Home Inspections: For a Cause

Here are some interesting facts about deck failure: More decks collapse in the summer than during the rest of the year combined. Almost every deck collapse occurred while the decks were occupied or under a heavy snow load. There is no correlation between deck failure and whether the deck was built with or without a building permit. There is no correlation between deck failure and whether the deck was built by a homeowner or a professional contractor.... There is a slight correlation between deck failure and the age of the deck. About 90% of deck collapses occurred as a result of the separation of the house and the deck ledger board, allowing the deck to swing away from the house. It is very rare for deck floor joists to break mid-span. Many more injuries are the result of rail failure, rather than complete deck collapse. Deck stairs are notorious for lacking graspable handrails. Many do-it-yourself homeowners, and even contractors, don't believe that rail infill spacing codes apply to decks. Have your deck inspected for the summer season by Home Inspections: For a Cause to insure your safety. 845-857-4634 #deckinspection #homeinspector #homesafety #bettersafethansorry

A plugged dryer vent can be in-efficient and possibly a cause a house fire. Dryers centrally located in homes are more prone to plugging due to the long run on the exhaust duct. Excess lint is only one reason for duct plugging, pest nesting and stuck hood flappers can also plug a dryer duct. Strong odors and longer dry times are two signs that your vent is plugged. You can clean your duct by removing it from the back of the dryer and using a dry vac or a duct cleaning kit wh...ich includes a brush on a long flexible handle which connects to a drill. If your ducts needs to be replaced, it is recommended to install a smooth rigid metal duct compared to a corrugated flexible duct which is more likely to get clogged. Avoid plastic ducks all together, they can also be a fire hazard. Call Home Inspections: For a Cause to make sure you are buying a safe home. 845-857-4634 #CleanYourDryerDucts #HomeInspections #SafeHome #90DayBuyBackGuarantee #FireSafety #HudsonValley See more

Are you one of those people who have trees growing in their gutters or downspouts that terminate near the foundation? During a home inspection, we always explain to clients the importance of a properly functioning gutter system, and the potential problems that an undersized or damaged system can create. A few inches of rain falling on the roof of a house can produce several thousand gallons of water runoff. This runoff must be channeled away from the home's foundation. Otherw...ise, the excess water can quickly saturate the soil surrounding the building and wick through the foundation to the interior. Once inside, this moisture can lead to a variety of problems, including mold and wood rot. Excess moisture can also cause indoor air quality problems. One of the biggest problems that people don’t think about is settling of the home which can lead to cracks in the foundation and structural defects. Some important factors a home owner should consider include: -gutters and underground drainage systems are clean of leaf’s and debris to eliminate back up and overflow -gutter system is adequately sized to prevent runoff -that the gutters are free of rust, cracks and holes in order to prevent leaking -that the downspouts divert water 4 to 6 feet away from the home's foundation Call Home Inspections: For a Cause before making the largest purchase of your life. 845-857-4636 @home_inspections_fac #HomeInspectors #Gutters #CrackedFoundation #BasementFlooding #CleanYourGutters #ExtendYourGutters

With a background in energy efficiency, I can’t miss out on a an Earth Day post. Whether it’s solar, geothermal, insulation, air sealing, smart or energy star appliances, lighting, double pane windows or just changing your behaviors, Home Inspections: For a Cause will give your home an energy efficiency grade and all the recommendations you need to make your dream home comfortable and affordable to live in. To purchase efficient equipment at a rebated cost visit https://www.myorustore.com/ . Every utility in NY has a similar online store. For more information call Home Inspections: For a Cause at 845-857-4634 or visit http://homeinspectionsfac.com/ HAPPY DAY!

During a home inspection, Home Inspections: For a Cause opens and inspects every electric panel. We are looking for signs of rust, proper grounding, room for expansion, aluminum wiring, and double tapped breakers. Aluminum wire expands and contracts when it heats and cools, which makes the wire more likely to come loose from a breaker which could lead to a wire sparking and possibly starting a fire. A double tapped breaker means there are two wires going into one breaker. It ...is more likely for wires to come loose from a double tapped breaker which could lead to loose connections, arcing, and potentially a wire sparking and starting a fire. In the photos below you will see a service upgrade from 100amps to 200amps, a double tapped breaker, and aluminum wiring. Call Home Inspections: For a Cause to complete a full electrical inspection at your home today. 845-857-4634 www.homeinspectionsfac.com See more

Galvanized pipes are steel pipes that have been coated with zinc in an attempt to prevent rust and corrosion. Unfortunately galvanized pipes corrode and rust on the inside after years of exposure to water, which is bad news for your plumbing considering how frequently water runs through it. If you scratch your pipes with the screwdriver and they’re the same color as a penny, they’re most likely made of copper. Additionally, your magnet shouldn’t stick to copper pipe. If your... pipes are white, capped in places, and a magnet doesn’t stick to them, you’re probably already aware they’re plastic. If you scratch the surface of your pipe revealing a grayish-silver color and a magnet does stick to them, your pipes are galvanized steel. On the other hand, if your pipe scratches easily due to a soft metal, is gray in color, and a magnet doesn’t stick to it, you may be dealing with lead pipes, which will need to be replaced as soon as possible. These lovely photos were taken of the drain pipe below my kitchen sink, Draino isn’t fixing this one. If you’re unsure or have questions, call Home Inspections: For a Cause. 845-857-4634 www.homeinapectionsfac.com @ Chester, New York See more