Looking under the sinks in many older homes it is not unusual to see the original trap on the drain, these were often similar to an “S” on it’s side. They are no longer permitted due to their tendency, when draining water from the sink, to finish with a siphon action that can empty the […]
Dryer vent pipe issue
Did you know that one laundry product causes long (dryer) vent pipes to get blocked? Blocked or partially blocked vent pipes pose a fire hazard or a carbon monoxide hazard if it’s a gas dryer. Fabric softener sheets leave a slightly sticky coating on the inside of the vent pipe, then the next time the […]
Why two different receptacles?
Have you ever wondered why there is sometimes a single receptacle in your garage? You know that the regular looking one with the buttons is a GFCI protected receptacle ( and is usually supply’s power to your exterior receptacles). The GFCI is a safety type receptacle that turns off the power to the circuit and […]
A long forgotten company
Inspecting an older home recently I noticed a stamp on most of the floor joists, they were all faded or blurred and illegible which made me more curious. It was obviously something to do with Xenia, but what? It turns out that there was a lumber yard there in the 1940’s, The McDonald & Torrence […]
Second Time is a Charm
Inspecting a home in Oakwood I had the feeling that we may have inspected it fifteen years ago. The house had been updated with a new kitchen, bathrooms and of course new colors on the walls not to mention the new owners furniture. Going up the stairs the inspection started to come back to me. […]
What Is “A Light Switch Away?”
There have been many comments about light switches and this “one light switch away from” electrifying or possibly electrocuting the user. We take modern wiring for granted, fumbling for a light switch in a dark room without the possibility of getting shocked. This is more like something Dracula would have used to terrify movie audiences. […]
Baling Twine
The steel girder supported by a standard steel post supports all the weight of the upstairs bedrooms and bathrooms as well as the roofing system and shingles. This home built in the mid 80’s has been bought and sold numerous times without anyone taking a closer look at the baling twine. The post is secured […]
A Bit of Forgotten Dayton
In Englewood I was inspection this lovely one owner ranch and came across this box in the garage. It’s “dated” color and design invoked a happy memory of Rikes, one of Dayton’s lost landmarks. The owners of the house bought it new in 1961 and may have had the box for years, the box has […]
Forgotten Greats…..
At the time I saw this when inspection an older home in Dayton I thought nothing of it, other than this is an old furnace with a name that has disappeared and no longer builds furnaces. For sentimental value I took a photo of the manufacturers tag and thought I would be able to find […]
Selling Your Home?
Have you ever thought of the home inspection your home will have? The inspection requires the inspector access all the areas of your home along with access to all the components like water heaters, electric panel, main water shut off. The covers need to be taken off electric panels, if that can not be done […]
Basement Damp (What’s It?)
In a basement there is a plastic or metal strip around a section of or all round the exterior walls (foundation). What is it you wonder, looking further you notice that the floor was removed and filled back in and there is a cover with a pipe. This basement has had a history of wet […]
Window Fogged (What’s It?)
It’s not privacy glass even though it works as one. Insulated glass that is standard in all modern windows is made up of two panels of glass separated by a filler piece. The seal between the filler and the glass develops a small hole allowing air into the space between the glass panes. The moist […]
Incorrect Certification
Inspecting a new construction home last week we observed and noted that the thickness of the insulation in the attic was between two and eight inches deep, as opposed to the twelve inches that should have been there according to the foreman. There was no card (as required) stapled at the access stating what the […]
Dryer Vent (What’s It?)
This often evokes the question, what is that? It is not a chimney, it’s not a plumbing vent, an oil tank filler or any of the other suggested uses we have heard.The answer is simple, it’s an exterior clothes dryer vent.This vent remains sealed when the dryer is off, air from the dryer opens it […]
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