Tim Kolb

ATS Home Inspections is here to serve you in making sure your home stays one of your most valuable assets. The best way we know to help you with that is to pass along some simple maintenance tips that most people don’t know that could save you thousands of dollars whether you are in Glendale AZ, Phoenix or any other city in Maricopa county.


Door Problems

Functional problems with doors include damage to the door material (rotted wood, buckled metal, etc.). Door hinges which are damaged or poorly secured make doors difficult to open and close and, if not corrected, will lead to damage of the door and frame. Latching mechanisms which do not work properly impair security. If the door is not properly weather-stripped, unnecessary cooling loss is experienced. Frames which are damaged or out of square result in heat loss, and doors which may be hard to open and close. Door thresholds which are loose or damaged are unsafe and should be repaired or replaced as necessary.

Sliding glass doors often suffer hardware damage or the track becomes dirty and the doors will not operate easily. On older metal sash sliding doors, the damage to the building interior at floor level can be significant, as a result of condensation and ice build up in areas such as Northern Arizona. The preferred solution is, of course to replace the sliding door system. Typically on these older systems, the hardware is not in good shape in any case.

Damage to the frame is common on sliding doors. This is often caused by excessive force used in opening and closing the door, often necessitated by damaged or poorly adjusted hardware, or a dirty track. Where the guides or rollers have been mechanically damaged, the door will not ride freely.
Ideally, all doors should have at least a six inch step up from the outdoors to the door sill. This is often omitted on sliding doors leading onto a deck, for example. Where this step is not present, rain accumulation on the exterior can leak through the bottom of the door system readily. Where no six inch step-up is noted, good inspection practices and regular maintenance.

The loss of a seal between double glazed panes on a sliding door is common. This results in a clouding of the glass which may be permanent. Because of the large panes of glass usually involved, this is a relatively expensive problem. Replacement is not a high priority as only a very small loss in energy efficiency is suffered. Replacement is usually undertaken because of the unsightly appearance of the clouded glass. Some door sashes are arranged so that they can be dismantled. Others are manufactured in such a way that this cannot be done. Replacement is, of course, more expensive in the latter case.

Here are some quick tips to reduce your energy cost during the extreme summer desert heat here in Phoenix,Glendale, and surrounding cities in Maricopa county.

Exterior Solar Screens are exterior mounted window screens that shade your window and glass area. Because your window glass conducts heat similar to a magnifying glass. These solar shades block the sun rays before it contacts the glass surface.

Window UV film reduces glare, provides daytime privacy and lowers indoor temperatures without air conditioning.

Shutters, blinds curtains, are available in so many fabrics and styles, curtains and blinds can really add personality to your home while increasing Energy Efficiency.

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$50 Dollars off on any regular priced ATS Home Inspection

ATS Home Inspections enjoys making sure that your home stays one of your most valuable assets, regardless if you are in Glendale AZ, or Phoenix, we service all areas in Maricopa County AZ. The best way we know to help you with that is to pass along some simple maintenance tips that most people don’t know that could save you thousands of dollars.

Foundation Cracks

Most houses have cracks of some kind, however a hairline fracture in the slab is normally of no structural significance, however cracking in the foundation wall is more important.

While a stair-step crack is less important than a vertical crack either one with an opening of 1/8” to 1/4” may be cause fro concern, of course smaller cracks may also be a concern depending on the circumstances.

The key to load bearing wall cracks is to insure that there is no further movement. To do this you should fill in the crack and then over a period of 6 to 12 months check for reappearances or separation between the filling and the wall.

If there’s additional movement then it would be advised that you call a specialist it may be anything from a simple matter of regarding the property or something as expensive as underpinning the foundation.

Remember, cracks frequently appear around windows and door frames which are places of inherit weakness.

Please feel free to forward this maintenance tip to your friends or family members so they too can maintain their real estate investment.

ATS Home Inspections enjoys trying to make sure that your home stays one of your most valuable assets. The best way we know to help you with that is to pass along some simple maintenance tips that most people don’t know that could save you thousands of dollars, whether you located in Glendale, Az. or any other part of the USA.


Forced A/C systems should have
filters. These are most commonly
located in the heating plenum, but
sometimes behind the return
registry. Most common filters are
Made of disposable fiberglass.
Permanent Metal filters can be
installed and are easy to clean.
whichever you chose to use, most
have need to be checked monthly.

Filters are designed to protect the blower motor from dirt.

When buying filters for this task, the glass fiber filter will do the job. But if you want to reduce airborne dust in your home, you could start with the best of the inexpensive 1-in. disposable filters—the standard pleated filter.

A simple technic see if it’s too dirty, remove the filter and hold it up to the light. If you can no longer clearly see light, change the filter.


Lastly, whatever filter you use, make sure you reinstall it correctly, with the arrow on the filter edge pointing toward the blower motor. Putting it in backward decreases the filter’s efficiency.

Please feel free to forward this maintenance tip to your friends or family members so they too can maintain their real estate investment.

Call Today to Schedule Your ATS Home Inspection

623-266-8846