As home inspectors, part of our job is to check through out the house especially kitchens, crawlspaces, bathrooms, and attics, for ventilation. Once ventilation is found, the next step is to determine if it is proper ventilation.
Proper ventilation is essential in controlling moisture which could lead to harmful mold growth. It also helps in expelling odors through out the house. Ventilation is also helpful for some of the systems and components in the house as well, such as boilers and furnaces, allowing them to breathe thus functioning as intended with out shortening their life expectancy.
Often times during a home inspection I find venting like the one you see in the picture above. This is a bathroom vent terminating in the attic space above it. The problem is, it should be venting to the exterior of the house, not another part of the house. Attics already have heat and moisture build up to deal with on a regular with out adding to it. This situation is a simple fix, but if left the way it is, over time it could cause mold growth and/or damage the wooden members.
Closer Look Property Inspections Inc.
Structure of the Roof
Some roofing systems have what is called collar ties installed on the roof rafters. Collar ties are important in the construction of the roofing system because they prevent the roof rafters from sagging inward. Rafters can sagg inward from the weight of the roof covering, especially with more the one layer of roof covering. The rafters can also sag from the weight of snow and ice. Needless to say sagging rafters is a major structural issue in a roofing system.
Collar ties are typically wood members, usually two by fours or two by sixes. They are installed horizontally half way up in attic spaces. The collar ties are connected to either end of opposing rafters and act as stiffeners to prevent the rafters from sagging in the middle. The picture above shows a collar tie installed in the attic at a recent home inspection.
The problem with the roof system above is there are not enough collar ties installed. There should be one collar tie for each pair of opposing rafters. That will give each rafter the support it needs to prevent inward sagging. Home inspectors also look for the location of the collar ties. Often we find they are installed too high up or to low down on the rafters. They should be nailed near the mid-point of the rafter span.
Collar ties are only effective on some roof slopes. Your home inspector will measure the slope of your roof to determine if collar ties are needed. Collar ties are simple to install, and very important for many roofing systems.
Closer Look Property Inspections Inc.
For more on the value of a home inspection visit: www.closerlookpi.com
The tape manufacturing business must be very good. People use tape for just about everything, especially duct and masking tape. Very often when I do home inspections, I find the do it yours-elvers use duct and masking tape in a variety of applications. While duct and masking tape are very good products, they do have their limits. Now I really encourage and applaud home owners that are willing to take on projects in their homes themselves. It's a great feeling when you make a repair, or improvement on something, and you can proudly say ' I did that.' The main thing is when doing any job in and around the house, even simple ones, make sure they are done correctly.
Take for example the vent connections for your Boiler or furnace. For any number of reasons they have to be re-secured so it can properly remove fumes from the heating appliance into the chimney and out the house. Often times I find sections of the exhaust flue held in place with masking tape. It may sound and look like a good idea, but its not. Flue sections are held in place with screws, or at the very least with metal tape which will stand up to the high temperature from exiting gases. Masking and duct tape, no matter how many layers, cannot stand up to the heat, and over a short period of time will fail which could cause toxic gases to escape back into your living space.
Closer Look Property Inspections
For more on home inspections visit: www.closerlookpi.com
www.abrooklynhomeinspector.com
Most people today are using the services of a licensed home inspector to assist them in making an informed decision on the purchase of a house. One of the areas of great importance is an exterior electrical inspection. All homes with overhead entry cables are inspected for its installation as well as its safety. There are many areas to cover and many good reasons to have your Uniondale, NY Electrical Inspection. Here are a few areas that are examined.
Whats Inspected
Overhead Cables ( Service Drop ): Home inspectors will examine the condition of the overhead wires or service drop. If they are frayed or damaged in any way, the utility company must be notified. Also the clearance must be 18 feet above ground from the roadway, and at least a 3 foot clearance from windows,
doors, porches, balconies, ladders,
stairs, fire escapes, or similar locations. If less than 3 feet someone including children can reach out and electrocute themselves. There are addition clearances that a home inspection will examine for safety such as swimming pools, roofs, walkways, driveways, and fences.
Conduit or Cables: The conduit or cable running down the outside of the house from the overhead service is inspected to ensure it is well secured to the house with clamps in place every 4 or 5 feet. A Drip Loop must be made from the Service Cables must be formed to prevent water from entering the service conduit and running into the electric meter. If the cables running to the meter are frayed and exposed, they can make contact with each other and cause a blowout or electrical fire.
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Electric Meter: As a home inspector, I check the condition of the electric meter to make sure it is operational and firmly secured to the exterior wall. Meters should also be locked and tagged so that no one can tap into the homes electric service.
If tags are missing and the meter is not locked, the utility company should be notified.
Tag and lock missing
Out Side Receptacles: All exterior receptacales should be Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) and properly connected. These are safety devices that will shut down quickly if water should enter the receptacles and prevent an electric shock when in use. They should also be protected from wet conditions such as rain and snow. When your electrical system is in good condition, it will operate smoothly and provide years of safe service.
