Not a flamethrower testing on intumescent firestop collar Structure Tech Home Inspections 2019-07-02 | How effective are intumescent firestop collars? Joe, Matt, and I used a friend's Not a Flamethrower to find out. The testing was fun and enlightening.
Inspecting 240-volt outlets Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-11-07 | How is a home inspector supposed to inspect a 240-volt outlet? Home inspection standards of practice don't go into this level of detail, so it's up to each home inspector to decide for themselves what the proper standard of care should be. Here at Structure Tech, we check to make sure that the right amperage outlet is used, and we check to make sure that the outlet is energized.
Top 20 Home Inspection mistakes (Ive made) Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-10-31 | I've made more stupid mistakes than any other home inspector on the planet. At least, I'm pretty sure I have. As I sit here adding them up, I feel pretty confident with my claim to shame. When I talk to new home inspectors, I often say "Always do this" or "Never do that". And then I follow these warnings with "ask me how I know."Today, I'll share some expensive, painful, and embarrassing lessons I've learned the hard way. You get to learn them the easy way.
Halloween Home Inspection Photos 2022 Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-10-25 | Halloween Home Inspection Photos 2022
How to light the pilot on a gas fireplace (abbreviated version) Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-10-11 | How to light the pilot on a gas fireplace (abbreviated version)
How to light a gas fireplace pilot Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-10-10 | How to light a gas fireplace pilot
Floor drains: why they back up, what to do about a missing cleanout plug Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-10-03 | Floor drains: why they back up, what to do about a missing cleanout plug
Vacuum Breakers: What, why, and how Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-09-26 | If you're selling a house in Minneapolis, get some vacuum breakers. When you have a place for a garden hose to connect to the municipal water supply, you need some type of backflow prevention, and that's what these devices are for. This is one of the required repair items for the Minneapolis Truth-in-Housing evaluation, which is a required inspection for anyone listing a home for sale in Minneapolis.
Moisture testing vinyl siding Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-09-19 | Every type of siding can experience water intrusion. Here at Structure Tech, we have a reliable method for testing vinyl siding for water intrusion.
HIKMICRO Pocket 2 Thermal Camera Review Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-09-12 | HIKMICRO Pocket 2 Thermal Camera Review
Flashlight Update 2022 Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-09-06 | Why am I so obsessed with flashlights? It doesn't matter. I've been a fan of the Fenix brand of flashlights for a long time, and I've accumulated a lot of their flashlights over the years. Today I'll share a quick summary of my most frequently used flashlights and why I like them. Also, I'm going to answer the question "If I lost it, would I buy it again?"
Fenix HT30R White Laser Flashlight Review (from a home inspectors perspective) Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-08-29 | I just got my hands on the all-new Fenix HT30R white laser flashlight, which retails for $279.95. Unlight a traditional LED flashlight, this flashlight throws out a concentrated beam of light almost a mile. Crazy, right? As a home inspector who loves new flashlights, I couldn't wait to test this out.
Lights left on all night? Dont lose sleep over it. Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-08-22 | When it comes to energy usage, I think with my emotions. When I wake up to a light left on in the kitchen, I imagine my energy meter spinning and I dread the gigantic electric bill we'll get next month. When one of the kids leaves the patio door open while the AC is on, I think about trying to cool the whole neighborhood and all of the money we're wasting. Or if I forget to turn off my ceramic panel heater in my office after leaving the house... oh boy. Boatloads of cash out the window. But how much money and energy do all of these things really cost? I thought it might be fun to put some actual numbers to these egregious offenses that I get way too worked up over.
Asbestos and Home Inspections Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-08-15 | Even though asbestos is excluded from home inspection standards of practice, there are a number of asbestos-containing products that your home inspector might point out to you.
Building code requirements for handling AC condensate in an attic Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-08-08 | If you have an air conditioner in an attic or other location where a condensate leak could cause damage to your structure, there are four ways of dealing with this.
How to calibrate a TIF8900 Combustible Gas Detector Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-07-29 | For internal use at Structure Tech
Are furnaces allowed in bedrooms? Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-07-25 | Are furnaces allowed in bedrooms?
Three Simple AC Maintenance Items Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-07-18 | Three Simple AC Maintenance Items
Inspecting transite asbestos gas vents Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-07-12 | Transite asbestos was a common product used to vent gas appliances such as furnaces, boilers, and water heaters in older homes in Minnesota. This material is no longer used because the interior of the vent can deteriorate and flake apart, collapsing in on itself. That, and it contains asbestos. Once the interior of the flue deteriorates it can get blocked, causing hazardous exhaust gases from the appliance to vent back into the home, rather than be carried to the exterior.
