Home Inspection Discloses How Not To Fix A Leaky Valve

There's more than one way to fix a leaky valve. In this particular instance the homeowner duct taped a sponge to the affected valve. As it leaked, the water dispersed through the sponge and evaporated, thus preventing a leak to whatever lay below...

Rochester MN Home Inspector Recommends Staining Deck To Protect Your Investment

Your Rochester MN Home Inspector recommends staining your deck as one of the best ways to protect your investment from the elements, It will be easier to maintain and look better longer

Rochester MN Home Inspectors’ State Of The Art Radon Measurement Equipment

The ONLY way to find out if your home has high Radon levels is to have your home tested.50-60% of all homes tested in Rochester MN and Olmsted and the surrounding counties exceed the EPA’s recommended action level of 4 pCi/L. Nationwide, 7% of homes are estimated to have high Radon levels. Levels can vary widely even from home to home in the same neighborhood.

Home Inspector Asks, Is Your Air Conditioner Ready For Summer?

Just like any of the other systems in our homes, our air conditioners need periodic maintenance to keep them running smoothly. We want the air conditioner to work when we need it right?

Home Inspectors Discover Serious Water Heater Venting Problem

At a recent home inspection I came across a hot water heater in a utility closet in which the vent flue had become disconnected at the ceiling. In addition to the exhaust and CO venting directly to the closet, you can see that the paper on the adjacent sheetrock is heavily charred from the exhaust heat.

Rochester MN Home Inspector Discloses How to Cut Costs Efficiently, and Green up Your Home

It can be a challenge to keep your home cool and comfortable while keeping your energy bills in control, especially with the arrival of warmer weather. There are a few steps you can take now that will make your home more environmentally friendly while saving money and natural resources.

Rochester MN Home Inspector Drives By Roof Collapse

Home Inspector finds roof collapse from snow load

Home Inspector finds roof collapse from snow load

We had a lot of snow this past winter and apparently the load exceeded the design specifications of this garage roof.  Or maybe deferred maintenance caught up with structure.  Whatever the case, it appears this garage is near the end of it's useful life ;-).

Your home inspector saw this as I was passing by and couldn't resist stopping and taking a picture.

Rochester MN Home Inspectors Discuss Damaged Garage Door

In the attached video of a cracked garage door top panel. I come across this defect quite often during home inspections. Improper adjustment of the garage door tracks and/or the drive chain can result in jerking of the door during operation.

Home Inspector Asks Why Wouldn’t You Cover Your Air Conditioner During The Winter Months?

Some experts argue that some AC covers actually trap moisture inside your air conditioner for long periods of time which could then lead to the rust as well as the exact same icing problem as when it wasn’t covered. Others point out that covers on AC units keep them dry and relatively clean and free from a steady cold wind - which makes them a perfect place for mice, chipmunks and other critters to snuggle in for the winter and chew your air conditioners wires to shreds.

Vinyl Flooring Stains Around A Toilet Found During Home Inspection.

The gray, (and sometimes pinkish), stains below the surface of the vinyl flooring around your toilet may indicate water damage. When there are stains around your toilet, there is probably a leak in the wax seal ring that seals the toilet to the plumbing flange at the floor. Continued leaking over a period of time will rot the flooring under your toilet and eventually leak into the ares below.

Rochester MN Home Inspector Discusses Eliminating Ice Dams

Ice dams can be a problem this time of year here in the Rochester MN area. Snow melts on the roof and freezes at the eaves leaving a dam. Continued melting will pool up behind the dam and has the potential to seep under your shingles, resulting in water damage to both the roof deck, as well as the walls and ceilings.

Blocked Furnace Venting Found During Home Inspection

The recent heavy snowfall and drifting brings one more thing that Rochester and Southeastern MN homeowners need to keep an eye on. Home owners with High Efficiency, direct vent furnaces and water heaters need to check to see that the venting has not been drifted over with snow or blocked.

Furnace Improvements Not Recommended By Home Inspector

Canned beans supporting oil burner found a home inspection

Canned beans supporting oil burner found a home inspection

The only can of green beans we have in the house… And they are way past the expiration date. I guess we'll have to run to the store. This home inspector thinks it would have been better for the home owner to have the furnace professionaly repaired by a qualified repairman.

Yearly Inspection and Cleaning Dirty Refrigerator Coils

Recently I came across a refrigerator/freezer unit that was heavily frosted up in the freezer unit. I took a look underneath the unit and the coils were completely loaded up with lint and dust bunnies. When the coils under a unit are all loaded and dirty up they can not operate efficiently, resulting in higher energy bills.