Fireplace On Fire!- Oceanside Home Inspection

Up to this point, it had been a normal Oceanside home inspection. I was in the master bedroom evaluating the fireplace, a factory-built unit (also known as a "zero-clearance" fireplace) with a gas log set and electronic ignition. Blackened areas were visible at the bottom of the fireplace doors and the paint was blistered on the face panel below the doors. That little warning alarm in my head immediately started going off.

Electrical Issues Found at Temecula Home Inspection

Electrical issues are probably the most common type of defectfound during home inspections here in southern California, followed closely by moisture intrusion issues. Improper electrical installations can pose a serious fire or shock hazard to the homeowner. Numerous electrical issues are often found when conducting a Temecula home inspection.

"I've Been Bitten!"- Temecula Home Inspector

First Choice Inspections was founded by Temecula home inspector, Steve Stenros, nearly a decade ago. Here in southern California, a home inspector always needs to be on the lookout for job hazards. Not only are there hazardous conditions inside a home, there are numerous creeping or crawling critters to watch out for as well.

Just last week, while sitting in my office, I noticed the gardener looking intently in the hedge row at the edge of our lawn. Curiosity got the best of me, so I went outside to see what he was looking at. He had nearly stepped on a rattlesnake, which was now coiled up in the vegetation at the edge of our lawn. I quickly ran inside, grabbed my camera, and snapped a few photos before dispatching of the snake.

Sewer Gas Intrusion- Temecula Home Inspection

Just yesterday, at a Temecula home inspection, I came across a situation I, unfortunately, have seen before. I was inspecting the attic area in a ten-year-old Temecula, CA home. The attic access was in the laundry room. As I entered the attic area, I could see the plumbing vent for the laundry drain system. There was a cut-out area over the attic access opening which opened into the attic space over the garage. When I viewed this area, I discovered that the plumbing vent terminated inside the attic! Sewer gases escaping into an attic area presents a serious health hazard for the occupants.

Oceanside Home Inspector Warns, "This General Should Be Court-martialed!"
 

This General should have never been promoted to his lofty position! He's irresponsible, doesn't perform his duties, and he's putting a lot of innocent people in danger! I would like to see him terminated!

I'm speaking of the Rampart General fireplace. Several different pre-cast concrete fireplaces have been constructed and installed in the United States over the years. The Rampart General fireplace was manufactured in Santa Ana and widely distributed throughout southern California. As an Oceanside home inspector, I have come across many of these units throughout San Diego county. You may even have a few installed in your neighborhood!

Carlsbad Home Inspector Ensures A Royal Flush

Do you have a toilet that mysteriously keeps running water in the middle of the night? Steve Stenros- First Choice Inspections, a Carlsbad home inspector, explains three common things you can easily check to solve the problem:

Top 10 Things Not Covered In A Home Inspection

Potential home inspection clients ask me, "Do you cover this? Do you cover that?". There is much confusion as to what is and is not covered in a home inspection. Since there are "Top 10" lists for just about everything else, I've made a list of the top 10 things not covered in a home inspection:

Asbestos in your home- Escondido, CA

If your home was built prior to 1978, you need to ask yourself, "Is there asbestos in your home?" Asbestos is a mineral fiber that was commonly used in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire-retardant. After the health dangers of asbestos became known, it was generally no longer used after 1978, although it could still be found in some products.