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…
A quick peek under your kitchen sink and a 15-minute fix can help avoid costly repairs. At nearly every inspection, I find a problem relating to the dishwasher installation. Even…
https://www.familyhandyman.com/The folks at Handyman magazine actually spent time analyzing toilet paper to see which brands break down fastest in water. This is important because plugged toilets are important. You do,…
An inexpensive valve and 20 minutes of labor can prevent scalding. Which is worse, scalded skin or Legionnaire’s disease? Until 2006, many homeowners had to ask themselves that question. It…
If the house that you are buying is new or old, it is likely that a sewer scan will provide valuable information. I have encountered issues with houses that were…
"Relief valve discharge." Just try to work that phrase into everyday conversation. It's not easy! As a home inspector in the Stillwater, MN area, I often come across a small…
Why home inspectors check every. single. outlet. At a home inspection in Hastings, I found one outlet that had reversed polarity. It's not unusual to one or two in a…
Do you have an old house and a new TV? Consider a simple upgrade to protect expensive electrical components. I was at a home inspection in Red Wing. Many of…
It is a sediment trap, and actually, you shouldn't. A long time ago, The natural gas that came to the house had a fair amount of sediment and moisture. At…
A sump pump can keep water in your basement from thousands of dollars in damages. But there are some things to consider. In a perfect world, melting snow and rain…