One small device can do more than detect a poisonous and fatal gas; it can save millions of lives. Every day, families across the United States are saved by carbon monoxide alarms in their homes. This small device can alert families early on of a carbon monoxide leak, before it’s too late. Wouldn’t you want […]
Don’t Be Shocked! GFCI
In an everyday home inspection, it is quite common that we find electrical concerns that should be addressed for safety. One common occurrence that we often find is a faulty or missing ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). Many people may be shocked to learn why they need one in the first place and why this […]
Deadly Metals Found in Hard Water
In the United States, roughly 85 percent of homes depend on a hard water supply, according to the Virginia Cooperative Extension. This type of water can be defined as “any water supply that consists of excess metals or minerals”. Hard water is often times safe to consume or use; however, it can create an assortment […]
The Hazards of Asbestos Containing Materials
When most people hear the word Asbestos, they instantly cringe. However, asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral found throughout the world and is used in virtually thousands of products. Consequently, very small trace amounts of the substance can be found in the air we breathe. The word asbestos is derived from a Greek adjective, meaning […]
Hot Tips for a Cooler House
Many homeowners rely on air conditioning units to run problem free and effectively in the home. However, many homeowners aren’t aware of proper maintenance and care required for the unit. Proper upkeep of these systems will ensure ideal operation, while resulting in significant cost savings on power consumption and increased operating life. In addition to […]
Dryer Dangers
Most of us see performing the mundane task of laundry as just that, mundane. We often don’t put much thought into placing dirty clothes into the washer, from the washer to the dryer and from the dryer back to our closets. But how many of us think one of those steps can be a hazard […]
Dealing with Home and Basement Drainage
Many homeowners have at some point or another experienced unwanted water, seepage, or flooding in their basements. These events occur in an unpredictable fashion almost all the time. Homeowners should be knowledgeable in methods on how to deal with surface and subsurface drainage in basement and crawl space areas. You never know when a situation […]
The Good News About Radon
What is radon? Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas that has been found in homes ll over the world. It is the result of decay from uranium and occurs naturally underground in soil, rock, and water. Wisconsin has a relatively elevated level of uranium in the soil that is believed to have been left behind […]
The Myths of Ice Dam Solutions
There are several ways to prevent and eliminate ice damming that can be easily completed by a homeowner or a professional contractor. Many of these quick and easy ways can temporarily remove an ice dam; however, they are not necessarily the best prevention method. In this section, we will address common practices that are used […]
Winter Weather Creates Recipe for Ice Dams
Winter is fully upon us and you may have noticed layers of ice and snow building up on your or your roof. You may have also seen this on other buildings, old or new. This type of accumulation, along with a dip in the temperature, is a perfect combination for ice dams to form. In […]