The Importance of Solar System Inspection When Buying a Home

 

In a time where sustainability and renewable energy are on the minds of many, the installation of solar panel systems has become increasingly common. When buying a property with an existing solar panel system, you could assume that all is well and the system is working fine. However, like all things in a home, issues, damage, age, weather, and other factors could have affected the performance and operation of the system. An inspection that includes the solar electric system is encouraged whenever a home with solar panels is purchased.

The significance of a solar system inspection cannot be overstated. This inspection is a critical evaluation of the system's condition, performance, and potential future expenses. Here's what's included.

Solar Panels:

Solar panels are the heart of any solar energy system. These photovoltaic cells harness sunlight and convert it into electricity. During an inspection, we assess the physical condition of the panels, checking for any signs of damage, such as cracks, corrosion, or loose connections. We also confirm the panels are properly secured to the roof or ground mounting system.

Solar System Inverters:

Inverters play a pivotal role in converting the direct current (DC) produced by solar panels into alternating current (AC) that can be used to power household appliances. Malfunctioning inverters can significantly hamper the performance of a solar system. We examine inverters for signs of wear and tear, and confirm they are working. Upgrading or replacing inverters can be costly, so identifying any issues before purchase is important.

Net Meters:

Net meters are essential components for homes with grid-tied solar systems. They measure the amount of electricity generated by the solar panels and any surplus energy that is fed back into the grid. During an inspection, we confirm a net meter has been installed. Faulty net meters could result in inaccurate billing and money lost.

AC Connections:

The AC connections of a solar system ensure seamless integration with the existing electrical infrastructure of the property. We examine these connections to confirm they are properly installed and functioning correctly. Any loose connections or wiring issues could pose safety hazards and may need immediate attention.

We not only inspect solar systems, we use them. With over 48 solar electric or solar thermal panels in use at our own property we understand the cost and operation involved in these systems. Helping our buyers make informed decisions is what we do as inspectors. Schedule your next inspection at www.careyhomeinspection.com

Fireplace and wood stove safety

Fireplaces and wood stoves offer warmth and ambiance to homes, especially during cold seasons. However, they also pose potential risks if not used properly. To ensure the safety of your household and property, it's crucial to adhere to safety recommendations when operating these heating sources. Don from Carey Home Inspection, www.careyhomeinspection.com recommends adding an interior chimney inspection added to all home inspections. Most chimney liners today have unreported defects that can become safety issues if the fireplace is used. 

Installation: Proper installation is paramount for safety. Hire a professional technician certified by relevant authorities to install your fireplace or wood stove. Ensure that the installation complies with local building codes and manufacturer guidelines.

Regular Maintenance: Conduct routine maintenance to keep your fireplace or wood stove in optimal condition. Schedule annual inspections by a qualified technician to check for any issues such as creosote buildup, chimney obstructions, or damaged components.

Chimney Cleaning: Creosote, a byproduct of burning wood, can accumulate inside chimneys, increasing the risk of chimney fires. Regular chimney cleaning is essential to remove creosote buildup. Aim for cleaning at least once a year, or more frequently if you use your fireplace or wood stove extensively.

Quality Fuel: Use only seasoned hardwoods for burning in your fireplace or wood stove. Seasoned wood burns cleaner and produces less creosote compared to green or unseasoned wood. Avoid burning treated wood, pallets, or other materials, as they can release harmful chemicals and residues.

Proper Ventilation: Ensure adequate ventilation in the room where your fireplace or wood stove is located. Install carbon monoxide detectors near sleeping areas and on every level of your home to monitor for any dangerous gas buildup.

Clearances: Maintain proper clearances between your fireplace or wood stove and combustible materials such as furniture, curtains, or decorations. Consult the manufacturer's guidelines or local building codes to determine the required clearance distances.

Use of Screens and Gates: Employ fireplace screens or gates to prevent sparks and embers from escaping the fireplace and causing accidental fires. These safety barriers also serve as a protective measure, especially if you have children or pets in the household.

Supervision: Never leave a fire unattended. Ensure someone responsible is present whenever the fireplace or wood stove is in use. Supervision is crucial to prevent accidents and to promptly address any issues that may arise.

Extinguishing Fires: Use a fireplace tool set to safely extinguish the fire before leaving the room or going to bed. Allow the ashes to cool completely before disposing of them in a metal container. Never dispose of hot ashes in a plastic trash can or near combustible materials.

Education and Training: Educate all household members on fireplace and wood stove safety practices. Teach them how to properly operate these heating sources and what to do in case of emergencies, such as a chimney fire or carbon monoxide leak.

By following these safety recommendations, you can enjoy the warmth and comfort of your fireplace or wood stove while minimizing the risks associated with their use. Remember, safety should always be a top priority when heating your home with these traditional sources of warmth.

