That wonderful piece of equipment in your kitchen sink makes cleaning dishes so easy! Scrape everything from rice to potatoes into it and with the flip of a switch it’s gone. Between the sink and the disposal there is a rubber flange called a splash guard. It’s job is to stop stuff in the disposal […]Read More about Garbage Disposal Safety
Dryer Vent Pipe Length Poses a Fire Safety Issue
In a custom build house the contractor installing the dryer vent decided to install the pipe without thinking of the dryer and all those loads of wet laundry it would struggle to dry. The pipe went down into the basement, around a few obstacles, over a beam, then a few right angle corners before a […]Read More about Dryer Vent Pipe Length Poses a Fire Safety Issue
Is it a Treasure or Hazmat in the Barn?
We inspect more than homes, add barns and you might be surprised what we find that has nothing to do with the structure or it’s components. Everything from vintage cars to antique firearms that have been forgotten or disguarded by their owners so long ago they do not realize what they may be worth in […]Read More about Is it a Treasure or Hazmat in the Barn?
A Hidden Danger That Could Have Silently Killed!
On this large older commercial building the roof had been replaced about five years ago. We inspected the roof and other than minor issues it was very functional. There was a big stainless steel flue pipe up the side of the building for the 250,000 BTU boiler that supplied heat to the building. Four hours […]Read More about A Hidden Danger That Could Have Silently Killed!
Gas Leaks: Finding and What to Do
Gas distribution systems in houses are the same for natural and propane gasses. Just like the best plumbing that has been trouble free for years can for no apparent reason develop a leak, so too can gas piping. The one difference is that with water, the pipe itself will often spring a leak whereas that […]Read More about Gas Leaks: Finding and What to Do
Unused Heating Oil Tank Requires Removal
Between the days of heating a home with coal and today’s natural gas there was a period of high demand for fuel oil as customers converted and modernized their heating systems. Starting in the 1940’s heating oil was considered a cleaner alternative to coal and so much easier to store. This love affair continued thru […]Read More about Unused Heating Oil Tank Requires Removal
Protect Your Gas Meter: Bollards Up!
A gas meter may be located in a variety of places around your property. You may find it on the interior of the structure, mounted to the exterior or located somewhere on the grounds. When installed outside, one of the most important considerations is protection of the unit and piping. In particular, we are […]Read More about Protect Your Gas Meter: Bollards Up!
Does Your Neighbor Have Insurance?
I stood on the second floor looking through the charred remains of the exterior wall towards the even more decimated neighboring house where the fire had begun. It was a total loss leaving only a lone chimney to stand with the last bits of blackened timbers still clinging on, precariously upright. The fire had not […]Read More about Does Your Neighbor Have Insurance?
Generator Hook Up Must Be Legal
With global weather patterns changing power outages are becoming widespread, outages that were localized are now becoming citywide as hurricanes, flooding and wildfires threaten communities. The answer is a standby generator. There are the permanent types that are installed on a pad outside and the portable type that is generally stored in the garage then […]Read More about Generator Hook Up Must Be Legal
Radon Mitigation System Installed
If you are looking at buying a home or walking around your neighborhood you may have seen this disk shaped gizmo with a pipe up the side of a house. In the last twenty years there has been a growing interest in testing for Radon (a gas generated deep in the earth as limestone deteriorates) […]Read More about Radon Mitigation System Installed
Decks Look Good Often Badly Built & Unsafe
Saturday, May 1st 2021: Restaurant deck collapses in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee. Forty people fall sending eleven to the hospital, two with critical injuries. A quick internet search will reveal far too many unfortunate and avoidable incidents like this happening on a regular basis. What factors are at play with deck failures and how can we ensure […]Read More about Decks Look Good Often Badly Built & Unsafe
Fabric Softener Poses a Fire Hazard
No one wants hard scratchy clothing so fabric softener is the answer. There are two types, the liquid softener that is added to the wash or softener sheets used in the dryer. The photo is not of internal body parts but a dryer vent that has choked up with lint. As the lint builds up […]Read More about Fabric Softener Poses a Fire Hazard
Recessed Lights Pose a Fire Hazard
As a homeowner you probably don’t typically give much thought about the lights in your home, as long as they are doing what lights are supposed to do. You flip the switch, instantaneous illumination, you can see and life is good! However, it is what we can’t see that can be a cause for concern. […]Read More about Recessed Lights Pose a Fire Hazard
Asbestos Covered Boiler in Old House
In the basement of a 1920s home the original cast iron boiler was still sitting in the middle of the room. It appeared everyone who passed it they rubbed against it, put their hands on it and marveled at its size without thinking about its consequences. This beast of a boiler had been replaced ten […]Read More about Asbestos Covered Boiler in Old House
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