Inspectors Blog

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Rochester MN Home Inspection Company Discusses Wet Basements

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The number one culprit for causing water penetration into the basement of a house is rain gutter downspouts discharging rain water right alongside the foundation. All downspouts should discharge the water at least five feet or more from the foundation.

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Summer Storm Damage – Now What?

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It’s Summer, and if you haven’t noticed yet, we have had a few storms. Once a storm has passed and it is safe to go outside, make a careful inspection of the exterior of your home and repair any minor damage that may have occurred.

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Caulking Around You Tub And Shower

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Something that every home owner should learn to do is caulk. Proper caulking can be your first defense against water intrusion. Whether you are caulking a tub or shower the hardest part of the whole job is cleaning out the old caulk. The newer silicone cauls work best and will last for years if installed properly.

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Rochester MN Home Inspection Company Discusses Knob and Tube Wiring

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On many of the home inspections I do on older homes, I come across knob and tube wiring that is still live but should be removed and replaced. Unfortunately, over the years, this type of system is prone to problems due to age, damage, improper alterations and deterioration.

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Ice Damming Discussed at Rochester MN Home Inspection

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As stated in the video, we had over 40 inches of snow here in Rochester during the month of December. Then to top it off we had above freezing weather and rain. This resulted in ice daming on most all homes in the area.

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Mold Growth On Basement Woodwork

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This video is showing mold growth and staining in a split level basement ledge of the exterior wall. The basement was finished off about a year ago, with the mold and staining starting within the last two months. The owner pointed out this problem during the home inspection and asked me if I could help to figure out the cause. This wall was the only one in the basement that had this problem. All other areas were dry at the time of the home inspection.

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Rochester MN Home Inspector Explains Radon Mitigation System

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In this video, the home inspector explains the components of the Radon Mitigation system that is installed in his home. Starting with the sump basket, up through the attic and onto the roof. This Radon Mitigation system lowered the Radon in this home from 11.6 pCi/l to 0.8pCi/liter.

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Protecting Your Home During Severe Winter Weather

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It’s the end of January, and with that comes cold, bitter weather here in the Rochester MN area. Higher energy costs, burst or frozen pipes, ice dams, chimney fires and power outages are just some of the hazards and inconveniences that winter can bring.

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Garden Hoses Pose Potential For Frozen Water Lines

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Leaving garden hoses connected to external water faucets can result in frozen and possibly split water lines. At this home inspection in Rochester MN, I came across two hose faucets that had garden hoses attached to them. These hose faucets are the Anti Freeze/Anti Siphon type and are designed not to freeze...provided you remove the garden hoses.

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