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 […]Read More about S-traps are obsolete.
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 […]Read More about Dryer vent pipe issue
Neighbors, make a difference!
You are looking at a house, it’s gorgeous from the street, it’s possibly the one. The interior has been remodeled, the mechanicals updated, the bedrooms perfect for the kids, you feel this is the end of the search for a new home. Your Realtor is excited for you and has a contract ready for your […]Read More about Neighbors, make a difference!
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 […]Read More about A Long Forgotten Company
Location, Location, Location!
Have you ever noticed how some houses feel comfortable with the thermostat set to 68 degrees, while some are comfortable at 74? Thermostat location can play a major role in the way your home conditions. This poor thermostat thought the house was 84 degrees when the oddly placed wall light was on! Imagine the […]Read More about Location, Location, Location!
You found “WHAT” in my duct?
Hidden treasures are not always glittering gold. Though we have heard tales of homeowners bursting through walls and breaking down cabinets to find a loaded piggy bank, the reality is what gets trapped in our homes ain’t always sunshine and rainbows. But what about places in our house that are less obvious, less noticeable? Take […]Read More about You found “WHAT” in my duct?
How Houses Age Like Fine Wine:
How do homes age? When a home is 100 years old or even 200 years old, home inspectors must apply a different set of standards to evaluate the house. For example, building codes were not in effect 100 years ago and the quality of construction was often left up to the integrity and expertise of […]Read More about How Houses Age Like Fine Wine:
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. […]Read More about Second Time is a Charm
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. […]Read More about What Is “A Light Switch Away?”
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 […]Read More about Baling Twine
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 […]Read More about A Bit of Forgotten Dayton
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 […]Read More about Forgotten Greats…..
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 […]Read More about Selling Your Home?
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 […]Read More about Basement Damp (What’s It?)
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