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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January 13, 2020
Dishwasher High Loop
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…
January 9, 2020
The toilet paper you use is important
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,…
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December 1, 2019
Controlling Your Water Temperature
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…
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September 29, 2019
“And is the sewer line okay?”
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…
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September 19, 2019
Relief valve discharge
"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…
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August 14, 2019
Reversed polarity
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…
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July 17, 2019
Whole house surge protectors to the rescue!
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…
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July 3, 2019
What is a dirt tee and why should I care?
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…
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June 19, 2019
How safe is your sump pump basket cover?
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…
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June 10, 2019