Piedmont Home Inspections

05/05/2016

Tonight our son Nicholas was inducted into the National Honor Society at Winters Mill High School. Here's a short video of him walking across the stage.

04/25/2016

Tip of the Day!

When selling your home you want the buyer's inspection to go as smoothly and as QUICKLY as possible. The following are some tips to get the job done.

1. Confirm that the gas, water and electricity are turned on and that the gas pilot lights are burning.
2. Ensure all pets won't hinder the inspection and inform everyone about pets to be kept inside
3. Replace any burned out light bulbs.
4. Test all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace batteries if necessary.
5. Clean or replace dirty HVAC air filters. Verify that the filters fit properly and are secured in place.
6. Move wood, stored items or debris away from foundation.
7. Unlock or remove locks from any items the inspector must access such as fence gates, attic access hatches or doors, electric service panels, special closets, crawl space access for pier and beam construction.
8. Confirm areas and components are accessible by removing items blocking access to electric service panels, sinks and bathtubs, ovens and cook tops, dishwasher, heating and air conditioning equipment, water heaters, ground fault (GFCI) electric receptacles, attic access ladders or hatches, crawl space access for pier and beam construction. Note: remove items that might restrict movement in attic or crawl space.
9. Trim tree limbs back from the roof and trim shrubs away from the house to allow access.
10. Repair or replace broken, damaged or missing items such as door k***s, locks and latches, window locks and broken glass, window screens, anti-siphon devices on exterior faucets, rain gutters and downspouts (clean if necessary), chimney flue caps.
11.Remove automobiles from the garage and driveway.
12.Clean ashes from the fireplaces and remove items from the fireplace hearth area.

04/21/2016

Tip of the Day! (for Sellers)

Competition for buyers can be fierce, especially home in less desirable or more remote areas. If this represents your home, you need to "dress for success" prior to putting the home on the market.
1. View the exterior of your home with a critical eye.
2. Fix loose steps, reconnect the gutters, paint the trim, clean the siding.
3. Use binoculars to check the roof for missing shingles or other damage.
4. Tidy up the lawn and landscaping.
5. The interior may need a face-lift as well, however, for the electro-mechanical systems (HVAC, Electrical, plumbing) you might want to call a home inspector for a pre-sale inspection. This allows you, at least some, negotiation power. You'll be prepared for whatever the buyers throws at you.

04/20/2016

Tip of the Day!

Backdraft! Not the movie, but the exhausting of toxic gases into your living space.

Backdrafting at a water heater is a common defect identified during home inspections, and it's almost always a condition that the homeowner or occupant is not aware of. This happens when the exhaust gases from an atmospherically vented water heater spill out into the room, rather than safely leaving the house through the vent. Exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide and high levels of moisture, so this is always a condition that should be corrected.

Clues that may indicate Backdrafting:
1. Plastic at the top of the water heater is melted.
2. Corrosion possibly caused by condensed gases.
3. Moisture on top of the tank.
4. Heavy condensation on cold water pipes.
5. Moist, warm air coming out of the draft hood.

The cobwebs on this water heater did a nice job of showing that the water heater was backdrafting. Don't mind the noisy cats.

04/19/2016

Tip of the Day!

What is a P-Trap?

You may have heard the term before, but do you know why it's important?

A P-trap is a plumbing device which prevents odorous gas in plumbing drains and sewers from rising up through a toilet, sink or floor drain into a home or business.

A P-trap is a U-shaped section of pipe that holds water as shown in the diagram below

If a drain, sink or toilet is not used for a long time, or if there is a leak in the p-trap, it may go dry and allow sewer gas to rise into a home or other building.

To refill a P-trap, flush the toilet, pour water in the floor drain or run water down the sink. Then check to make sure the sewer gas has stopped coming into the building. If sewer gas continues, a repair or other maintenance may be needed.

04/18/2016

Tip of the Day!

The grade should slope away from your home at a rate of 1” per foot for the first 5’-6’ or 6” in the first 10’. This is needed to prevent water from pooling and possibly coming in contact with your homes' foundation.

04/15/2016

Tip of the Day!

Most knowledgeable home inspectors and AC contractors will not operate (or test) an AC unit if the ambient temperatures have been below 60-65 degrees F during the previous 24 hours (minimum).

When the temperature is below 60 degrees the gases in the air conditioning system can turn to liquid. Turning on the Air Conditioner when the gas is a liquid can cause the liquid to "slug the compressor". This can cause great damage.

I recommend that you get the service records from the owner or the company servicing the air conditioner. I recommend that you have a qualified air conditioning contractor test the unit if the weather gets above 60 degrees for a couple of days sometime before closing. I also recommend that you purchase a home warranty that covers the air conditioner.

04/14/2016

Tip of the Day!

Prior to accessing your Service Breaker Panel (fuse box) make sure you first check for potential safety hazzards;
1. obstructions that do not give you a clear access
2. water on the floor in front of the panel
3. smoke or heat coming from the panel. Is the cover warm to the touch?
4. leaky pipes in the vicinity of the panel
5. panel is rusted, deteriorated or overall poor condition.

Call a professional before you take risks!

04/13/2016

Tip of the Day!

Make sure the utilities are "hooked-up" prior to the inspection.

During a normal home inspection, the utilities will still be connected by the sellers — but that isn’t always the case. For example, a bank-owned foreclosed property may not have the utilities hooked-up.

If utilities are turned off, you will miss seeing important stuff, such as whether the dishwasher drains properly, the pipes leak, or the water flow is sufficient.

04/13/2016

Tip of the Day!

Make sure you attend the inspection!

The best way to understand what the inspector is reporting is to see exactly what he is talking about. If it is unclear to you whether something uncovered is a major or minor issue, ask.

04/11/2016

Tip of the Day!

Always use approved replacement parts. What's going on here?

04/10/2016

Tip of the Day!
Be sure to always check the water pressure when buying a home. Sometimes this is overlooked. Take a look at the diagram below.