Why do you test for mold? Im not a fan. Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-07-05 | We recently received a frustrated-sounding email from a real estate agent asking us why we offer mold testing."Hi- I’m an agent and frequently recommend you guys for inspections. I’ve recently seen every client I send your way ask me about MOLD. And for no reason other than they saw it on your website? As in, no visible evidence of mold, no moisture problems, no smells… I’m wondering why this is being pushed and where this has come from?Now I have a very panicky first-time buyer that just ordered a mold test for no reason whatsoever.I’m really not a fan of adding this extra layer- it’s good to know you can do it but mold is EVERYWHERE. You cannot test for mold and NOT find mold! It’s airborne! I’m really confused about what is happening here."There are two main questions in this email: why are we "pushing" mold testing, and what's the point of testing when mold is found everywhere? I'll address both of those today.
Sump pump backup options Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-06-27 | If your home has an active sump pump, be warned: your sump pump will not last forever. I promise. It probably won’t give you any warning before it fails, either. It’ll be a silent event that happens in the middle of the night during a heavy rainstorm. You’ll know it failed when you awaken to a flooded basement. I recently made an internal training video for my company, and while demonstrating my own sump pump, I discovered that it had failed!
Flexible gas vent connectors vs. dryer transition ducts Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-06-20 | To the untrained eye, flexible vent connectors look just like dryer transition ducts. But these are two completely different materials.
Challenger panels are fine Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-06-13 | Challenger brand electric panels are not a concern. That's my stance, and it'll be my stance until I read something of substance that changes my mind.Over the past few years, home inspectors have started making a fuss about Challenger brand electric panels, because there's a bunch of anecdotal evidence out there saying these panels could present a problem. But that's all it is. Anecdotal evidence.
HIKMICRO B20 Infrared Camera Review from a Home Inspector Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-06-06 | The folks at HIKMICRO recently reached out to me about testing one of their infrared cameras, and they sent me a B20 camera to try out. The specs look pretty comparable to the FLIR E6-XT, but this camera retails for $549 on Amazon, which is about a quarter of the cost of the FLIR E6-XT. But I've learned that specs alone never tell the whole story, so I was quite skeptical. Because the E6 is a very similar camera that I'm quite familiar with, I'm going to compare these two cameras a lot in this review.
How to inspect high-efficiency furnace venting Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-05-31 | High-efficiency furnaces use PVC pipes to vent the exhaust gases out of the home, and manufacturers are very specific about how the installation should be done. As a home inspector, how far should I go to make sure the vent is properly installed? Of course, I'd report on a vent that wasn't vented to the outdoors. But what about a vent that terminates too close to an openable window? Maybe, right? And what about a vent that has too many elbows? I think this is where a lot of home inspectors start to shake their heads and say that this goes beyond our standard of practice... but why?I won't tell you exactly what a home inspector should or shouldn't report on, but I will cover some of the most common defects that we come across as home inspectors.
Is ASHI Against Walk-Through Consultations? Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-05-24 | The President of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), John Wessling, released a letter in May of 2022 to discuss walk-through consultations. Many home inspectors seem to interpret this letter as saying home inspectors should not conduct walk-through consultations, but that’s not at all what the letter says, nor is trying to say.
New Construction Inspection Types Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-05-09 | If you're buying a new construction home, there are three basic types of home inspections for you to consider. Each home inspection is dependent upon timing, and I'll shine a light on each type.
Collapsed Glass vs Failed Window Seals Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-04-26 | Collapsed Glass vs Failed Window Seals
Melted vinyl siding Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-04-19 | Vinyl siding can melt when exposed to high temperatures, and we regularly run into this as home inspectors. There are two common causes for this: grills and reflected sunlight. More on this topic here: structuretech.com/melted-vinyl-siding
Inspecting lead water supply pipes Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-04-11 | How to identify the presence of a lead water main, and what options a homeowner has to stay safe if their home has lead water supply pipe.
Whoever buys this house will be in for some nasty surprises. Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-04-05 | We recently accompanied a homebuyer on a showing to do a walk-through consultation on an investment property. The property was a flipped house that had been completely remodeled inside. All new plumbing and electrical fixtures, new appliances, granite countertops, new flooring, and more. The seller did a nice job on all of this stuff and there were no problems with any of it. The exterior looked really clean too; new siding, new roof... what's not to love?There was a sense of urgency with this walk-through, as the property had just hit the market and already had several offers on it, presumably without home inspections. Final offers had to be submitted within hours of this showing, so there likely weren't any more showings happening after this one.
