Heating pipes do basically two things; they carry heated water to the radiators and lose heat. Since the idea is to distribute the heat in the rooms not along the way to them, heating pipes are often insulated to fix this problem.
Back many years ago the insulation of choice was asbestos. Asbestos is really a great insulator and has many other desirable characteristics that make it a great additive for many products. Unfortunately it also has one little flaw, it causes lung disease.
Consequently because asbestos is a known health hazard when it's found in a home it is remediated. This can either be by encapsulation or removal. Removal is by far a more involved and costly process.
When asbestos is professionally removed the area where the material is located is completely seal off. Large industrial HEPA filters are put in place to ventilate the area and capture the loose fibers. The workers and materials must enter and exit through an air lock and shower. Like I said it's an involved process.
Every bit of material is removed and when all work is complete air samples are taken and analyzed to be sure the area is clean.
There are a minority of individuals who will either through ignorance or stinginess remove asbestos from pipes themselves. They will dispose of the material usually in the trash which is illegal.
Subsequently when inspecting a home and I find white snowy residue on heating pipes it raises a big concern. This tells me that; 1) asbestos insulation was on the pipes at sometime in the past and 2) it was not professionally and safely removed. The area would be considered "dirty", meaning asbestos fibers are in all likelihood floating around in the area.
When seeing suspected asbestos residue there should be a concern that an environmental hazard may be present. In that situation staying out of the area and having it tested would be the best course of action.
James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC
To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:
| Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services. | Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®. |
Yesterday I wrote a post titled Are You Smarter Than a Home Inspector asking non home inspectors to identify the defects in an electric panel. No one actually took a guess. Chickens, LOL. Well today I will show you the answer.
You can see the same panel at the right but now it's labeled.
By the way my intent was not to embarrass anyone, but to show that we all have specialized jobs. Once in a whle you run into someone who thinks they can do what you do. They might say something like "that looks easy" or some other silly rationalization. I believe you get my point.
Back to this electric panel. This is a sub-panel, not a main panel. As such there should be 4 main wires entering the box one of which is a ground wire.
You can see where I labeled in the top left corner we do not have said ground wire. This is bad. The second error which because the ground wire is missing is sort of moot at this point is the ground screw. That screw should be on the opposite terminal.
I could go into more depth, but your eyes would glaze over or you'd be looking for a rope and a high rafter.
So, were you are you smarter than a home inspector? I guess that all depends on what category the question is from. I'm no good at quantum physics. :)
James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC
To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:
| Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services. | Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®. |
My apologies for the tile as I "borrowed" it from the show "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader". My oldest daughter loves the show and we all have fun watching it together. If you have never seen the show Google it and check it out.
The impetus for this post is a recent blog by Robert Snowden titled Is There Any Value In A Home Inspection? It was not so much the blog itself that gave me the inspiration but, a few of the responses that I found to be a little, let's say unrealistic.
Whether you're a home buyer, a real estate agent or even a tradesman you are no match for a good knowledgeable home inspector. It's a home inspector's job to systematically look through a home to detect problems. Sometimes the clues or the problems themselves are subtle and would likely not be apparent to someone who is not a home inspector.
To prove my point, I hope, take a look at the electric panel to the right. There is a problem here that I feel most folks would never recognize.
So can any one tell me what the issue is with this panel? No home inspectors please!
Are you smarter than a home inspector?
James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC
To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:
| Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services. | Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®. |
One fun aspect of real estate and home inspections is you meet all types of people. Sometimes that client may have an interesting occupation or past. I had such a client a few years ago and since he was a client I respected his privacy. Well now the cats out of the proverbial bag and so I thought I would share my story about inspecting the Animals house.
I'm sure a good number of people have heard of the song, House of the Rising Sun. It's an old traditional song done by artists such as Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan. Undoubtedly the most well know version was performed by the British rock group the Animals. Their version was released in 1964 and was a # 1 hit for the band.
The guitar player for the Animals was a fellow by the name of Hilton Valentine. It's his distinctive guitar playing you hear at the beginning and through out the song. The Animals broke up in 1967 and went their separate ways. Some members having more success than other, but none have matched the hits of the Animals.
