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.
Most Americans would admit that buying a house is one of life's most stressful experiences. Surprisingly, however, some home buyers skip the real estate home inspection and take their chances.
Here are the top 10 reasons to get a home inspection before you sign your name on the dotted line:
1) Your biggest investment: Americans aren't big savers. Instead of piggy banks, Americans own homes. If you buy a lemon of a house, you may watch your biggest investment go belly up.
2) Radon: Radon is a gas that rises from the ground and sometimes seeps into houses, causing health problems. Licensed home inspectors perform advanced radon testing.
3) Mold: Is there a water leak in the basement, bathroom or kitchen? The right combination of moisture, warmth and wood can produce mold in as little as 48 hours. Allergies and respiratory issues may follow.
4) Termites: Need we say more?
5) Septic system: If you buy a house with a faulty septic system, it can cost upwards of $20,000 to replace. A certified home inspector can identify the tell-tale signs of poor performance.
6) Lead paint: Lead paint is found in some homes built before 1978. If the paint job is in good shape -- no flaking or peeling -- you're generally in good shape. But if children nibble the paint job or eat paint chips, the health cost could be high. Someone with a home inspector license can tell you what you're dealing with.
7) Fireplaces: A black film called creosote often builds up inside the fireplace after many years. If it's too thick, then you've got a potential fire hazard on your hands.
8) Roof: Nobody thinks about the roof until it fails. Don't spend a fortune on a house and then fork over thousands more when you discover the roof is no good.
9) The objectivity factor: Many home buyers get emotional when looking at a house. Certified home inspectors, fortunately, aren't distracted by pretty drapes -- they're looking for problems. Can you do that?
10) The professional factor: If you're a legal secretary, for example, you know a home inspector can't sit down and do your job. It's the same with certified home inspectors; there is a reason, after all, why they are trained and licensed as professionals.
Labels: home buyer, home inspection, licensed home inspector
Unless you establish your home inspection career in the Brazilian rain forest, odds are you'll inspect a variety of heating systems over your career. This week we'll take a look at forced air heating systems, which by far are one of the most popular forms of central heating in America.
Forced hot air is a loop system, where cool air is drawn down to the basement through a system of ductwork. There, it is taken into a furnace (operating on fuels like oil, electricity, or gas) and then heated over hot coils. This heated air is then recirculated through the house, until the desired air temperature is established in each room. Don't worry if this is all new: becoming a home inspector means that you'll study about forced hot air in your home inspection training course.
A certified home inspector's first task is to identify the furnace fuel. A few possibilities were mentioned above, although wood and coal are also common. After that, it's important to begin with the basics: turn the thermostat down and see if the furnace clicks on. Once it's on, check the furnace's flame (blue is ideal, beware of yellow) and then listen carefully for the hum of a smooth fan sound. A comprehensive home inspection job will also include a review of ducts, to make sure they are properly attached.
Other important areas to inspect are:
- exterior of the furnace cabinet (look for rust spots)
- filter
- vent pipe
- damper doors
- age of the unit
- limit controls
As with inspecting any other part of the house, a certified home inspector shouldn't abandon common sense as he goes through his checklist. When it comes to dealing with fuels, your sense of smell will often identify potential hazards. If you smell gas, for example, you may have to deviate from your normal inspection routine, and investigate the issue further. As with any type of heating system, you're dealing with a complex set of operations, so there is no substitute for hitting the books and getting to know the details; this is when you fall back on instruction from your home inspection course.
The best way, therefore, to get the job done is to rely on your home inspection training, head down into the cool of the basement and discover that a career in home inspection teaches you how to take the heat.
Labels: career in home inspection, home inspection career, home inspection training, licensed home inspector
