How to address window condensation in the home. Each fall when we turn on our home heating systems, many of us experience condensation on windows: “steam” on the inside, or in extreme cases, water running down the glass. This condition may be only a temporary annoyance, but it could...
Bob Beisbier
Furnace Facts
Today, new furnaces are generally between 85-98% efficient. If a furnace is 96% efficient, it simply means that 96% of the energy that goes into the furnace is converted into heat. Older furnaces in 30+-year-old homes, can be as low as 60% efficient. Thus, upgrading to a 96% efficient...
Mud-jacking Uneven Pavement
There was a time when the only remedy for sinking sidewalks, patios, steps, or uneven foundations was to tear out the old pavement slab and pour a new one, and spend a great deal of time and money in the process. A sunken concrete sidewalk in desperate need of...
Ghosting, or Discolored Shadows on Walls and Other Surfaces
No, it’s not spooky spirits in your home! Ghosting is a term that refers to discoloration that appears on surfaces in a home such as walls. The source of this discoloration can be a mystery to anyone not familiar with the phenomenon, but it is really very simple. Ghosting...
Master Home Inspector Frequently Asked Questions: Foundations
As a Master Home Inspector I get lots of questions from individuals about insulation and their home’s foundation. Here are a few great questions along with the answers I share with inquiring home owners to help them save money and protect their home and their family. If a basement...
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
A new law in Wisconsin that became effective on February 1, 2011, requires that most homes in Wisconsin have carbon monoxide detectors. What you need to know is that all single family homes with an attached garage, a fireplace, or fuel burning appliances (including a gas forced air furnace)...
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is an important VOC to test for due to its known toxicity and health implications. Testing for formaldehyde can also result in peace of mind for the customer when the levels turn out to be low. However, it is important to measure formaldehyde in newer homes, particularly if...
Energy Saving Tips
Small Appliances Cook with small appliances. Cook with your toaster oven, electric skillet and slow cooker for specialized jobs, rather than the range. Small appliances use less energy. Use the microwave. Microwave ovens shorten cooking times, which saves energy. Clean or replace air filters. Replace filters on exhaust hoods,...
Plants That Clean Your Indoor Air
The natural way to clean air in your home. Common house plants such as the Boston fern, English ivy, and spider plant are inexpensive, ecologically sound, aesthetically pleasing ways to filter toxins from your home, particularly during these winter months when you are likely to spend most of your...
New Construction Inspections
Don’t assume your new home is perfect when your builder hands you the keys. In 1995, I bought a house and the builder went broke shortly after closing. I had built numerous houses in the past, but I did not inspect this house when it was being built, which...
