My blog is meant to educate and entertain you at the same time. You can find a variety of topics from failed case study homes to how to age your water heater. If there is a topic that you would like to see covered simply drop me a line here and see what I can do.
Learning how to age a GE water heater is very easy if you can locate the data plate label. GE water heaters (General Electric) are manufactured by Rheem and re-branded with the GE logo. This is also good to know as if you need parts for your GE Water Heater you should be able to…
Picture Rail Molding is a common trim found in old homes with paster walls. It was used as a hanging point for pictures and artwork without the need to put holes in your walls.
This allowed homeowners to change their decor and art without costly and timely repairs of their plaster walls.
This article will show you how to age Daikin HVAC equipment. You will need to find the data plate to accomplish this The data plate for your equipment can be found inside the furnace cabinet and on the lower panel of your air conditioner and heat pump (next to the copper line set). Daikin furnaces,…
The Louisville Water Company offers its customers a service agreement for water pipes outside the foundation of the home. Should you sign up?
In this post, we dig into all the details of the program and help you decide if it’s worth your money.
Another year in the books, and another year of more fun, crazy, and just plain amazing home inspection finds. I always like to take this time to thank all my clients for trusting me with their home inspection. It’s an honor and a privilege that I do not take lightly.
Asbestos Floor Tiles are one of the most commonly found asbestos materials still in use in older homes. What do you need to do to stay safe?
Aging Goodman HVAC equipment is easy if you know where to look, and how to decode the serial number. Learn how on all Goodman HVAC equipment.
Radon testing has become a standard part of home inspections here in Louisville, KY. I tracked all my Radon tests over the past 5 years to see what areas of Louisville showed the highest potential for elevated Radon levels for my clients.
After seeing a large increase of requests for home inspections in Mount Washington, KY I decided to write this post to try and help my out-of-town folks pull in as much information as possible about the great little town of Mount Washington, KY.
If you are considering a move to the Louisville, KY area, you will not find a faster-growing small town than Mount Washington.
Lochinvar uses a 20-letter rolling letter code to age their water heaters. The first letter in the serial number denotes the year the unit was manufactured, and the second letter is the month it was made.
How to age a Bradford White Water Heater Determining the age of your Bradford-White water heater can be tricky if you don’t have the associated table to decode your serial number. For unknown reasons, some manufacturers refuse to print a calendar date on the label to tell you, the homeowner, when a water heater…
This five year old home suffered catastrophic water damage inside the wall from a missing kick-out flashing. The missing flashing coupled with MSV (stone veneer) made the perfect recipe for disaster.
Nearly every home should have them, yet they are always missing! Kickout flashings prevent massive water damage to your home by directing water away from the wall and into the gutter. When omitted, the water seeps back into the wall and causes hidden water damage over time.
BROWN RECLUSE SPIDER IN KENTUCKY Brown Recluse Spiders in Kentucky– To some of us, they are the things nightmares are made of. Some folks freeze in fear at the sight of one. They can make you produce blood-curdling screams and throw shoes at a wall. Spiders. Eight-Legged Freaks. Demons from Hell. Call them what you…
This new construction home suffered catastrophic water damage from a failed MSV and brick veneer installation. The scale of this damage led to a buyback from the builder, and we were able to see first hand how quickly things fall apart from water damage. You won’t believe what happened at home.
Are you being told the whole truth by your termite inspector? In this post I break down the NPMA Form 33 to give buyers and real estate agents a better understanding of what the rules actually say when it comes to 2 termite treatments.
Another year has gone by and a slew of new crazy, amazing, and funny home inspection pics! Did your inspection make the cut?
There’s not much fun about having to buy a roof for your house. But the last thing you want to do is hire the wrong roofing contractor. This article is intended to help you navigate the sea of contractors and choose the right one for your home.
Carrier HVAC equipment uses a four-digit code within the serial number to date the equipment. Here is how to decode your label to get the month and year it was made.
One of the most common defects found at a home inspection is a double-tapped breaker. It’s a simple fix that should not be ignored. Learn how to identify a double-tapped breaker correctly, and choose your best option for repair.
Buying a new roof for your house is never fun, and choosing the right roofer can be a difficult task. This review will show you how to should be done, and hopefully give you a few pointers on how to choose the right roofing contractor.
Buying a home is no doubt stressful, but this little book may help you navigate things and get it done worry free!
This commercial shopping center has suffered massive water damage from a failed MSV installation.
First off, let’s get this straight. If you have a screw loose, I can’t help you with that, and welcome the club! If you have a loose screw, we can fix that. This trick will work on any wood surface where a screw is loose or the hole is stripped out to the point that the screw…
Another year behind us and another top 20 list. Did your home make the cut?
