Louisville Home Inspector- Cory Kern

I had this inspection done because I was getting ready to list my house for sale and some of the BEST money I spent. I was there at the start of the inspection, and even as he looked at things, Cory talked to me about what he saw while I was near to where he was inspecting. I didn’t get in the crawl space. After he came out from under the crawl space, he took off the protective clothing he had on, and changed shoes BEFORE he stepped into the house. Then after everything was done, he showed me ALL of the pictures he had taken and what they were of and any suggestions that I might need to have the problem fixed. Then I got the hard copy in a VERY nice binder with color pictures. Donna Balentine

Southern Indiana Home Inspector is #1 Customer Service!!!

Did you know that “Certainty Home Inspections”, in our 7 years of serving Southern Indiana and Louisville Kentucky, has an outstanding customer service background. After performing over 6000 inspections less than 1/10 of 1% of our clients have ever had a complaint with our company. We don’t know about you but we consider that some pretty good standards to have a home inspection done by. Call us today to book your home inspection with “Certainty” 1-866-417-9591.

Louisville Home Inspector talks about GFCI Receptacles

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) are circuit breakers installed at the panel to provide ground faulty protection for the whole circuit. Circuits with GFCI’s need to have fuses or breakers to shut off the electricity in the case of an overload. GFCI’s receptacles are currently required in the United States for bathrooms and washrooms, outdoors, in garages, above counters for a kitchen sink or wet bar, and in unfinished basements and crawlspaces. They are typically installed to protect against electrocution in areas where a person is susceptible to grounding hazards, such as wet locations and when using equipment outside.

There are three types of GFCI’S that can be used in residential properties:

1. The receptacle type is used in place of the standard duplex receptacles found throughout the house. Some GFCI’S may protect other outlets down line in the same circuit. Sometimes the protected outlets will be in different rooms. For example, if an outlet in a patio does not work you should check other locations such as baths or the garage for a tripped GFCI which protects the entire circuit.
2. The circuit breaker type is installed in the electric panel and protects seledted circuits. Although there are limits to the number of outlets protected sometimes a single wire will run from the breaker, through the house, to bathrooms, kitchens and ouside locations protecting each of these.
3. The portable plug in type may be used in area where permanent protection is not available such as with extension cords for power tools operated outside from an unprotected circuit.

Chimneys And Their Caps!

Chimney caps and crowns are used to stop the damage to your chimney. Chimney caps simply act as a roof for your chimney. The water will be deferred from the chimney and kept from entering the chimney and causing deterioration of the masonry and brick. Water can actually do more damage to masonry chimneys than a fire can. A chimney is constructed of a variety of masonry and metal materials, including brick, mortar, tile, steel and cast iron. All of these will deteriorate sooner if susceptible to water. Masonry products deteriorate quickly when exposed to the freeze and thawing process.

Water can cause interior and exterior damage to your chimney. To help maintain your chimney for longer wear and tear, we suggest you install a chimney cap that will help prevent the deterioration of your chimney and give it longer life. A strong well designed cap is inexpensive and can help keep water out, as well as, animals. Caps also serve as spark preventers, preventing sparks from landing on the roof. A chimney cap should be constructed to overhang the chimney by at least two inches. There is a waterproofing cement you can use to cost the crowns to help with any damage.

For better protection use flashing to seal between the roofing material and the chimney. Flashing prevents rain water from running down the chimney into living spaces where it can damage to your ceilings and walls.

Paint should never be used as a water sealer because it will trap moisture inside the chimney and accelerate deterioration.

There are products that have been developed to specifically waterproof a masonry chimney. These products are vapor permeable which means that they allow the chimney to breathe out, but not in. Therefore water that has penetrated the chimney or moisture that has come from inside is allowed to escape, while the waterproofing agent prevents water from entering from the outside.

Water damage to a chimney is usually a slow subtle process. Sometimes it is not noticed until it becomes a serious problem.

Certainty serves the Louisville Kentucky area as well as Southern Indiana

Home Inspection Nightmares

Louisville Home Inspector Reports Double Tap

Double tapping is a term used to describe a condition created when two or more electrical connections are made at one terminal or breaker. Although commonly found, it is recommended that each branch or service wire be individually connected to their own terminal or breaker. Most breakers or terminals are designed to connect one single wire. Multiple connections at terminals or breakers runs a greater risk of the wires becoming loose and causing possible arcing and increasing the risk of fire. At Certainty, our inspections identify this type of electrical concern that should be corrected by a qualified electrician.
To the left is an example of double tapping, please visit other inspection discoveries at www.certaintyinspections.com

 

To get a list of contractor referrals for all your home  inspection needs visit us here

 

Louisville Home Inspector-Severe Indiana Mold Issues

Home Inspection Nightmares

Certainty Home Inspections found things with my new home that certainly should not be expected with homes for sale in Indiana. Great job and well worth the money!! Patti Jenkins

Certainty Home Inspections serves all of Southern Indiana and Louisville Kentucky

Indiana home inspector shows support beam issues

Jeffersonville home inspector tells about sump pump battery backup

A sump pump is a pump used to remove water that has accumulated in a water collecting sump pit, commonly found in the basement of homes. The water may enter by way of the perimeter drains of a basement waterproofing system, funneling into the pit or because of rain or natural ground water, if the basement is below the water table level.

Now is a great time with the rainy season upon us, to check out your sump pump to make sure it is operating properly. Sump pumps are used where basement flooding happens regularly and to remedy dampness where the water table is above the foundation of a home. Sump pumps send water away from a house to any place where it is no longer a problem.

Usually hardwired into a home’s electrical system, sump pumps may have a battery backup. The home’s pressurized water supply powers some pumps, eliminating the need for electricity. Since a sump pit may overflow if not constantly pumped, a backup system is important for cases when the main power is out for prolonged periods of time. Having a battery back up can remedy the problem of not having a sump pump during a storm when you need it the worse. Make sure you take the extra step to install a sump pump battery backup to assure that your home is protected during a power outage.

Certainty Home Inspection will check your sump pump while we are doing the home inspection to assure that it is adequately working. Certainty Home Inspections serves the Southern Indiana and Louisville area.

If you need a sump pump battery backup  please click here

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