The premier source for home inspector news and information. Whether you're a homebuyer or a licensed home inspector, you'll find valuable insight on the world of home inspection training and competency on this blog.
Many people mistakenly think that insulation is only for homes in cold climates; and while this was true as recently as thirty years ago, everything has now changed. These days you're as likely to find insulation in Miami as you are in Maine, and the reason is the same in both cases - energy efficiency. And if you want to become a home inspector, this is an important development to keep in mind.
So for home inspectors in warm climates, one of the first tasks in the home inspection process is to learn if the house has insulation, which is becoming more important as larger numbers of Americans rely on air conditioning to cool their homes. Proper insulation in a warm-weather home will help reduce a home owner's energy bill. When looking at your new home inspection checklist, this question won't be as pressing because all new homes, wherever they are built, will have insulation.
There are three spots where one will find insulation: attics, walls and floors. To check out the attic, locate the crawl space opening in the ceiling and take a look and see what's between the rafters. Generally it shouldn't be necessary to climb up into the attic, but if you must, then be sure to wear a face mask.
Determining whether there is insulation in the walls is a bit trickier. Overall a good strategy is to take off one of the plates covering an electrical circuit box (make sure you first go to the circuit breaker box and cut the electricity). There's usually a little gap between the wallboard and the circuit box where you can slip in a screwdriver and learn if there is any insulation present; a flashlight may even spotlight the furry pink stuff as well. If you have no luck, try another electrical circuit box in the room, if that too turns up empty, you probably have your answer.
Finally, home inspectors must check to see if the floors are insulated. This is much easier than checking the walls, for all one needs to do is get into a crawlspace to see if there are insulation bats in between the floors joists. If the house has a basement, it's as easy as taking a stroll down the cellar steps and looking up at the floor from below. Starting a home inspection business means you'll cover the house from top to bottom.
Just as a home inspector must be insulated against the vagaries of weather, prospective home inspectors must protect their future careers by enrolling in an accredited, home inspection program. Online home inspection courses come in all shapes and sizes, so it is important that a distance education home inspection school be an accredited member of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). Allied Schools
Labels: allied home inspection scool, home inspection, home inspection course, home inspection process, home inspector
Laguna Hills, Calif. - Sept. 10, 2007 - American homebuyers are becoming more and more sophisticated each year. They pay close attention to mortgage rates, hire certified home inspectors and are educated about mold, termites, asbestos and other home hazards. Yet all this sophistication hasn't included awareness of radon gas and the real threats it poses to people.
For many, radon gas might sound like something from Star Wars, but it is actually quite common. Radon gas is a radioactive byproduct of decaying uranium, which is naturally found in the soil around us. If this gas collects in an unventilated space, such as a room in your house, a serious health hazard is present. Professional home inspection schools train inspectors to understand this threat.
"Homebuyers need to be aware of radon gas," said George Achenbach, president of Allied Home Inspection School, which offers house inspection training. "Do you test for radon gas? should be one of the first things people ask before hiring a licensed home inspector. If not, the certified home inspector should be able to call in someone who has the right expertise." More and more these days, real estate inspection courses are teaching students about radon.
Radon gas is colorless and odorless and enters the house through ground level holes. New homes, because of their energy efficient construction, are also more at-risk of bottling up radon gas because they have little natural ventilation.
"The home inspection industry's intention isn't to scare homeowners and homebuyers about radon," Achenbach said. "It's simply to make them aware of its presence, and to understand that licensed home inspectors are a real resource." In response, home inspection schools are taking steps to educate their students about radon.
To learn more about Allied Home Inspection School, please visit www.homeinspectioncourse.com or call (888) 925-2108 to speak with an admissions representative.
Labels: allied home inspection scool, home inspector school, Press Release, real estate inspection
