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Protecting Your Home From Rodents This Winter

rickerickson — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:25:35 +0000

It’s winter and the critters living outside are looking for a warm place to spend the winter. Your home offers everything that mice, chipmunks, and squirrels are looking for, warmth, water and food. Last winter I had a chipmunk find a small opening at the base of my outdoor hot tub. Between the chipmunk and the mice, they had a great time staying warm… and destroying insulation and wiring.

Rodents can be cute in cartoons and movies, but it’s not so cute when they find their way into your home. Your house, especially your kitchen provides all that a mouse could possibly ask for.

These critters are a threat to you r home as they can carry disease, cause structural damage to your home, and contaminate food. Wiring that has been gnawed on by mice have been known to start fires in homes. They spread disease through their urine, feces and bites. Ticks and fleas can also be brought into your home and can carry infections to humans after feeding on rodents.

Rodent proofing your home can be fairly easy. Rats can fit through a hole roughly the size of a quarter, and a mouse can get through a hole smaller than a dime. Your first line of defense is to block all access and keep them from getting into your home in the first place.

* Replace any damaged or missing weather stripping and seal cracks at exterior doors.

* Place ¼ inch screen over all external openings and vents.

* Seal any gaps at your foundation.

* Trim back branches and shrubs that come into contact with or hang over your home.

* Keep all ground vegetation trimmed back at least 12 inches from your home.

* Keep the interior of your home and garage clean.

* All food and garbage should be stored in sealed containers

* Do not leave pet food or dirty dishes sitting around over night.

If you have done everything you can and still have rodents in your home, it is important to contact a professional. Mice can colonize under concrete and porches, in your attic and other hard to reach places. A professional exterminator will have the tools and techniques to rid you of these unwanted pests.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections, Serving Rochester and Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942

Why You Should Keep Your Water Heater Properly Maintained

rickerickson — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 13:53:50 +0000

: Dangerous Water Heater

: Dangerous Water Heater

During the course of a home inspection I remind clients that in order for appliances to operate safely and efficiently, they should be maintained on a regular schedule as recommended by the manufacturer. In the photos above you will see a water heater that I came across at a home inspection. Clearly there are some combustion issues. This is evident by the flame blow out at the main burner at the bottom of the unit, as well as the soot blow back at the upper vent stack. This home was vacant and the gas was shut off so I could not check to see if the flame was proper and if the unit was venting properly. Flames blowing out of the bottom of the water heater could result in ignition of combustible materials close to the water heater. The back draft at the vent stack would be releasing Carbon Monoxide into the room. I recommended service prior to operation to ensure that the unit operates properly.

Pit Bulls… Good Boys… Do They Eat Home Inspectors?

rickerickson — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:10:06 +0000

Pit Bulls Attack Door Knob

This has got to be a first. I have seen where dogs will scratch the heck out of a door and trim, but never have I seen several, yes several door knobs chewed, at a home inspection. The owners of this home had two Pit Bulls. Fortunately for me, they had been removed from the property prior to my arrival for the home inspection. I suspect these fellows had a little separation anxiety during the day while the owners were at work.

Protecting Your Landscaping During The Snowy Season

rickerickson — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 13:06:28 +0000

We all put a lot of time and hard work into your yard during the summer. It’s late fall and you have taken the time to get things ready for winter. You know the drill: make sure your plans are all well watered before the ground freezes. Move house plans indoors. Clean up the flower beds, remove, cut back, mulch…etc.

Now, winter is on the way. What can you do keep your landscaping healthy when the winds are blowing, the snow is falling and your yard is a frozen tundra.

Wind blown or fallen snow seldom harms your plans, but you need to take precautions when dumping or plowing snow. Damage can occur to your plans when driveways, streets and sidewalks are plowed or shoveled.

When de-icing sidewalks and driveways make sure to use product that will not harm your plants. There are newer products out there that contain magnesium chloride. These products will work well in temperatures down to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit and remains effective longer that some of the old stand by ice melters.

In addition to being a great ice melter, magnesium chloride provides additional befits to plants. Magnesium is a necessary nutrient, and magnesium chloride is used in agriculture. So using magnesium chloride deicers to clear your walks in winter protects your plants and helps to fertilize them year round.

Magnesium chloride’s low melting temperature helps to minimize freeze/thaw cycles. This means it’s a little friendlier to concrete. By reducing freeze/thaw cycles, you reduce potential damage to concrete.

