southern California homes. Most times, the owner is completely unaware of the hazard they pose. These furnaces present a serious fire hazard and have been responsible for many house fires.