Getting the proper hot water temperature setting on your water heater can be tricky. The CDC recommends setting the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a setting that will prevent the build up of Legionella that can cause Legionnaire’s disease. At the same time you should not go hotter than […]
On pretty much any house a home inspector inspects, the inspector is likely to call out a cross connection. A cross-connection, simply put, is a condition where contaminated or non-potable water can come into contact with the potable water supply in the home. Common issues include: Lack of a dishwasher high loop Missing hose bibb […]
Prior to getting certified to do sewer scopes, I did a home inspection for a lady who had a plumber do a sewer scope to verify the condition of the sewer line going from the house to the city sewer. That plumber told her a $12K repair was needed which would involve jackhammering out her […]
GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt. This largely means nothing to the normal person. Those outlets in your kitchen or bathroom with the push buttons are GFCI outlets. There are also versions of breakers that are GFCI breakers. So what does a GFCI outlet or breaker do? A GFCI outlet or breaker is constantly […]
Recently I came across a leak on the hot water line coming from a hot water heater. The house was piped using CPVC, which is different than PVC in that it goes through an extra chlorination process that makes it capable of handling higher temperatures. PVC, the white plastic pipe most commonly known from irrigation […]
Tucson Home Inspectors and Home Inspection companies vary greatly in the inspection and the report they will provide you. I’ve complied the following list to help home buyers identify some important factors they should consider when interviewing home inspectors in Tucson. 1. Is the inspector and the inspection company properly certified by the Arizona State […]
How to Prepare for a Home Inspection? The home inspection process is perhaps the most stressful part of a home sale for both buyers and sellers. The buyer has found a home they love and they want it to be as perfect as possible. The seller has already agreed to a sales price and doesn’t […]
This week’s inspection highlight was a home built in the 1970’s, which had single strand or solid aluminum wiring. In the mid-1960’s the price of copper increased, so the housing industry looked towards a more cost-effective replacement for electrical wiring in homes. Aluminum was chosen. Single Strand Aluminum was commonly used until the mid-1970’s when […]
Today on an inspection, I came across something that I find in about 10% of my inspections. That is the breaker is over sized for the wire/conductor gauge that is connected to it. In this case, the breaker was a 20 amp breaker with 14 gauge wire. Typically, a 15 amp breaker would be used […]
Many potential home sellers don’t do a pre-listing home inspection. Why should a home seller do a pre-listing home inspection prior to listing their home for sale? If you don’t, here’s a possible scenario: Say you are planning to list your home for $300K and you want to walk away with $275K or more before real […]
Recently I did an inspection on a home built in the 1950’s. With pre-1980 and pre-1960 construction there are various items that a home inspector will be extra observant for. In this particular inspection I came across a Federal Pacific Stab Lok electrical panel and breaker system. Federal Pacific was a very common panel and […]
What is the difference between Arizona State certification, InterNACHI certification, and ASHI certification? I’ve had this question asked of me by some real estate agents, so I thought I would clarify the differences. Only about half the states in the US regulate home inspectors. Fortunately, Arizona is one of the states that does regulate home […]
On a recent inspection in an attic, I came across a truss chord that had been sistered with another piece of lumber as a repair. This can be a legitimate repair, however, there was no evidence of an engineer’s label showing that the repair is legitimate. A truss is an engineered type of roof system […]
My answer would be a resounding YES. When buying an “As Is” property, you might go in expecting to do some repairs and renovations that might cost you $10K. What if that number ended up being $20K or $30K? Would you still buy that house or negotiate a better deal? A home inspection can help […]
Tanque Verde Home Inspections’ Tucson based Home Inspectors provide Residential, Pool & Spa, Sewer Scope, 11th Month Warranty, Pre-Drywall, and Pre-Listing Inspections to the Old Pueblo including: Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, Vail, Corona de Tucson, Sahuarita, Green Valley, Rancho Vistoso, and Pima County Arizona. Inspections in Cochise County (e.g. Benson, Sierra Vista) and Pinal County (e.g. Red Rock, Saddlebrook Ranch) are available with a travel fee.