One final thought for those days when snow blankets your landscaping: Snow can be your friend. Snow on the ground helps protect roots by insulating them from extreme cold. And it’s a self-regulating source of water; plants need water in the winter, and snow on the ground automatically provides moisture when there’s a thaw, even if temperatures get barely above freezing.

Following a couple of rules can help you to protect your plants and stay safe during the winter months. Don’t throw heavy snow on delicate plants, and when you buy an ice melter, choose a product with magnesium chloride that can keep your walks clear while protecting your plants and landscaping.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections, Serving Rochester and Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942

Fall Home Maintenance Tips

rickerickson — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:25:20 +0000

Here we are, the end of October. Summer is over and we need to start thinking about preparing for winter. Below are some recommended home maintenance tips you should consider before the snow starts to fly.

Gutters and Downspouts

If you live in an area that has tall trees, you may have gutters full of leaves and debris. Check your gutters and clear any debris from them. Make sure that your downspouts are clear so that the gutters can drain properly. Also make sure that he downspouts discharge is directed away from the home. You may have to do this a couple of time during the season to insure that any water from the roof easily flows from your roof and out into the yard, away from your foundation.

Storm Windows

If your home has storm windows, now is the time to make sure that they are clean and in good condition. Preparing them for installation now while the temperatures are still mild will make it easier to install when you are ready to pull the screens and install your storm windows in a couple of weeks.

Doors and Windows

Doors and windows should be inspected to insure they close and seal properly. The most commonly damaged seal on doors is the threshold seal at the bottom. Make sure it is in good condition. Replace if damaged. Check the weather stripping around the rest of the doors and windows. Adjust, add or replace if there are gaps or damage. Proper weather stripping and seals will keep the moisture and cold air outside where it belongs, and will help to control your energy costs.

Dryer Vents

You should perform an inspection of your dryer vents at least twice a year. Make sure that they are not have lint build up and that the exterior flapper works properly. Short runs can be cleaned with a shop vac. Longer runs may need to have a brush snaked through them, or be cleaned professionally. Clogged dryer vents result in longer, energy consuming, dry times as well as a potential fire hazard. A half inch build up of lint in a 4 inch duct reduces the opening by 5.5 square inches.

Exterior Openings

Rodents know winter is coming so they are on the lookout for their winter homes. Make sure that all exterior openings are sealed. In addition, make sure that all exterior vents are screened. Mice can squeeze through a ¼ inch home, so if you leave openings larger than that, you will most probably have some winter guests.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections, Serving Rochester and Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942

Small Water Savings Tips That Have A Big Impact

rickerickson — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 18:59:58 +0000

Water and Sewer bills can be as high as $500 for the average household. According to the EPA, you can save up to $170 per year and conserve resources by making just a few small changes in your water usage. From replacing old and inefficient appliances to making small changes in your home, you have the potential to realize savings. Below are some tips for you to follow:

Bathrooms

The single largest use of water in your home can be attributed to your toilets. A leaky toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water in a single day. That’s a lot of water over the course of a year. It is estimated that 20% of all toilets leak, and some so slowly that a leak can go undetected for years.

You can perform a leak inspection yourself to see if your toilets are leaking by adding a few drops of food coloring to the toilet tank. If there is a leak, you will start seeing the colored water in the bowl within a few minutes. Once you determine whether you have a leak or not, flush the toilet to clear out the colored water and to avoid staining the porcelain. If you are unable to fix the leak, you could consider purchasing and installing a new high efficiency toilet. Some of these high efficiency toilets have a dual flush system which will allow for a 0.8 gallon or a 1.6 gallon flush. There are also toilet retrofit flush mechanisms that will allow you to convert an existing toilet to a dual flush. These dual flush options can save up to 6000 gallons of water over the course of a year.

Kitchens
Did you know that a faucet in the kitchen, dripping one drip per second can add up to 3000 gallons of wasted water per year. A drip may seem like a small deal but it can cost you a bunch in the long run. Faucet drips can typically be fixed by replacing the seals. Seal kits are inexpensive and fairly simple to install.

Only use your dishwasher when full. Running partial loads wastes water and electricity. There are dish washers out there that have half load options or express wash cycles that can be used for small loads or lightly soiled dishes. You may want to consider one of these models if you are in the market for a new dish washer.

Lawns

Of course we all want to have a nice green lawn. Keeping your lawn and garden green can account for at least 30% of your household water usage. There are some smart watering techniques that you can use to help reduce your water usage outside. Watering in the cool morning will reduce evaporation. Sprinklers should be positioned so that they aren’t watering sidewalks, driveways or the street.