Well even an Animal needs a place to hang his hat and Hilton Valentine puts his up in Wallingford, Connecticut which is where I also reside. I had the good fortune of performing his home inspection back in 2005.
The real estate agent let me know who he was, but it was to be hush, hush. Quite honesty his wife Germaine took charge at the inspection. She was a very thorough client and involved in the entire inspection asking many good questions. I enjoyed working for her. Hilton was very laid back and quiet, he hardly said a word.
The local paper here, The Record Journal, this past Sunday ran a front page article, The Sun Rises in Wallingford, on our famous resident. That article was the impetus for this blog.
I have to admit to this day this is my coolest client. I am a guitar player myself having done the garage band thing as a teenager. I still play occasionally with friends and enjoy it very much. Of course our dream as that garage band was to be big rock stars. I remember us playing House of The Rising Sun.
As with most young musicians and their dreams adulthood comes along and spoils the party. Don't misunderstand me I'm not complaining. There are a very lucky few who get to live the dream and even then it is often for a short time.
But what an intense and memorable ride it must be.
James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC
To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:
| Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services. | Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®. |
Yesterday morning while searching the internet for video for a blog I was writing my computer got infected. The virus and spyware protection alerts went off warning me of the malicious threat. The scanning and removals were begun to no avail. This "Trojan" was in my hard drive and dug in like a tick on dog.
Next I tried the Windows reset utility. I would take the hard drive back to where it was before this little bugger implanted itself in my computer. I opened the utility and discover there were no recovery points. Apparently the Trojan general had sent a squad to wipe out this defense and did so very successfully.
I was beginning to see that I was dealing with seasoned and well trained mercenaries. This would be a long and difficult fight, but I had one more ace in the hole.
I had learned a hard lesson quite a few years ago with regard to backing up my hard drive. My computer had a melt down and I almost lost all my data. I brought the machine to a computer shop and they fixed the problem and retrieved the data. I was extremely relieved. What was apparent from this experience is the great amount of time it took to restore my machine. I was without my computer for a week. This is not good when running a business.
What I learned from the shop was that I could back up my entire computer very easily every day. I purchase a second external hard drive and a program called Norton Ghost.
Ghost makes an exact copy of the way your computer was at a point you choose. It can be every day or every other day or the entire week. I copy my hard drive every day.
Getting back to the battle of the hard drive. I opened the Ghost program and found that it too had been compromised by this rogue program. I had one last and not so desirable defense. I would have to completely erase the hard drive. I would then use my Ghost to restore the drive. Which is exactly what I did. This battle ate up most of my free time yesterday, but I am happy to say my computer is as it was.
This infection could have cost me a lot more time and money if it had not been for my ghost. If you do not have a back up system on your computer you should! A friendly ghost is a lot nicer than a nasty infection and in the long run a whole lot cheaper.
James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC
To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:
| Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services. | Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®. |
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Customer service focused, Connecticut licensed, ASHI certified home inspection company. We specialize in residential & small commercial building inspections, energy audits & infrared thermal imaging.
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC is a full service, CT licensed, ASHI certified home inspection company based in Wallingford, Connecticut. Our inspectors perform home inspections in Fairfield, Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven, Southern Litchfield and Western New London Connecticut Counties. All home inspections and reports provided by JRV Home Inspection Services meet the Connecticut Home Inspection Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics mandated by Connecticut State Regulation and overseen through the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.
JRV Home Inspection Services does not claim to adhere to other Standards of Practice put forth by every home inspection organization in existence today. Nor do we assert to follow a multiple list of Standards as other inspection companies' may proclaim. That would obviously be in direct conflict with the Connecticut Standards. In Connecticut there is only one Home Inspection Standard, any others are inconsequential.
Why use JRV Home Inspection Services? We will let our customers explain.
In our opinion our greatest asset is a satisfied customer. Because of our strong, continuing commitment to our customers, we reward them for their referrals.
