Dale Ganfield

April Showers Bring May Flowers. Well, the flowers are blooming in North Carolina! The azaleas are in full bloom!

It is time to tackle the Spring Home Maintenance chores so you can play when the weather really turns nice. A home needs a bit of periodic attention to keep things in good condition and operating efficiently. Below is a list to help you develop your own personal home maintenance program. This should be your starting point and you can adapt it as appropriate for your home. For a full year suggested maintenance check list and a lot of other useful home owner information go to the Peace of Mind Home Inspection Resource Page.

Exterior

• Inspect the roofing, vent penetrations, skylights & roof flashings.
• Clean & inspect the gutters, downspouts, splash blocks, and extensions.
• Have a chimney sweep clean & inspect chimney after burning season ends.
• Inspect siding for deterioration and damage. Clean as necessary. Paint as necessary.
• Inspect caulking & re-caulk as necessary.
• Inspect the fascia, soffit, and window and door trim for deterioration.
• Inspect vents, chimneys & other sheltered areas for bird & insect nests.
• Clean window & door screens. Repair or replace damaged screens.
• Inspect and repair weather strip around doors, windows & garage doors.
• Inspect the foundation, crawlspace, and basement for cracks, moisture & insects.
• Clean debris away from home, electrical and HVAC equipment, & other structures.
• Trim trees & shrubs away from home.
• Inspect wood decks, steps & rails for loose or damaged boards & raised nails.
• Clean the deck and reseal or stain as required.
• Check and repair driveways and sidewalks for cracks, broken, or uneven sections.
• Check the attic for signs of leaks or moisture penetration, or animal or pest intrusion.

Heating & Cooling

• Service the air-conditioning system (heat pump) before the start of the cooling season.
• Clean the ceiling fan blades.

Appliances

• Inspect the water heater temperature pressure relief valve for signs of leaks or discharge.
• Drain water from the drain valve at the bottom of the water heater to remove sediment.
• Replace the smoke detector batteries. Vacuum around the smoke detector including the sensor.
• Replace the carbon monoxide detector batteries. Vacuum around the carbon monoxide detector including the sensor.

Plumbing

• Inspect the exterior hose bibs for leaks or damage.
• Startup automatic lawn sprinkler system, check for leaks and proper spray patterns and coverage.

Peace of Mind Home Inspections, serving Southeast North Carolina.

www.peaceofmindhomeinspection.com (910) 399-1547

What does customer service mean to you? What is your goal in delivering service to your client? I thought about it for a bit and wrote down my thoughts for my company.

Peace of Mind Home Inspections, LLC makes the following commitment to all it's clients.

I will conduct business in a professional, respectful, and courteous manner.

I will respect my client, the homeowner, and all other involved parties.

I will arrive on time for the inspection.

I will communicate clearly in oral discussions, written correspondence, and reports.

I will provide a Pre-Inspection Agreement so the scope of the inspection is understood by all parties.

I will encourage my client to be present during the inspection.

I will respect the inspected property, and ensure it is left in the same condition as prior to the inspection.

I will take the necessary time to complete a thorough high quality home inspection, there are no time limits.

I will complete an inspection which will comply with the Standard of Practice (SOP) as set by the North Carolina Home Inspector Licensure Board.

If I find something I do not fully understand, I will do the necessary research so I can provide a complete and accurate answer within the scope of the SOP.

I will utilize the resources available to me from InterNACHI, NCLHIA, and other sources to stay technically current.

I will use appropriate equipment which is in proper working condition to ensure accuracy and safety.

I will use photographs as appropriate to clearly document conditions and findings.

I will use HomeGauge software to prepare a thorough and complete report.

I will deliver your completed report the day following the inspection.

I will be available to answer any follow-up questions regarding the inspection and report.

I will deliver value.

I will strive to have you recommend my services.

Hot water, how hot is hot enough, and how hot is too hot? I found the information in the table below for exposure of adult skin to hot water.

Compliance with the 2009 International Plumbing Code requires the use of special valves or water temperature limiting devices for shower, tubs, and whirlpool baths to limit the temperature to maximum of 120 °F. There is no such requirement for sinks and lavatories. Appliances may require hotter temperatures to operate effectively. Setting the hot water temperature in your home maybe a compromise or may require applying a bit of engineering to the design of your home hot water system. I hope I have piqued your interest and you will research the topic a bit further.

First, make sure the inspection of your home includes measurement of the hot water temperature at several locations within your home. It is a matter of safety.

And second, a good place to start your research and the source for the information in the table above can be found at: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Safe_hot_water_temperature

Last Friday started like most other days until it was time to hit the shower. As usual with the slab on grade rental townhouse in which we are temporarily living, the shower was turned on to allow the hot water to run from the hot water heater in the garage to the shower. This usually takes at least a minute or two, but Friday the hot water never arrived at the shower. It turns out it was an easy fix, the water heater thermostats had failed and were replaced. There are several things to comment on here.

1) How much it can disrupt your routine when the hot water is not there when you expect it.

2) The poor design in this house which requires that the water be run for such a time to flow to the shower. With water a valuable and getting more expesive resource there are better solutions.

3) And most instructive to me, the signs that were present prior to the thermostat failure. Over the past week we had noticed that the hot water temperature was fluctuating. Sometimes not enough hot water to fill a tub and then at other times the water at the kitchen sink was way too hot. I had made a note to check it out this weekend. Friday when the thermostats failed, the problem was positively confirmed. The thermostat was struggling just prior to failure.

Pay attention to the normal operation of your systems around the house. If something changes in the way a system sounds, smells, vibrates, or it cannot hold the setpoint, take note, there is usually a good reason. Check it out and get the help of a professional home inspector or qualified contractor or specialist if it is beyond your comfort level.