Opening the door to the utility closet was like opening a door into a land of make believe, an installation by Walter Mitty! The first person who should take blame for the situation is the architect who designed a closet too small to put a furnace and a water heater into. The furnace requires three […]
The air we breathe
Even the most fastidious homeowner cleaning the bathroom, kitchen and floors never gives a thought to the ductwork in the home. All sorts of chemicals are used to disinfect and sanitize every part of the home except the part that is most likely to affect your health, your ductwork. The air in your home is […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Steam Heat, Confused?
Yes, so what type of heating system is in the house we are looking at? It’s easy to figure out if you know what to look for. Steam heat does exist, the water is heated above 212 degrees (boiling point) turning it into steam. The steam moves by convection through pipes and radiators. Most homes […]
Radiant Heat (What’s It?)
Walking through a home you might notice a non descriptive box in every room, some may have numbers on a dial 50, 60, 70. What you are looking at is a thermostat for the radiant heat ceiling. The house is not heated by air coming out of a vent but wires embedded in the ceiling. […]
Asbestos Pipe Insulation
Video of asbestos pipe insulation on a hydroponic (water) or steam boiler heating system. Asbestos can be dangerous to your health if fibers are disturbed, often found in buildings buildings from the fifty’s and older on heating and hot water plumbing pipes.
Furnace Filters Required
Everyone uses the phrase furnace filters which got me thinking as I worked my way through an inspection. The filters remove dust from the air going through the furnace which has nothing that really needs to be protected. Yes, the fan motor will last longer if it is not dusty, but it’s not really there […]
Gas Leak : What To Do
Assuming it’s a small leak, one that’s hard to smell, the first thing to do is turn off the gas to the unit. There is supposed to be a shut off valve within six feet of and in the same room as any gas appliance. Turn this off and you should be good. Furnaces and […]
Commercial Inspections
We are always busy with commercial business inspections which are challenging and fun. The commercial properties are all so different, drive thru beer stores, schools, car wash, an animal shelter, convenience stores, strip malls, motels, warehouses, so varied and then last week it was a Chinese restaurant. When we turned on the outside sign a […]
Your AC Does Not Like “Economy”
Air conditioners (condensers) positioned out of the way in a small space are not unlike unfortunate fliers in economy. They are in a space smaller than required and asked to behave as though everything is OK. When there are two condensers side by side they want 28” of space (yes, like leg room) between them, […]
Disconnect Switch Required for Furnace
Video: Furnace must have a disconnect switch and not always where you think it might be.
Do Architects Think?
Inspecting a house in Xenia recently I got to question the thought process of architects. A nice small 900 square foot ranch did not have much space for the furnace so the architect put it in the crawl space (under the house). This is not a problem as long as it works, but like all […]