By keeping your eye on a few of the potential water wasting areas of your hole, you can help to conserve a precious natural resource and save yourself utility costs.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections, Serving Rochester and Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942

Crumbling Porch Brick Work

rickerickson — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 16:19:20 +0000

Crumbling Front Porch

This is an example of one way not to repair a crumbling porch. Over time the elements got to the outer later of this porch brickwork. Mortar and bricks became loose and fell out. What the home owner did was to provide bracing to keep addotional courses of block from falling out.

I did not do a home inspection on this property. The picture was taken from the street of a home I was driving by when I saw the condition of the porch structure. It is not know if there was any kind of Safery issue related ith the deteriorated brick work.

Garage Door Opener Maintenance Tips

rickerickson — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:39:07 +0000

If you have a garage, chances are that you also have at least one garage door opener. Your garage door opener is one of those things that runs day in and day out for years..until it doesn’t. Like anything, your garage door opener will operate properly, for a long time if it is properly maintained.

There are two main types of garage door openers used today. The Chain Drive is the most widely used, followed by the Screw Drive. At least a couple of times a year you should inspect your garage door and make any necessary adjustments and maintenance. Below are some tips to help you keep your garage door opener maintained and operating properly for years to come.

Loose Bolts/Hardware

The major problem with garage door openers is the vibration as a result of the door going up and down. Take a screwdriver, ratchet or adjustable wrench and make sure that all nuts, bolts and screws are snug up and tight.

Lubrication

Keeping your chain or lead screw oiled will help to reduce wear, noise and corrosion. A properly oiled chain and lead screw will operate more smoothly and last longer. You should also make sure that the garage door rails and wheels are properly greased so that they slide easily without binding.

Chain

As I point out at many home inspections, it is important that the chain does not have excessive slack. Excessive slack will cause your door to close hard, and not travel smoothly. In some cases the uneven and jerking movement from a loose chain can result in cracking at the top panel where the lift mechanism is attached. Make sure that your chain is taught, and not over tightened.

Electric Eye and Auto Reverse

These safety features help to prevent the garage door from coming down on and crushing or pinning an object, human or a pet. Make sure that the electric eyes are un-obstructed and clean. With the door traveling downward, simply pass an object into the light beam. If they are working properly they should reverse the door to open. The auto reverse has two screws located on the garage door assembly that are used to adjust how much force will be applied before the door reverses. If physically obstructed in the downward travel, the door should easily reverse. If the door does not reverse when lightly obstructed, simply adjust the down force screw until the door reverses with only a slight amount of obstruction.

Light Bulb

One of the most underrated areas of your garage door opener is the light bulb. Most people never even think about the light until it quits working. It’s a good idea to change your light bulb every 18-24 months just to make sure that it works when you need it.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections, Serving Rochester and Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942

How Not To Fix A Leaking Drum Trap

rickerickson — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 17:57:46 +0000

How Not To Fix A Leaking Drum Trap

Not sure how to fix a leaking drum trap? Well, neither was this guy. He did however find a way to direct the leak to a drain, in the basement shower below. Some string, a funnel and some old garden hose and we’re good.

During home inspections I frequently come abross several unique ways to stop leaks from coating with silicone or epoxy, hanging buckets under them and such. It’s really best to have the leak properly resolved. Who wants to be exposed to whatever is leaking out of this thing.

Special thanks go out to Trent Martin over at Mr Rooter Plumbing for sharing this photo.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector. HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942

Is it time to replace your water heater?

rickerickson — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:53:17 +0000

Water Heater Corrosion

Most water heaters last 10 to 15 years. Wet spots on the floor or rust on your tank may signal that you have a problem. Lots of rust flakes in the combustion chamber will also indicate the water heater is near the end of its useful life. Other signs that the hot water heater is at the end of life is when the water smells like rotten eggs or, when the heater is heating, sounds like there are marbles rolling around inside the tank. When any of these signs are noted, the tank is usually between 10 and 15 years old and ready for replacement. It is best to replace a heater before it leaks and avoid any water damage.

When installing a new heater install a catch pan under the heater, if possible, with a drain line to the exterior of the house or a floor drain. If a leak develops and you have a catch pan and drain, the water will be diverted and discharged of properly. Metal or plastic drain pans are inexpensive and well worth the protection they provide in the event of a leak.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector. HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942