by Mike Cummins | Feb 16, 2014 | Interiors and Finishes
Do you notice cracking at the wall to ceiling intersections in your home that seem to worsen in the winter and all but disappear in the summer? Your home is likely experiencing a phenomenon known as truss lift. Trusses are engineered assemblies made of wood or metal...
by Mike Cummins | Dec 15, 2013 | Home Inspection
Freezing temperatures can cause pipes to rupture resulting in significant water damage to your home. Most homes are safe if they are occupied but even in these homes, pipes located in an exterior wall can freeze in extreme cold situations. If below-zero temperatures...
by Mike Cummins | Nov 17, 2013 | Exterior, Home Inspection, Interiors and Finishes
Ensuring there is proper drainage around your foundation is critical to maintaining a dry basement or crawlspace and to prevent movement or damage to the footings of your home. Water standing against the foundation will eventually find its way in to your home through...
by Mike Cummins | Nov 10, 2013 | Fireplaces and Woodstoves, Home Inspection
As winter approaches, cold nights make a fireplace a welcome addition to your home. Following a few simple guidelines can keep your fireplace safe for you and your family. Always visually inspect the firebox and flue damper before starting a fire Damaged firebricks or...
by Mike Cummins | Nov 3, 2013 | Plumbing
Are your plumbing pipes noisy? Do you hear a loud bang or slamming sound when you turn off a faucet? This noise is referred to as “water hammer”. Water hammer occurs when a rapid flow of water is suddenly halted as happens when you turn off a faucet or...
by Mike Cummins | Oct 27, 2013 | Heating & Cooling
Most homes and buildings today use a thermostat to control a central heating/cooling system. In addition to regulating the indoor temperature, they also control air movement through the house when a forced-air heating and/or cooling system is in use. Thermostats can...
by Mike Cummins | Oct 20, 2013 | Heating & Cooling
Forced hot air furnaces can cause the air in your home to become very dry and uncomfortable. Excessively dry air can cause irritation to skin and breathing passages. A solution is to add humidity or moisture back to the air through the use of a humidifier. There are...
by Mike Cummins | Oct 10, 2013 | Home Inspection, Structural
Many houses have one or more concrete foundation cracks. Vertical cracks in the foundation visible in the basement or crawlspace are typically not structural defects. However multiple vertical cracks or any horizontal cracking in a single wall can indicate a serious...
by Mike Cummins | Sep 26, 2013 | Electrical
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (or GFCI’s) are electrical safety devices designed to prevent serious injury to users in damp environments. This type of electrical receptacle can sense conditions that can cause electrical shock and will disconnect power to the...
