Hey! What happened to my patio cover?
Clearly shocked she cried "WHAT? I am not going to have a patio cover?!" Oh my...you just can't make this stuff up!
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Stacey Tjarks
- Mar 31, 2019
- 1 min
Home Inspection Reveals Failing Retaining Wall
Photo evidence of a slope in motion and a retaining wall in distress. The pushed forward blocks and mortar cracks in this retaining wall are a clear call for action. If you have a retaining wall on your property and see this happening do not ignore it. If tree roots are impacting the wall remove the damaging roots (and/or the whole tree) and have a qualified professional repair the damage. If blocks are being pushed forward reach out to a qualified professional to evaluate th
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Stacey Tjarks
- Mar 23, 2019
- 1 min
Gas Heater and Water Heater Drip Leg or Sediment Trap is Required
Drip legs and sediment traps are a capped off section of gas line that is designed and installed to catch debris or moisture in the gas line to keep the system clean. Unfortunately, the lack of, or incorrect installation of, a drip leg or sediment trap is another common item found by home inspectors daily. In this case, a drip leg was improperly installed in a horizontal position and will not perform its required function. Moisture and debris will simply pass by the assembly
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Stacey Tjarks
- Feb 25, 2019
- 1 min
Plastic In The Fireplace "You Can't Make This Stuff Up"
Another "you can't make this stuff up" moment in home inspection. Someone actually installed a plastic gas valve handle INSIDE this fireplace. When you are buying a home do not trust that common sense has prevailed during construction or repair. Trust an educated, qualified home inspector to make sure that common sense prevails at the time you take ownership! Call ProSpect Home Diagnostics at 951-767-0192 to schedule your inspection today! . . . .#prospecthdinspections #homei
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Stacey Tjarks
- Feb 13, 2019
- 1 min
Is your family breathing in fiberglass?
Check inside the return air for your forced air unit. Whether it is a small piece of insulation or significantly more than that as is shown in this case, fiberglass insulation can become airborne and be distributed through the ducting system. If there is fiberglass in your return air have it removed or have a separation installed to make sure you and your family are not breathing in this harmful substance. When you need a home inspection give ProSpect Home Diagnostics a call
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Stacey Tjarks
- Feb 1, 2019
- 5 min
Home Inspectors vs. the House Hog
The pig had his own room inside the house, weighed easily 300 lbs...and had tusks! A fellow home inspector, who shall remain and be hereafter referred to as "Nameless" called and told me he had a nightmare of a tenant occupied home to inspect. "According to the buyer, the place is falling down around the tenant who doesn't want to move and is really angry. It would be great to have another inspector along on this one. Can you help me out?" As we pulled up in front of the hous
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Stacey Tjarks
- Jan 29, 2019
- 1 min
Hello Fire! Come on in!
There are some specific requirements for doors and other materials that separate your garage from your home. A lot of flammable materials are stored in garages and many also have gas fired appliances in them. If a fire gets started in a garage with all that fuel, well, let's just say that a bit of added separation from is required to give your family time to get out of the house and away from the fire before it is in the house and all around you. There are some specific requ
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Stacey Tjarks
- Jan 23, 2019
- 1 min
Is Your Patio Slab Causing Water Damage in Your Walls?
The patio concrete on this home was poured too high so that it is inhibiting the function of the weep screed. The purpose of the weep screed is to allow moisture to drain from behind the exterior wall surface. Most exterior wall installations (particularly stucco) can be penetrated by moisture for a number of reasons. If not properly drained the moisture will damage underlying materials such as wood framing, insulation and drywall. It also creates a mold friendly environment.
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Stacey Tjarks
- Jan 13, 2019
- 1 min
Mold in My House! Installment 5
WHAT IF I SUSPECT I HAVE HIDDEN MOLD? You may suspect hidden mold if a building smells moldy, but you cannot see the source, or you know there has been water damage and you or others are experiencing health problems. Mold may be hidden in places like the back side of dry wall, wallpaper, or paneling, the top side of ceilings, the underside of carpets and pads, etc. Other possible locations include areas inside walls around pipes (with leaking pipes as shown in the photo), the
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Stacey Tjarks
- Jan 12, 2019
- 2 min
Mold in My House! Installment 4
Moisture and Mold Prevention and Control Tips MOISTURE CONTROL IS THE KEY TO MOLD CONTROL
When water leaks or spills occur indoors - act quickly. If wet or damp materials or areas are dried 24-48 hours after a leak or spill happens, in most cases mold will not grow.
• Clean and repair roof gutters regularly.
• Make sure the ground slopes away from the building foundation, so that water does not enter or collect around the foundation.
• Keep air conditioning drip pans clean an
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Stacey Tjarks
- Jan 11, 2019
- 1 min
A Simple Fix for An Electrifying Situation - Stay Safe!
Missing twist outs like this are a pretty common item home inspectors see. Exposure to these electrical components is extremely dangerous. If you see this in your your main or a sub-panel have a qualified professional replace the missing material. That cost is so much less than the cost of potential injury that can result from leaving the components exposed. #prospecthdinspections #homeinspection #homeinspector #temeculavalleyrealestate #fallbrookrealestate #fallbrookrealtor
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Stacey Tjarks
- Jan 10, 2019
- 1 min
Mold in My House! Installment 3
More than 10 square feet of damage? Time to seriously consider professional mold remediation. ►If there has been a lot of water damage, and/or mold growth covers more than 10 square feet, consult EPA's Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings (https://www.epa.gov/…/mold-remediation-schools-and-commerci…). Although focused on schools and commercial buildings, this document is applicable to other building types.
►If you choose to hire a contractor (or other professi
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Stacey Tjarks
- Jan 7, 2019
- 2 min
Mold in My House! Installment 2
Who should do the cleanup depends on a number of factors. One is the size of the problem. If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch), in most cases, you can handle the job yourself. SELF CLEANING GUIDELINES:
The tips and techniques presented here will help you clean up your mold problem. Professional cleaners or remediators may use methods not covered here. Please note that mold may cause staining and cosmetic damage. It ma
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Stacey Tjarks
- Jan 6, 2019
- 1 min
I Found Mold in My House!
I found mold in my house! First, don't panic. There's a lot to know so I am going to share information in installments so it is not overwhelming. Here we go! Installment 1: Why is mold growing in my home? Molds are part of the natural environment. Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter, such as fallen leaves and dead trees. But indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the n
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