Backdrafting Water Heater Vent

Most of the issues I find at a home inspection are both important and easy to fix. Old smoke alarms are a good example, because replacing them is not hard.…

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Controlling Indoor Moisture

The problems associated with air that is too dry are very few, especially compared to air that is too moist. There are more than 100,000 kinds of mold in the…

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Should I cover my AC unit?

Nope. Not to say that I haven't. It bothered me to see it covered with snow and ice, with nothing to protect it from the elements. By the way, you…

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Exposed Foam Is A Fire Hazard

Foam panels are great at insulating walls, but a half-done job is MUCH worse than one not done at all! Foam insulation on basement walls are flammable. Have any exposed…

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Duplex breakers to the rescue?

Nope Here's a scenario; The bathroom floor is cold, and needs remodeling anyway. This would be a perfect time to install a new tile floor with heat cables. The procedure…

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Anti-tip device

How an inexpensive device and 15 minutes of work can save the Thanksgiving turkey At every home inspection, I check for the presence of an anti-tip device on the kitchen…

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Finding the right-sized water heater for your bathtub

A simple formula for matching your bathtub needs with your water heater capacity. Don't bother taking a bath after my daughter takes a shower. She starts singing Adele songs and…

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Corrugated Drain – an oxymoron?

See how I did that? How could it be called a drain if it doesn't drain? Get it? I'm not sure why home centers and hardware stores are allowed to…

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Buried fuel oil tanks

There are still a few oil burning furnaces. Most of the houses I inspect are heated with natural gas. (I'm seeing more and more geothermal heating systems, but those are…

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