How to buy a house without skipping the home inspection Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-03-28 | The Twin Cities real estate market is crazy insane right now, and it seems like everyone is skipping the home inspection to make their purchase agreements more attractive. But it only seems like it. Homebuyers are still getting home inspections, and many real estate agents are pulling out all of the stops to help make sure their clients aren't skipping this important step in the homebuying process. Today I'll share the tips and tricks that top agents are using to make sure that a home inspection can still happen, even in this crazy market.structuretech.com/before-you-skip-the-home-inspection
How to Inspect Adjustable Steel Columns Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-02-28 | What should home inspectors looks for when we find adjustable steel columns? We recently shared a few photos of some adjustable steel columns on our Facebook page, and this kicked off a great discussion about these columns. This video is meant to accompany our blog post on this topic, which can be found here: structuretech.com/how-to-inspect-adjustable-steel-columns
Before you add insulation to your attic, seal the air leaks! Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-01-25 | The most important part of an attic insulation job is to have the air leaks completely sealed off.
Reubens Top Tech Tips, Part 2 Structure Tech Home Inspections 2022-01-17 | This is a follow-up to a previous video, my Top 5 Tech Tips: youtu.be/rr25eECa_Qc. To see the list in blog format, visit structuretech.com/tech-tips-2
Top 20 Home Inspection Photos from 2021 Structure Tech Home Inspections 2021-12-28 | Top 20 Home Inspection Photos from 2021
Top Feel Good Home Inspection Pics 2021 Structure Tech Home Inspections 2021-12-20 | Top "Feel Good" Home Inspection Pics 2021
How to winterize outside faucets Structure Tech Home Inspections 2021-12-14 | How to winterize outside faucets
How I could have avoided this big water leak Structure Tech Home Inspections 2021-12-07 | Had I followed my own advice from nearly two years ago, I could have avoided a huge water leak that led to an insurance claim.
Top 20 Home Inspection Attic Finds Structure Tech Home Inspections 2021-11-29 | As home inspectors, we find a ton of crazy stuff in attics. Rodents, contraband, creepy dolls, unmentionables... it's all here. This compilation represents our favorites finds from the past decade. Enjoy!
Reubens Top 5 Tech Tips Structure Tech Home Inspections 2021-11-23 | I find myself sharing a lot of my favorite technology discoveries over and over again. Today I'll share my favorite tech tips. The savviest techies surely know all of this already, but there's probably a nugget or two here for the rest of us. Check out structuretech.com/tech-tips for the blog post and links.
Why you dont want an oversized furnace Structure Tech Home Inspections 2021-11-16 | Bigger isn't better when it comes to sizing your furnace. The best option is to have a properly-sized furnace.
Roof vents and home inspections Structure Tech Home Inspections 2021-11-08 | Back when I first started doing home inspections, I was under the impression that roof ventilation was the cure-all for everything. I would look at a lot of problems and quickly point to insufficient roof ventilation as the cause, and I'd recommend more roof ventilation as the cure.Blistered shingles? Not enough roof ventilation.Ice dams? Not enough roof ventilation.Frost in the attic? Not enough roof ventilation.Today I'm much more ho-hum on roof ventilation. Asphalt shingle manufacturers require roof ventilation to help preserve the life of shingles, despite the fact that the color of shingles will have a greater effect on their life expectancy than roof ventilation will.
Halloween Home Inspection Photos 2021 Structure Tech Home Inspections 2021-10-26 | Halloween Home Inspection Photos 2021
Notching and Boring in I-Joists Structure Tech Home Inspections 2021-09-27 | Today I'll cover the basic rules for putting holes into I-joists: follow the manufacturer's instructions. These instructions are all pretty similar, so today's video covers the stuff that most manufacturers have in common.
Notching and Boring Dimensional Lumber Structure Tech Home Inspections 2021-09-20 | Every carpenter, electrician, plumber, HVAC contractor, and home inspector should know the rules for allowable cuts and holes into floor joists.
Shingle nailing defects Structure Tech Home Inspections 2021-09-14 | One of the most common defects we find with asphalt shingles is improper nailing. Manufacturers of asphalt shingles give specific instructions on how to fasten shingles, and they're all about the same. Unfortunately, following those instructions seems to be a difficult thing to do. The two most common nailing defects we find with asphalt shingles are overdriven nails and improperly located nails.
A DIY check-up for your furnace Structure Tech Home Inspections 2021-09-06 | One of the easiest ways to check the health of your own furnace is to do a temperature rise check. You don't need to be a "handy" homeowner to do this test, and you don't need any special equipment; just a meat thermometer.
Shutoff valve basics Structure Tech Home Inspections 2021-08-31 | Today I'll explain the difference between stop valves, gate valves, ball valves, and lube valves.