For more on the value of a home inspection, or the services of Closer Look Property Inspections Inc. Please visit: www.closerlookpi.com, or call 516-455-6742
The Electrical System is another important part of a residential home inspections for Brooklyn, NY home buyers. One of the first areas that is inspected is the incoming service. Above ground cables that come from the utility pole connecting to the service entrance conductors of the house is called a Service Drop.According to the National Electrical Code (NEC) these above ground cables must have a minimum clearance of three feet from windows that open, doors, porches, balconies, ladders, stairs, fire escapes, or similar locations.
During a Brooklyn, NY home inspection, the inspector will check that the service entrance cable is the proper height above the ground and that it has the required minimum clearances. For example, on sidewalks the minimum height of the cables is 10 feet, driveways 12 feet, fences is 10 feet, and 18 feet above the street. There are other height and clearances that will be inspected as well. In addition to this the condition of the outside cables that runs to the meter will be checked for deterioration. If the cables are frayed the exposed wires can come in contact with each other causing a blowout or electrical fire.
The service entrance cables should also be firmly attached to the structure starting at the roof and running down the side of the structure to the meter box. The cables are then fastened to the building with cable clamps placed approximately four feet apart. The condition of the meter is also inspected. A home inspection will make sure it is operational and firmly secured to the exterior wall. It is common in this area for the stealing of electricity so it will be checked for taps around the meter. The meter should be locked and tagged by the utility company.
There are many more features of an exterior electrical system that your home inspector will examine and report on. After examining the electrical system, an upgrade may be recommended. In today's modern homes 200 amp service are installed to meet the demands of computers and other electronic devices. Although an upgrade is not a safety issue, it may be recommended if it's determined to be less than 100 amps. This will allow all of your plug-in devices to operate and perform to its maximum.
As a home inspector I make sure the electrical system is operating safely.
For more information on the value of a home inspection go to: www.abrooklynhomeinspector.com
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Licensed New York State Home Inspector Lic#16000004785 Perform home inspections Termite Inspections Mold Inspections Service the 5 boroughs Long Island & Westchester 100 Day Warranty
I am a certified home inspector with more than 18 years experience in home renovation and building construction fields. I've had extensive training with ASHI (The American Society of Home Inspectors)and InterNACHI (International Association Of Certified Home Inspectors). I'm familiar with all areas of home construction such as installing windows, interior and exterior doors, wood floors, drywall, tile, masonry, roofing, and siding, as well as every major system in the home including plumbing. Additionally, I have an extensive background in electrical installation. So I am a good detective in spotting potential problems in these areas.
Let's Take A Closer Look
The last thing you want is to move into a house unaware of potential problems. Problems that could be costly to repair or, worse, beyond repair. A peace of mind is priceless when making a big purchase.
I go beyond the basic inspection to provide a level of detail that gives property owners and buyers information not often provided or otherwise overlooked. I realize that every property is different and treat it accordingly. I believe in building my business one client relationship at a time, with concentrated focus on your situation and on your needs.
I service all of New York State, including Nassau and Suffolk counties and the 5 Boroughs- Brooklyn,Queens, Bronx Manhattan, and Staten Island. Typically, I can perform an inspection within 48 hours of being contacted. In an emergency or time crunch, I can do the job within 24 hours of notification at no extra charge. Your inspection will be carried out in compliance with all ASHI standards of practice.
At Closer Look Property Inspections, I perform a thorough and complete inspection of all the systems , and components of the home, and property. I spent as much time as needed to make sure everything inside and outside is covered from top to bottom. A good inspector will point out both the obvious and the not so obvious condition of the house, that's what you get at Closer Look Property Inspections.
Also good effective communication is a key to any real estate transaction. I will communicate to you the condition of the structure and property with terms that you will understand so that as a seller you will know exactly what repairs, if any are needed to sell your property quickly and for top dollar. As a buyer , the condition of the home is very important. I will communicate its condition so that if there are problems found , you can negotiate a better price , request the seller make the repairs , or if its repairs you can make yourself. If there are no major problems found , then you will have a peace of mind knowing that your new home is in good condition.
Closer Look Property Inspections is happy to serve you.
Thanks for checking on us. We closed on the house on September 8th. We will definitely take your advise. Since purchasing the house, we're changing the windows and putting up new siding. We are currently replacing the electrical wires. Your report assisted in getting these things done. Thanks for all your help. - Raquel
After reading horror stories about the home inspection process, I can't tell you how nervous this made me. However, I have to say Eric M. provided a great home inspection experience. Eric was courteous, professional, and very pleasant to work with. He took the time to explain matters to me and answer my questions. He conducted a very thorough inspection of my home, both inside and outside. He provided suggestions on what I could do to maintain my home in good condition. I could not have asked for a better inspector. I would highly recommend him to anyone. - Sheryse Wilson in Brooklyn, N.Y.
I was very happy to have Eric as my home inspector. As a first time home buyer, you don't know what to expect. But, Eric put me at ease and took time to answer my questions. He provided a thorough inspection of my new home and left nothing unturned. He was very professional and communicated well. Without hesitation, I would recommend him to others. - Terrell Reid, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Hey Eric,
I just wanted to say thanks again for the time you took to inspect the house. Everyone from my wife and I, the realtor and my in-laws were very impressed with the professional and thorough inspection you did. I have already given your card to one person. Hopefully they will call you. Thanks for the links to the stop squeak fasteners! Those will come in handy! Good luck with the business and I hope you stay busy!! - Jason + Janna Frost
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