Cal-Pro Real Estate Inspections

How to Keep Appliances Running

Home Inspector — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 15:54:06 +0000

Often when you buy a home, there will be some major appliances that are left behind by a previous owner. It could be that they are moving into a place where there already are appliances, or it could be that they decided to include them in the sale. There could be serious problems with appliances that you would now need to deal with, so it’s important to ensure that they are safe to keep and operate. You should also take care to properly maintain them since this will extend their life and save you money in the long run.

One of the most important things that you can do for your appliances is to ensure they have proper airflow. You should never block vents and filters should be replaced regularly.

You also need to be careful so as to not damage electrical cords and connections. If you have to move an appliance, ensure you know where the cord is located at all times so that it doesn’t get pinched.

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Your Friend In The Bathroom

Home Inspector — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 01:08:00 +0000

If your home didn’t have a toilet in it, you would probably go crazy. The inconvenience of not being able to go to the bathroom in your own home is obvious whenever there are problems that cause you to go without running water for a longer period of time. While toilets have been around for a long time, for most of human history, indoor bathrooms weren’t a thing. To lessen the risk of a throwback to the not-so-good old days, you should keep an eye on your toilet and make sure that it is in good shape.

If you find cracks on the bowl or tank, this is a reason to get the toilet seat replaced. Cracks can’t be repaired, so buying a new seat is your only option.

Your toilet should also be stable, not rocking back and forth when sitting down on it. The rocking could lead to leaks and other problems.

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The Wrong Kind of Stuff

Home Inspector — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 19:12:34 +0000

A dishwasher can be a great convenience, but not everyone is familiar with how to operate it. This can lead to complications when you have friends or family over. One misunderstanding that some have had regarding dishwashers is that it is possible to use regular dish detergent in it. If this happens to you, you will have a big mess on your hands. Fairly quickly the dishwasher will start spewing out soap bubbles and water making a huge mess. The problem is that dish detergent isn’t made for this use, and until it is completely cleaned out of the dishwasher, you will have issues with suds overflowing.

The first thing to do is to stop the dishwasher immediately. You will then need to rinse it out with clean water several times before it will run normally again. Having a wet vac on hand can greatly ease the workload, but it will still take several rinses before the dishwasher will function properly.

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How Much Water is Flowing?

Home Inspector — Fri, 28 May 2021 16:10:44 +0000

There are many numbers to keep track of when it comes to your home. There are measurements of sizes, temperatures, costs, and other things. One number that you might not know is your faucet flow rate. It tells you how much water comes out of a faucet in a minute. If you want to find it out, you could just use a timer and a container of a known size. This will let you figure out the flow rate using simple math. The average flow rate is about 1 gallon per minute, but some variation can be expected. If there is a great difference, however, there might be some need to adjust it. One way to get more pressure with a lower amount of water is by installing an aerator. This will introduce air into the water stream, making it more efficient.

There could be underlying issues for having a very low or high faucet flow rate, so you might want to have a plumber take a look for you to figure it out.

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Where is That Banging Coming From?

Home Inspector — Thu, 13 May 2021 20:08:20 +0000

Whenever you turn on and off the water in your sink, the pressure inside of the pipes changes quickly. All that water that was flowing before is now brought to an abrupt standstill. What happens when you do this? Some homeowners hear the result when they have an issue called a water hammer. The noise generated when the water bangs against the walls of their pipes is not just a harmless sound. It could do damage to your pipes over time. This is why there is a device called an air chamber that is meant to prevent it from happening. It is a simple design, but it will allow the pressure to be released without any ill effect. Unfortunately, there are some situations in which the air chamber stops working properly, usually when it fills up with water. To fix this, all you need to do is turn off the main water supply and open up all the faucets in your home. This will let the air chamber drain and get back to work protecting your pipes.

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What’s Wrong With Your Windows?

Home Inspector — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 23:16:49 +0000

When you see windows that are foggy and difficult to look through, do you assume that they need a cleaning? This is not always the reason, often it can be due to a failed seal that keeps the gas between the panes of your double-pane windows inside. Double-pane windows are so efficient because of that gap between the panes, but if the seal around it fails, moisture and air make it in and cause that foggy look.

There is no easy fix for this problem. In fact, the only method for re-sealing the windows is quite expensive and far from effective. The windows will not get back to factory condition, so the only good solution would be to have the windows replaced, which is even more expensive.

The reason the seal fails is that the windows keep getting heated up and cooled down during the day which causes them to expand and contract, eventually breaking the silicone seal.

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Walking on Recycled Sawdust?

Home Inspector — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 20:59:58 +0000

Do you want a “green” home? We’re not talking about the color that you choose for the paint, but rather a home that is environmentally friendly. Of course, there are different levels you can go to accomplish this, but sometimes the choice that is green might also be a financially wise choice. Take linoleum flooring for example. It is not an expensive material, and it is made from recycled cork or sawdust, which preserves natural resources. On top of that linoleum flooring can be quite beautiful. Of course, there are some limitations to keep in mind when it comes to linoleum. This type of flooring needs to be handled with care. Strong chemicals can harm the surface of the floor, and so can water that is left standing on it. It is best to use a broom or a vacuum cleaner for day-to-day cleaning, and when it is necessary to use a wet mop or something similar, ensure that no water puddles are left behind.

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Going Up In Smoke

Home Inspector — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 19:43:16 +0000

One of the most difficult odors to get out of a home is that of tobacco smoke. If you look online, you can probably find thousands of horror stories of homeowners that bought a home not realizing that they would be dealing with this issue for a long time to come. The problem is that the smoke molecules are so tiny they make it into every crack and crevice in your home, and usually there is a film left behind that will keep the smell lingering for a long time.

If you really want to get rid of it, there are a few things that you can try, but in reality, it comes down to a thorough cleaning, often several times. Even lightbulbs can be a problem. When they are lit up, the film left behind from the smoke gets heated up and the smell comes back. Another thing is HVAC filters as well as other replaceable filters you might find in your home. These can hold a large amount of smoke in them, leading to a problem with odors later on.

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Getting Stuff Out of the Way

Home Inspector — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 18:43:54 +0000

One issue that comes up often for homeowners that finish their basement is that of sewage. If you are installing a bathroom that is below the level of your plumbing, some extra work will be required to get sewage from the basement out. The solution for this issue is to install a sewage ejector pump that will take care of the problem. These pumps aren’t run constantly but instead, they have a sewage pit that is dug out under the floor of the basement. When this is full to a certain level, the pump will activate. These pumps have higher torque than regular sump pumps and are made to handle solids and debris as well as liquids.

There is also a commercial-grade version called a grinder pump which, as the name implies, grinds up the solids. This is good if you are dealing with a bathroom where the people using it aren’t too concerned about what they flush down the toilet.

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Let’s Get It Cooking!

Home Inspector — Sun, 28 Feb 2021 18:33:51 +0000

Is BBQ season about to start for you? Did it never stop? Grilling food outside is one of life’s pleasures for many of us. It is a very special flavor that is impossible to recreate inside, and with temperatures getting warmer, grilling takes off. There are some things to keep in mind when using a grill, especially when near your home, to make sure that it is done safely.

While grills have improved, they still generate a lot of heat. This means that a grill that is used close to flammable objects can become a fire hazard. You should also be careful not to have it too close to the vinyl siding of your home since the heat could cause the siding to melt.

It’s also important to remember that grills generate exhaust. While we all love the smell of food on the grill, there are also harmful gasses released when using the grill. This means that you want to ensure that there is good ventilation where you are using it.

Using lighter fluid should also be done with care. Don’t leave the bottle sitting next to the grill since the heat could cause it to explode.

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