You can avoid or solve most basement seepage problems by following these simple corrective steps, which are listed in order of priority. Keep gutters and downspouts clean and direct them away from the basement. Downspouts must be routed to a storm sewer or at least 6 feet away from...
home inspector
Bob’s Top Picks
As a Certified Master Home Inspector, I am often asked by homeowners to refer them to other trusted professionals. Of course I do recommend before having any work done or contracting with any professional a homeowner should get at least 3 quotes, but here are a list of people...
Fireplace Facts
Purchasing a home with a fireplace or stove or adding one on to your existing home can provide tremendous benefit in heat efficiency as well as contribute to your home’s resale value. In fact, one of the top investments you can do to your home remodeling job is to...
Refrigerator Gasket
Replace your refrigerator gasket on your own. A cracked or worn refrigerator gasket wastes energy and it costs you a lot of money. But, replacing it is easy. Just follow these simple steps to replace yours. Write down your model number and purchase a new gasket at your local...
Radon
The EPA and organizations nationwide dedicate January as National Radon Action Month to encourage the public to test their homes for radon and get radon problems fixed. Did you know? Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer for non smokers. Nearly 1 in 15 homes in the U.S....
Dryer Connection
As a Certified Master Inspector I get lots of questions from my clients. Here’s an example of a question I got just recently about dryers. Q. Bob, you did an inspection for me in Racine a month or so ago. I have question I hope you can help me...
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Here’s a great energy saving tip: Simply by replacing one 60-Watt incandescent light bulb with one 13-Watt Compact Fluorescent light bulb (CFL) in your home, will not only would help you prevent a significant amount of toxins from pouring into our environment, but you will save money in the...
Burning Odor from Light Fixture
Your nose knows. If you smell something burning and it’s coming from your light fixture don’t ignore it. If a light fixture gives off a burning smell, disconnect the fixture until you have determined the source of the odor. Overheating electrical wires and devices often emit a burning smell....
Thermostats
Turn down the heat at night or while you are away? A common misconception associated with thermostats is that a furnace works harder than normal to warm the space back to a comfortable temperature after the thermostat has been turned down, resulting in little or no savings. This misconception...
Basement Seepage
It’s that time of the year again! Unfortunately, heavy spring rains bring water problems to many basements. Basement leaks not only make life miserable for a home owner, but they can weaken the foundation of your home. Basement walls should seal out a moderate amount of water, but few...