The Crucial Role of Plumbing Vents: How They Work and Why They Are Essential

 

When it comes to the inner workings of your home, there's a network of systems that ensure everything runs smoothly. Among these, plumbing is a fundamental component that demands careful attention. One often-overlooked but critical aspect of plumbing systems is the plumbing vent. In this blog post, we'll delve into why plumbing vents are so important and how they work to maintain the health and functionality of your home's plumbing.

The Basics of Plumbing Vents

Plumbing vents, also known as vent pipes or vent stacks, are an integral part of any plumbing system. Their primary purpose is to allow air into the plumbing system, which, in turn, prevents the formation of a vacuum that can impede water flow and trap sewer gasses within the pipes. Plumbing vents are typically made of plastic, cast iron, or galvanized steel, and they extend vertically from the plumbing system's drainage pipes to the exterior of the building, usually through the roof.

Why Plumbing Vents Are Essential

Preventing
Siphonage and Trapped Gasses

One of the primary functions of plumbing vents is to prevent siphonage. When water flows down a drain, it creates negative pressure within the pipes. Without a vent to equalize this pressure, it can siphon water from traps, allowing sewer gases and odors to enter your home. Plumbing vents ensure that traps, which are designed to hold a small amount of water to block gases, remain effective in their role.

Maintaining Proper Drainage

Plumbing vents also help maintain the proper drainage of wastewater. Without adequate venting, water can flow slowly or become trapped in the pipes, leading to sluggish drains, gurgling noises, and even backups. Plumbing vents allow air to enter the system, preventing these issues and ensuring wastewater flows smoothly to the sewer or septic tank.

Protecting Fixtures and Pipes

By equalizing pressure and preventing siphonage, plumbing vents protect not only your fixtures but also the pipes themselves. A lack of venting can lead to premature corrosion and damage to your plumbing system, potentially resulting in costly repairs or replacements.

How Plumbing Vents Work

Understanding how plumbing vents work is essential for homeowners and home inspectors alike. Here's a brief overview of their functioning:

Air Intake: Plumbing vents draw in air from the atmosphere through a vent cap or pipe on your roof. This fresh air enters the plumbing system, allowing water to flow freely without creating a vacuum.

Equalizing Pressure: As wastewater flows down the drain, the vent ensures that it doesn't create negative pressure within the pipes. Instead, the air from the vent keeps the pressure balanced, preventing the risk of siphonage.

Ventilation: In addition to preventing siphonage, plumbing vents provide ventilation to the sewer or septic system, aiding in the release of sewer gasses and unpleasant odors safely into the atmosphere.

Size and Placement: Proper sizing and placement of plumbing vents are critical for their effectiveness. Home inspectors should ensure that vents are correctly positioned, have the appropriate diameter, and are clear from obstructions such as debris or bird nests.

Conclusion

Plumbing vents may not be the most visible or glamorous part of your home's plumbing system, but they play a crucial role in ensuring its functionality, efficiency, and safety. Without them, you'd be at risk of foul odors, slow drains, and potential damage to your plumbing infrastructure. As a homeowner, understanding the importance of plumbing vents and their proper maintenance is essential for a trouble-free plumbing system. When you're buying a new home or having a home inspection, don't forget to include a thorough check of the plumbing vents to ensure your investment is secure and your peace of mind intact.

How to keep your pets safe during a home inspection

 

What to do with pets during a home inspection is often a challenge when selling a home. Ensuring the safety and managing the emotional needs of dogs or cats when others are in their home takes some planning and sometimes help. Our inspection team has several dogs and cats, and we love meeting new pets, but not all inspectors do. Here are a few suggestions to make this process as easy as possible.

1. When possible, always take your furry family members with you and leave the house. Pets can be a distraction during the inspection. Pets are often territorial and having strangers in the home can result in uncharacteristic behavior such as aggression or fear. Asking the inspector in advance how long the inspection is likely to take and plan to walk your dog or take them to the park if weather permits is often a good idea.
   
   
2. Crating can be a great alternative. If removing your pet from the home is not possible, consider using a crate. If your pet is accustomed to spending time in a crate this can allow them to remain in the home and be safe during the inspection. Covering the crate with a blanket or blackout cover can also help if that is something they are familiar with.
   
   
3. Confine them to a secure location. If a backyard kennel is available, this can be an excellent option, or a bedroom that can confine your pet safely. Remember, the inspector will need to access the attic and plumbing, so a room that contains the attic access or a bathroom would not be a good choice. Also, the inspector will need access to the backyard, so while a kennel is a good plan, a fenced in backyard is not.
   