Inspectors Profile
James Quarello, the founder of JRV Home Inspection Services, brings to the company an over 20 year background in industrial equipment installation engineering and home remodeling. Mr. Quarello is a graduate of The Home Inspection Institute of Americas' intensive Connecticut certified HI-100 Home Inspector training program. He is also a graduate of Inspection Training Associates (ITA) New Construction inspection program and has passed the National Home Inspectors Exam (NHIE). 
Jim is a certified member of The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) and is active in the local Southern New England Chapter (SNEC-ASHI) where he currently serves as chapter President. He has also served in the dual capacity of Director and Education Committee Chairman. Jim holds Connecticut Home Inspector license # HOI 394.
Jims' qualifications include:
Articles Mr. James Quarello has written or been featured as a source. Mr. Quarello was highlighted in a local newspaper article titled, High-Tech Home Inspection, on using an infrared thermal imaging camera during home inspections and energy audits. Jim's article, Home Inspection 101, on choosing a qualified home inspector was published in the American Society for Quality Inspection Division newsletter. His article New Construction Progress Inspections was published on Ezine Articles earning expert author status and also in the September/October issue of the American Society for Quality newsletter. This article; Keep Your House Clean or Else, Jim was the primary source of information for this piece on Quinnipiac University student housing.
JRV Home Inspection Services conducts a thorough, 3 hours or more, home inspection consisting of a roof to basement evaluation of the readily accessible areas of the interior and exterior of the home and its mechanical systems. We spend all the time necessary to be sure you understand and are aware of the actual condition of the home prior to your purchase.
We are an experienced, professional, CT licensed, ASHI certified home inspection company serving Fairfield, Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven, Southern Litchfield and Western New London CT counties.
We present the finished inspection report immediately upon completion of the home inspection! Included with every home inspection is a Termite / Wood Destroying Insect inspection and separate report, and a 62 page home maintenance guide.
We will also include with your report additional information on radon, radon mitigation systems, well flow, lead paint, or septic systems if relative to your particular home. We also offer a wide choice of additional inspection services that many home buyers today require.
JRV provides these additional home inspection and environmental services
Termite/Wood Destroying Insect Inspection We include a CT certified termite inspection with every home inspection.
Radon Testing We conduct EPA & State approved continuous monitor radon testing in air. We can also sample your well water for radon. Our inspectors are CT DPH trained radon testing provides.
Water Quality Testing We are able to perform a wide variety of water quality sampling for certified laboratory testing.
Mold Sampling We strongly suggest reading the information contained on our mold page before deciding to have any mold sampling and testing performed.
Infrared (IR) Thermal Imaging or Thermography: We are currently among a very small minority of home inspection companies in Connecticut that can provide this state of the art inspection technology.
New Construction Consultation & Progress Inspection Service If you are building a new home or having an addition or large renovation done on your existing home, we can provide comprehensive project oversight.
Energy Audits-Home Tune uP: We can provide an energy efficeincy assessment of the home utilizing state of the art energy efficiency software to provide a detailed, itemized list of all available cost saving upgrades.
Septic Systems We strongly encourage hiring a professional, certified septic installer to inspect the tank and system thoroughly before closing. It is also advisable to obtain all records from the current owners to determine if problems may exist.
Lead Paint We do not perform lead paint inspections. We recommend hiring a State certified lead inspector from the current list of certified lead contractors or contact the Connecticut Department of Public Health Lead Program. Any individual or company performing lead testing not on the State list is operating illegally and putting you and your family's health at risk!
Because servicing our customers many needs is important to us we gladly accept most major credit cards.