Updated for 2020! It’s been nearly five years since I wrote this series about the faulty installation of manufactured stone veneers, and the havoc it is causing unsuspecting homeowners. I decided it was time for some new information so I’ve updated things with new images and information. It’s all the rage these days: Fake stone siding, manufactured…
A poorly insulated attic is easily one of the top 3 things I find in just about every home where I perform a home inspection in Louisville, KY. I’d be willing to bet it’s like that in lots of other areas of the country as well. So I decided that when I finally got around to…
Proper bonding of CSST gas lines are typically always missing. Be sure your install is corrected for the safety of your home and family.
A botched stone veneer install on this new construction home has stopped all progress as the homeowners try to figure out their next move. I travel 600 miles to Arkansas and help solve their problems of poorly installed manufactured stone veneer.
I get asked this question nearly every day, and everyone gets the same answer. You have to consider the TMT.
Improperly installed windows will almost always leak. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to install a window that will not leak.
I finally got around to using Instagram in 2017 (I know, I’m way late to the party). So if you’re not already doing so, do me a solid and follow me over there. Ben on Instagram Let’s light this candle! 20. BALLIN’ ON A BUDGET When you want that new floor, but can’t afford the whole…
Man. I’ve had my run of poorly flipped houses this year. So many in fact, that they have their own hashtag on Instagram called Mr. Flipper. If you don’t already follow me there, you should. I see a lot of crazy things every day, and I post them all on Instagram. I have to admit, I…
This 12 year old home suffered catastrophic water damage from their leaking stone veneer.
Here is my top list of day one things to do when you buy a new house.
HOME INSPECTION HIGHLIGHTS 2016 Ah yes, another year has come and gone. Let’s take a look at my annual top pictures from 2016! I typically do top a 10, but this year I’m expanding it to 12; there is just too much good stuff not to share it. 12. DIY PLUMBING DRAINS These flex-drains that…
Aeroseal takes HVAC performance to a new level with its method of air-sealing your ductwork from the inside.
Does it work? Is it worth your money?
Read my full review of Aeroseal here.
It never fails. At least once a week I inspect a house that has an ungrounded electrical system. These are older homes with receptacles (or outlets, as everyone in my neck of the woods calls them) that only have two slots, and are missing the ‘3rd hole.’ That hole is for the ground conductor of…
Insulation, air movement, building science, blah-blah-blah. I know, most folks find it boring. But if you like saving money, and living in a comfortable house, stay with me here. One of the most common things I find at just about every home inspection in Louisville in Louisville is a poorly insulated attic scuttle hatch (that is…
START HERE TO READ THE FIRST POST IN THIS SERIES. THIS WILL HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND THE DETAILS FOR EACH SECTION OF THE ACMV SERIES. As I said before, flat walls are as easy as it gets when it comes to installing manufactured stone. You really have to try to mess up an open wall, but you know…
In this section, I break down the flashing details on windows and doors- the most common failure points for stone veneer installation.
[av_icon_box position=’top’ boxed=’av-no-box’ icon=’ue83f’ font=’entypo-fontello’ title=’BEST OF 2015! HOME INSPECTION HIGHLIGHTS – PART 2′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” font_color=” custom_title=” custom_content=” color=” custom_bg=” custom_font=” custom_border=”] Let’s wrap up 2015 with the last top 5. Here is Part 1 if you missed it. [/av_icon_box] [av_hr class=’short’ height=’50’ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’ custom_border=’av-border-thin’ custom_width=’50px’ custom_border_color=” custom_margin_top=’30px’ custom_margin_bottom=’30px’ icon_select=’yes’ custom_icon_color=” icon=’ue808′…
The Best of 2015!
Most who are buying a home in Louisville have a Radon gas test performed. If you are unsure about what radon gas is, how the testing process works, and what to do if your home comes back with elevated levels, this post should help clear things up for you.
Buying an old house comes with old materials. The plumbing system can be one of the most expensive components to replace. In this article we will discuss the different types of old plumbing materials that are no longer used in modern home construction, and what types of failures you can expect in your new home.
Yep, you SHOULD attend your home inspection. You’ve called around. You’ve done your due diligence, or maybe you’ve gone with your realtor’s recommendation (see why that can be a bad idea here What you don’t know about hiring a home inspector) and you think you’ve found the home inspector you want to use in the purchase…
From 1965 to 1975 some builders used aluminum wiring for the branch circuits to cut the construction cost.
Now we know that was a mistake, and millions of homes have a big expensive problem to contend with.
Air sealing your electrical outlets is one of the easiest things you can do to help lower your utility bills.
I’m a bit later than I wanted to be getting this written, but hey, better late than never. If you missed the first part of this post you can see it here: Best of Home Inspections 2014. So without further ado, the second half of the Best of the Worst pictures of 2014. A waterfall in…
Another year older, one or two more gray hairs found, and a stack of pictures to choose from. It’s hard to whittle it down to just a handful, but I selected the top 10 problems found during home inspections this year. A Cold Fireplace – This is a picture from a one year old home. The owners…