   
4. Leave notes for the inspector. If your pets need to stay in the home and cannot be confined, leave notes for those attending the inspection. This is quite common with cats. Leave a note on the main entry door that is visible before the door is opened warning of pets inside that cannot be let out so everyone knows before the door is opened to be on the lookout for pets. Leave additional notes on attic or basement doors informing if your pets are permitted in these areas or not. Also, leave a note with your contact information in the event there is an issue requiring someone to call you. If your pets are permitted to leave the house, include that in the note so everyone knows not to trap them inside.
   
   
5. Consider a pet sitter. If pets must remain in the home, ask someone to take responsibility for them. You may be tempted to ask your real estate agent for this, but remember they are strangers to your pet too. A better choice is a family member or friend who is known to your pet. If needed, let your agent know you plan to attend the inspection only to care for your pet at that time. During the inspection people will be in and out of the house numerous times. While care is always taken to insure the safety of your pets, remember the inspectors' primary responsibility is the inspection of the home.

No one wants to return home after an inspection and find a traumatized or lost pet. Your pet's safety and health is extremely important to us. With a little planning and information a complete inspection can be performed even if pets remain home during the process.

 

Unofficial Categories to Narrow Down Your Inspection Report

 

Most home inspection reports categorize defects as something like Repairs, Maintenance, Safety, or Monitor. While these categories can be helpful most inspectors will also report on many items throughout the house making it quite daunting to review the report and know what is important versus what is a less critical issue. Not every repair or defect needs to be addressed, and if a buyer gives every defect noted the same weight or level of concern they may find themselves becoming overwhelmed with the prospect of moving forward. So what issues or defects should cause a home buyer to pause and consider when making their purchase? I tell my buyers to consider some unofficial categories when reviewing the report and put the defects into those to help them determine what to consider as needing attention and set the remaining issues on the back burner. So what are these unofficial categories? Let’s call them; Unexpected Expensive, Quality of Daily Living, and An Ounce of Prevention.

Unexpected Expensive: These are items that the buyer had no idea about when they made their offer to purchase and now discover that something needs to be done that’s going to cost a lot of money. Not every home inspection will have these, but it is the primary reason to have a home inspection. These are often structural issues like failing foundations, major roof leaks, and habitability issues. They can also be environmental concerns that were not uncovered until the inspection such as excessive mold, radon, or chemical leaks. When things like this are uncovered they can change the value of the house and are a reason to pause and consider the cost of repair and return on investment.

Quality of Daily Living: These are items that may not be critical to repair but will affect you daily as you live in the home. These can be items that require repair like outlets you plan to use that don’t deliver power, or appliances that don’t function. Sometimes these are features that the house doesn't have that the buyer was expecting, like 200 AMP service or no heat in the room that was going to be the nursery. In most cases these are not reasons to walk away if the buyer loves the house, but no one wants to move in and then be unhappy with the way their house works. These defects are important to consider when reviewing the report. Along with convenience issues, any personal safety concerns would also be in this category.

An Ounce of Prevention: The last unofficial category I recommend having is for defects that will cause more damage if not fixed. Sometimes these can be pennies to fix, but if closing is still months away failing to fix them could mean bigger repairs after purchase. These are things like plumbing leaks, overheated electric wires, missing caulk allowing water into the home or electric panel, small roof leaks not yet visible outside the attic, and loose flooring or siding. Another example would be a broken thermostat. If the inspection is in late October and closing is in January, a $10 thermostat could prevent thousands in damage from burst pipes if the house is vacant. 

Every buyer will have different items that fall into these unofficial categories as they review the inspection. Items that don’t fall in the categories above most likely are items that are not critical to a buyer's purchase concerns. Often these are the items that have been present for years and through many owners. By focusing on what's going to cost you money, affect your daily life, or damage your home you can easily narrow down any inspection report to what is truly important. 

Preparing Your Home for Fall: Essential Tips for a Smooth Home Inspection

 

As the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisp, it's a clear indication that fall is upon us. It's also an ideal time to prepare your home for the season and, more importantly, for a home inspection. A well-maintained home not only ensures your comfort but also safeguards your investment. To help you get ready for fall and ace that home inspection, here are some essential tips to consider.

1. Clear Out Your Gutters:

Leaves and debris can accumulate in your gutters during the fall, potentially causing water damage and drainage issues. Regularly clean your gutters to prevent clogs and ensure proper water flow away from your home's foundation.

2. Inspect the Roof:

Before the fall rains arrive, it's crucial to inspect your roof for any signs of damage, loose or missing shingles, or worn-out flashing. Addressing these issues promptly can prevent water leaks and costly repairs later on.

3. Check Windows and Doors:

Check for drafts around windows and doors and seal any gaps with weatherstripping or caulk. Properly sealed windows and doors can improve energy efficiency and make your home more comfortable during the colder months.

4. HVAC System Maintenance:

Ensure your heating system is in top condition by scheduling a professional HVAC inspection and cleaning. Replacing filters, cleaning ducts, and making necessary repairs will not only improve your home's comfort but also help maintain air quality.

