Gas appliances are common in many homes and provide warm air through furnaces, hot water through gas water heaters, and other appliances such as gas clothes dryers. However, unlike electric appliances, gas appliances require combustion air in order to operate properly. If an adequate amount of combustion air is not provided, this can cause [...]
Louisiana-Pacific was hit with a barrage of lawsuits in the 1990s over the alleged subpar performance of LP's faux-cedar Inner-Seal siding. LP Inner-Seal siding was produced from 1985-1995. Inner-Seal siding from LP came with a 25-year warranty. However, the siding frequently started to decay, fall apart, and change color. Homeowners complained that their siding [...]
A bootleg ground exists when the ground of the receptacle or fixture is connected to the neutral wire of the circuit. This is an improper condition and potentially a very hazardous condition. Incorrectly wired receptacles can cause significant injury or even death. Because the neutral wires carry electricity, creating a bootleg ground makes it possible [...]
Have you ever looked in your attic and noticed black, brown, or white patchy or fuzzy areas present on the roof sheathing or framing? While this is a common occurrence, particularly in regions with high annual rain fall and/or humidity, it can pose a potential health hazard for the home’s occupants. Mold growth can [...]
Vapor barriers are an important installation for all homes. However, vapor barriers in homes build on a slab or with a finished basement will not be visible or accessible. A vapor barrier should be made of 6-mil black polyethylene plastic and is designed to prevent moisture vapor in the underlying soil from reaching the [...]
Have you ever noticed that a window in your home has a hazy or foggy appearance? Does the window develop condensation that cannot be removed? This is a common occurrence for double or triple pane windows, and is generally known as a failed window seal. Double or triple pane windows can be referred to [...]
Garage door openers offer a convenience that help people save time and effort when entering and exiting their garages. Over time, garage door technology has evolved, and now we can open garage doors with a touch of a button, and an electric motor does all the work. Before electric mechanical devices were invented, springs [...]
If you are considering buying an older home you may discover that many of your electrical devices have three-prong cords that will not fit into pre-1960’s two-slot outlets or receptacles. One solution is to use a "adapter" which allows you to plug in your three-prong cord but does not give the necessary safety of [...]
Gas furnaces have become one of the most common types of home heating systems over the last few decades and have become more efficient and effective over time. With regular maintenance, gas furnaces can last for many years and provide consistent and reliable heat within the home. However, like all home appliances, they can [...]
When people hear the word “mold” during a general home inspection, there is usually a concern about indoor air quality, and the health and safety of occupants. When home inspectors find evidence of what may be mold, they will often use the terms such as “apparent mold” or “potential biological growth”. The reason why [...]