JRV Home Inspection Services proudly offers our client testimonials as proof of our skill and dedication to providing the best, most comprehensive Connecticut home inspection available. We are more than happy to provide contact information for our past clients if you would like to speak with them directly about our home inspection services. Comments from our clients about JRV Home Inspection Services home and condo inspections... The inspection conducted by JRV more than met our expectations. An extremely thorough and professional job. The inspector, Jim Quarello, proved to be quite knowledgeable about the various systems in the home; and he gave us a comprehensive education of all facets of the home and the inspection process. For us, the purpose of the home inspection is to be sure that the home you are considering purchasing is a worthwhile investment. Jim's thorough work left us with a great sense of comfort. After watching Jim conduct the investigation and explain the results, we knew that, if anything in the house were not up to speed, he would've uncovered it. We enthusiastically recommend Jim's services. Bruce & Eileen Seeliger I would like to highly recommend JRV Home Inspections for your next purchase. I am an active real estate investor and recently had the privilege of working with Jim and his team. He inspected a seven unit building for me. I was most impressed with his systematic approach to the building as well as his tedious attention to detail. Although most of the units in the building were identical, he approached each one as if for the first time taking nothing for granted. He was extremely knowledgeable and did an excellent job of explaining any concerns or defects that had arisen. I enjoyed his professionalism and thought that his follow up in the days and weeks after the inspection were refreshing. I will be utilizing his services on all of my future purchases and will recommend his company to anyone I know purchasing a property. Tony D'Agostino I hired James Quarello to inspect a home I was looking to buy after friends of mine referred him to me. My friends recommended Mr. Quarello after he had inspected a home for them and they said he was very detailed and professional. They were dead on. Mr. Quarello showed up early, before my realtor and I arrived, was very thorough in his inspection of the house I was looking to buy, was patient, answered all my questions, knowledgeable on every aspect of home structure, repair, maintenance, and inspections. Overall I was impressed and relieved to have hired Mr. Quarello to inspect the home. I would definitely use him in the future and recommend him to anyone who is looking to have a home inspected in the future as well! Brian B. Dear Mr. Quarello, My wife and I would like to say thank you again for the detailed inspection you conducted at our future home. When buying a new home, the consumer is always worried that the inspector will run through the home overlooking the items that will later cost a fortune to repair. I myself being a carpenter am aware of a lot of the little things that should be carefully inspected. You took around four hours (and god knows most inspectors after 2 or 3 hours just want to pack it up!) and still were willing to stick around to make sure we were fully aware of the things we needed to know!! In a world where customer service is pretty much shot, its GREAT to see someone take such pride in the work they provide for the consumer, and explain everything we were not so sure about in such great detail to us was more than we were expecting. Thanks to you we now know our investment inside and out!, and that's priceless! Sincerely, Christopher S. Metzger Jim, We would like to thank you for your knowledge and professionalism during our home inspection. We found your performance impeccable and commendable, and this from two prior homeowners who never experienced such a systematic and thorough attention to detail. We walked away confident in our selection of inspectors and secure in knowing we were given full disclosure of inspection findings written and verbally as well as additional reading material for new homeowners. Later that day we found ourselves already speaking highly of your company and we plan on continuing to do just that at any opportunity which presents itself. Thanks again for making the process of buying a home that much easier for us. We will be recommending you to our family, friends and acquaintances. Sincerely, Jim & Tina I was very pleased with the excellent home inspection I received from JRV Home Inspection. They spent hours inspecting my home, individually met with me and answered every question I had, and enabled me to purchase an older home that was safe for my four year old even though I know nothing about building. Thank you so much for conducting our home inspection on our very first home. We were very pleased that you were able to accommodate our scheduling needs. We were even more pleased when you conducted our home inspection with such expertise. Thank you so much for your attention to detail & your ability to convey your findings with us. Since your visit we have been able resolve your finding with our seller, we feel confident that by recommending you to our friends & family they too will be pleased!. We look forward to our closing that is scheduled later this week! Kind regards and happy holidays, Lionel Bonilla, Tamara Laskey & Kids Dear Jim, We would like to thank you for your excellant inspection of our new home,our closing is one week from today. Buying a home is a very stressful process,but you helped to make things alot easier for us. We were pleased with the completely thorough inspection. You pointed out things we did not know about and made suggestions of repairs to be made, you eased our minds. Thank you for your help, we would highly recommend you to anyone purchasing a home. Warmest wishes!! Tim, Maria and Jaimi-Lynn Anderson
Fairfield, CT
Innovative Home Solutions
Hamden CT
Hamden, CT
Wallingford, CT
Wallingford, CT
Dr. John Pagano
Meriden, CT
Wallingford, CT
East Haven, CT
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