5. Fireplace and Chimney Inspection:

If you have a fireplace, it's essential to have it inspected and cleaned annually. This ensures it's safe to use and can also improve energy efficiency by preventing drafts.

6. Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors:

Safety should always be a top priority. Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are in working order, and replace the batteries if needed.

7. Seal Cracks and Gaps:

Inspect the exterior of your home for cracks and gaps in the foundation, siding, or around pipes and vents. Seal these openings to prevent drafts, water intrusion, and pests from entering your home.

8. Clean and Store Outdoor Equipment:

Fall is an excellent time to clean and store your outdoor equipment like lawnmowers, trimmers, and patio furniture. Proper storage can extend their lifespan and keep your outdoor space tidy.

9. Prune Trees and Shrubs:

Trimming trees and shrubs can prevent them from overhanging or touching your home's exterior. This reduces the risk of damage from falling branches or potential pest infestations.

10. Inspect the Plumbing:

Check for any leaks in your plumbing system, including faucets, pipes, and the water heater. Repairing leaks promptly can save you money on water bills and prevent water damage.

11. Clean the Attic and Basement:

Clean and organize your attic and basement to ensure proper ventilation and reduce the risk of mold or pest infestations. Proper insulation and ventilation in these areas can also improve energy efficiency.

12. Schedule a Pre-Listing Inspection:

If you're planning to sell your home in the near future, consider scheduling a pre-listing inspection. This will help you identify and address any issues before potential buyers arrive, increasing your home's marketability.

By following these tips, you'll not only prepare your home for the fall season but also ensure that it's in top shape for a home inspection. A well-maintained home not only enhances your comfort but also preserves its value over time. So, take the time to address these essential tasks, and you'll be well-prepared for a successful fall season and beyond.

Ensuring Electrical Safety with GFCI Outlets: A Home Inspection Guide

When it comes to ensuring the safety of your home's electrical system, one component that should never be overlooked is the Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlet. These devices are vital in protecting you and your family from electrical shocks and potential hazards, making them a crucial focus during a home inspection. In this blog, we'll delve into what GFCI outlets are, why they are essential, and how they should be inspected to guarantee your home's electrical safety.

What is a GFCI Outlet?

A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlet is an electrical receptacle designed to monitor the flow of electrical current. It is primarily employed in areas where water and electricity are in close proximity, such as bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and outdoor spaces. The main function of a GFCI outlet is to detect any irregularities in the electrical current and, if necessary, interrupt the circuit within milliseconds to prevent electric shock.

The Importance of GFCI Outlets

Protection Against Electric Shocks: GFCI outlets provide a critical layer of protection against electric shocks. In the event of a ground fault, where electricity flows along an unintended path (such as through water or a person), the GFCI outlet quickly cuts off the power supply, potentially saving lives.

Preventing Electrical Fires: GFCI outlets not only protect against electric shocks but also reduce the risk of electrical fires. By swiftly interrupting the circuit when a ground fault is detected, they prevent overheating of wires and electrical devices.

Code Compliance: In many regions, building codes require GFCI protection in specific areas of the home. Homeowners looking to sell their property may find that non-compliance with these codes can be a significant barrier to completing a sale. Therefore, ensuring that all GFCI outlets are properly installed and functioning is essential.

Inspecting GFCI Outlets

During a home inspection, it's crucial to thoroughly evaluate the GFCI outlets to ensure they are in good working condition. Here are some key steps to follow:

Visual Inspection: Begin with a visual inspection of each GFCI outlet in the home. Look for any signs of physical damage, such as cracks or exposed wiring. Ensure that the outlet cover is in place and secure.

Test Buttons: GFCI outlets are equipped with two buttons: "Test" and "Reset." Test the GFCI by pressing the "Test" button. This should cause the outlet to trip and cut off power to any connected devices. Afterward, press the "Reset" button to restore power. If the GFCI does not trip or reset, it may be faulty and require replacement.

Testing with a GFCI Tester: A more comprehensive test involves using a GFCI tester, readily available at hardware stores. This tool simulates a ground fault and checks whether the GFCI outlet responds correctly by tripping. This test should be performed on every GFCI outlet in the home.

Check for Proper Wiring: Ensure that the GFCI outlets are correctly wired. Miswiring can lead to improper functioning. If you are not experienced in electrical work, it's best to consult a licensed electrician to address any wiring issues.

In the realm of home inspections, GFCI outlets play a pivotal role in ensuring electrical safety. These devices are your first line of defense against electric shocks and potential fire hazards. Regular inspection and maintenance of GFCI outlets are essential to guarantee their proper functioning. If you have any doubts about the condition of your GFCI outlets or need assistance with a home inspection, don't hesitate to reach out to our experienced team. Your family's safety and the integrity of your home's electrical system are our top priorities.