Louisville KY Home Inspector Blog

Electrical | Safety

Aluminum Wire in Branch Circuits

ByBen Hendricks March 31, 2015April 18, 2021

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.

How to Air Seal Electrical Boxes in 3 Steps

ByBen Hendricks February 22, 2015January 1, 2022

Air sealing your electrical outlets is one of the easiest things you can do to help lower your utility bills.

Best of 2014 Part 2

ByBen Hendricks January 20, 2015February 5, 2022

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…

Best Of 2014 Part 1

ByBen Hendricks January 6, 2015September 12, 2020

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…

Uncategorized

River City Real Estate Radio Show

ByBen Hendricks December 3, 2014November 22, 2020

I was recently invited to be a guest speaker on the River City Real Estate Radio Show. Try saying that 10 times fast!) My friend Sam George, a fabulous Realtor in Louisville was with me as well. We were there to talk about home inspections, and the most common questions people have about what I…

Home Inspection Stories | Stories from the trenches | The way it is

Doing my job….and people hate me for it.

ByBen Hendricks September 7, 2014January 4, 2016

I got a phone call this week from a listing agent about a home I inspected a few days prior. Now, getting phone calls from Realtors that have questions about a particular item on a home inspection report is nothing out of the ordinary. But this call was different. This guy was angry. He was angry…

Home Repair | The way it is

How to Prevent a Leaky Basement

ByBen Hendricks July 27, 2014January 1, 2022

Let me start by saying there is no such thing as a waterproof basement. When you build part of your house underground, there is always a chance you could get some water leaking in. Ask anyone who has lived in a home with a basement for a long time. Most have dealt with water…

Safety

Our Newest Inspector…ED-E.

ByBen Hendricks June 8, 2014May 13, 2019

For years, really tall chimneys and hidden valleys on big roofs have been a thorn in my side. I really do try to get to every square inch of the roof with my own two eyes, but sometimes it’s not feasible. I am as close to Spiderman on a roof as it comes, but I…

Home Repair

Repairing a Leaking Plumbing Vent

ByBen Hendricks April 16, 2014February 5, 2022

Do you have small water stains appearing on your ceiling? The problem is likely the flashing around your plumbing vents. One of the most common, if not the most common problem I find with inspecting roofs, is a leaking flashing boot around the plumbing vent pipe. When these fail, water gets in to places where…

Building it Correctly | Home Inspection Stories | The way it is

The 15 Year Curse

ByBen Hendricks March 16, 2014May 1, 2018

I’m seeing a trend lately with home buyers. Lots and lots of people are looking to buy a house in the 15 year old category. 15, give or take a few years. But buying a house in that age range can be the kiss of death. Because almost every big ticket item within a…

Home Inspection Stories | New Construction | Stories from the trenches | The way it is

5 Things you don’t know about Hiring a Home Inspector

ByBen Hendricks February 25, 2014February 23, 2022

So your real estate agent just called and said you have an accepted offer on that new house. Congratulations! And oh, by the way, you have 7 days to get an inspection. Better get on the horn pronto and find a home inspector. This is an all too familiar scenario for lots of folks. But do you…

Plumbing

How to check a leaking toilet

ByBen Hendricks January 13, 2014February 5, 2022

Leaking toilets can cost a homeowner hundreds of dollars a year. Testing your toilets is a simple process of adding a bit of food coloring to your tank and waiting. If the colored water makes it into the bowl without flushing the toilet, you have a leaking toilet!

Building it Correctly | New Construction | The way it is

Deck Damage: Is your back-yard escape ruining your home?

ByBen Hendricks March 22, 2013November 22, 2020

With spring just around the corner, your neighborhood lumber yard will soon be full of people buying stacks of treated lumber, ready to build a brand new deck. Some are DIY’ers, some are paying a contractor, but from what I can see, they all need a little help. Remember the viral video of the Indiana…

Be green. Save green.

Energy Saving Program in Kentucky Saves Homeowners Big Bucks.

