What is a home inspection? A home inspection is a visual examination of the home’s major structure, systems and components that are visible and safely accessible. The inspector should substantially adhere to a standards of practice that outlines what should be covered during a general home inspection, as well as what is excluded. Some inspectors […]
Fire Extinguisher Maintenance and Inspection
Fire extinguishers are devices commonly found indoors and are used to douse fire and prevent its spread. They are small metal canisters that contain compressed gas (usually nitrogen) that, when activated, propel a directed spray of flame-retardant chemicals. Fire extinguishers are only effective if building occupants understand where and why they are used. Fire Type […]
Fall-Arrest Systems
Fall-arrest systems provide protection for roof workers. Various forms of safety equipment are available, and guidelines are used to ensure they are installed and used properly. More than 6 million people work at approximately 250,000 construction sites across the United States every day. Inspectors are likely to find fall-arrest systems at these locations, as well as […]
Factory-Built Fireplaces
There’s nothing like coming home and warming up next to a roaring fire during the long, cold months of winter, or even chilly evenings in any season. Long commutes to work in the cold and the increasingly short hours of daylight in the fall and winter are made more bearable by the comfort and familiarity […]
Exterior Design Features
Decks, porches, balconies, verandas and patios are outdoor architectural elements that are often confused with one another. An explanation of their intended use, history and design allow for useful distinctions, although a certain degree of exception and overlap is unavoidable. Decks A deck is a large, raised wooden floor attached to the back of a […]
Exercise Equipment Dangers
Exercise equipment is inherently dangerous. Various types of home gym devices are typically large and have moving parts. Accidents, whether to adults who misuse the equipment or to children who gain unsupervised access, can be avoided through preventative measures. Gym equipment is also a breeding ground for dangerous pathogens, particularly in commercial gyms where users share the equipment. Physical […]
Evaporative Coolers
What is an evaporative cooler? An evaporative cooler, also known as a swamp cooler, wet-air cooler, and desert cooler, is a device designed to cool air via the evaporation of water. This is a natural and energy-efficient way to achieve a comfortable indoor temperature. An evaporative cooler cools indoor air by drawing outdoor air into […]
Estimating the Lifespan of a Water Heater
While the typical water heater has a lifespan of about 10 years, careful consideration of the factors that pertain to its lifespan can provide the InterNACHI home inspector and the homeowner with information about the potential costs that would be incurred by replacing the water heater. These factors include: correct installation; usage volume; construction quality; […]
Detecting Corrosion in Concrete-Encased Steel
How Steel Corrodes Reinforcing steel bar (rebar) exposed to air oxidizes or rusts through the conversion of the iron in the steel to iron oxide or iron carbonate due to the CO2 in the atmosphere. The oxide formed is a loose material that has a greater volume than the original iron — about 17 times […]
Condensation Inspection
Condensation, also called sweating, forms on building materials when the temperature drops below the dew point, which is the temperature at which droplets of water vapor are forced so closely together that they coalesce into liquid water. Because of their characteristic thermal conductivity, components made of metal are usually the first places where condensation will […]