ByBen Hendricks September 17, 2011November 22, 2020

As a very hot summer comes to a close, heating your home may be the last thing on your mind. But with winter coming (for my fellow GOT fans) I’ve got some great news for you. There is a little known program available that can save you a lot of money. How does a 20% savings…

The way it is

Why You Should Get a Home Inspection

ByBen Hendricks May 9, 2011May 13, 2019

I’m stoked to have my friend Sam George, a pro-Realtor here in Louisville to weigh in on the inspection process, and what buyers should be doing. She’s dishing up some sage words so get that note pad handy. Ahh, the home inspection. It’s a significant part of the home buying process that often isn’t given…

Stories from the trenches

New construction homes need an inspection too.

ByBen Hendricks November 14, 2010November 22, 2020

The Prelude: Last week, I was at a home inspection for a client on a house that was 4 years old. The seller of the house had the home built new, by a custom builder. What tons of folks seem to not understand, or just don’t know, is that a home builder is only as good…

Building it Correctly

Home Inspectors vs Code Inspectors

ByBen Hendricks August 22, 2010November 22, 2020

Let’s talk about something that many, many people get confused about, or just don’t understand. I get asked on a daily basis if the home I just inspected “passed.” There is no pass or fail when it comes to a home inspection. Only code inspectors declare a pass or fail for a dwelling. What is…

Plumbing

Is there a bomb ticking under your sink?

ByBen Hendricks May 30, 2010November 22, 2020

Water. The substance of life. We can’t live without it. And there’s nothing better than indoor plumbing. Don’t think so? Ask your favorite senior sometime about walking through 12 inches of snow in sub-zero temperatures just to use the bathroom. But with all the greatness that indoor plumbing holds, people have made a few mistakes along the…

Safety

The low down on Mold.

ByBen Hendricks March 20, 2010May 13, 2019

Nasty stuff. Nasty stuff indeed. But what classifies a person to be considered a “Mold Professional.” This is where marketing spins start to twist like a F5 tornado. I do not advertise mold inspection, I never will. Why? Because it would not be honest for me to do so. The first thing I do when…

Safety

Only you can prevent fores…clothes dryer fires

ByBen Hendricks February 25, 2010November 22, 2020

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are an estimated 15,500 fires, 10 deaths and 10 injuries every year due to clothes dryer fires. Several hundred people a year are also subjected to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning from improper dryer vents. The total damages come to nearly $100,000,000 yearly. That’s one hundred million dollars a year….

Building it Correctly

Priming…yeah it’s that important.

ByBen Hendricks February 18, 2010November 23, 2020

Priming…Most people hate it. Why? They think it’s extra work. I’m here to tell you it’s not, and your finished product will turn out much better with its use. I used to be a manager at a certain big retail giant…let’s call them “Glowe’s.” One busy Saturday at Glowe’s I was stopped in the lumber department by…

Building it Correctly

Don’t weep for your home, let it weep for you.

ByBen Hendricks February 9, 2010November 23, 2020

Does your home weep? If you live in a brick veneer home, the answer better be yes. What are weep holes? The short answer is that they allow water to drain out from the inside of the wall, and allow air to circulate on the backside of a brick wall to help dry out the moisture. They…

Stories from the trenches

Another kind of cold shower

ByBen Hendricks February 6, 2010November 23, 2020

You guys will LOVE this. My first home inspection of the day was an older home, built around 1932. From the outside, the house looks to be in decent shape. A quick walk around it showed only minor problems. I do my thing outside, and head indoors. Nothing too shocking here either. I head upstairs and start in the…

Home Inspection Blog

Aluminum Wire in Branch Circuits

How to Air Seal Electrical Boxes in 3 Steps

Best of 2014 Part 2

Best Of 2014 Part 1

River City Real Estate Radio Show

Doing my job….and people hate me for it.

How to Prevent a Leaky Basement

Our Newest Inspector…ED-E.

Repairing a Leaking Plumbing Vent

The 15 Year Curse

5 Things you don’t know about Hiring a Home Inspector

How to check a leaking toilet

Deck Damage: Is your back-yard escape ruining your home?

Energy Saving Program in Kentucky Saves Homeowners Big Bucks.

Why You Should Get a Home Inspection

New construction homes need an inspection too.

Home Inspectors vs Code Inspectors

Is there a bomb ticking under your sink?

The low down on Mold.

Only you can prevent fores…clothes dryer fires

Priming…yeah it’s that important.

Don’t weep for your home, let it weep for you.

Another kind of cold shower

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