Testimonials

Do not install a clothes dryer with flexible white plastic venting materials. These are no longer sold.

If a flexible metal (foil type) duct is installed, it must be of a specific type identified by the appliance manufacturer as suitable for use with clothes dryers. Flexible venting materials are known to collapse, be easily crushed, and trap lint. These conditions will obstruct clothes dryer airflow and increase the risk of fire. Make sure to cut any extra to prevent it from being pinched. Many homes in the El Paso area have vents that come out of the roof instead of the wall. These are also required to be cleaned. Many times I have found the termination on the roof clogged or screened during the home inspection. The best type has a round flap that self closes when the air from the dryer has stopped blowing.

Sometimes you do not have to be a professionally trained inspector to see problems at a home. Be your own home inspector before making an offer on a home.

There are some obvious items you can check before hiring me to do your home inspection.

Is the plumbing under the sinks or at the toilets the proper color (PEX tubing)? Blue is cold. Red is hot, right? If you find mixed colors, think about which color goes where when you replace your faucet or toilet. This is a sign of a lazy plumber. Call us for an inspection before you close.

Not flushing your water heater each year of sediment build-up can keep the water heater from operating at full capacity. By flushing the tank once a year you won’t be wasting cash by heating through the debris and sediment.

Start by turning off the heater and letting the tank cool; then shut off the water supply. If the drain to the outside is downhill, connect a hose to the drain cock and run it to a floor drain or out of the home.

If you don’t have a drain, send the water to a sink or bucket using a drill pump. Draining 3-5 gallons is usually enough but you may have to do it a few times until the water is clear and free of visible sediment. This will save you energy and extend the life of your water heater.

The inspection of the water heater should also be done. When it is re-fired make sure that the flame is a nice bright blue. If it is not, call a plumber to repair as carbon monoxide can occur with a poor burn.

Your air filter requires a monthly inspection to make sure that the air can flow through it. Refrigerated air systems and furnaces may be damaged if the airflow is restricted. Evaporator coils can become clogged as well. Your utility bill may also increase because heat-cool systems will run longer with low airflow to the individual rooms restricted. Make sure to replace the air filter with a new one if it gets dirty. The air filter has “Arrows” that should point in the correct direction. Hard to access filters? Call us for an inspection.

Is your new home Refrigerated Air safe? This new El Paso home was not (30 amp breaker installed). Check your home for this common unsafe condition.

Each AC condenser has a nameplate on the side with the minimum and maximum amps that the breaker or fuse needs to be. If the breaker is too large the wire could catch fire before the breaker pops. If the breaker or fuse is too small the AC unit may not get enough power to properly run and burn up, costing you unnecessary repairs.

As I inspect the home, I write this information down and check the panel breaker. In this case, the minimum is 15 amps and the maximum breaker size is 25 amps.

Stay within the manufacturer’s recommendations and you should be safe.

This was found in a garage of an older home. The coffee can was used as an electrical junction box.

Notice the armored cable coming in and then out of the can (1950’s innovation). Needless to say, this is not a safe or UL approved installation. Inspectors find many interesting things, every day. This one is compliments of your El Paso home inspector, FYI Property Inspection.

Do you have old door stops on your El Paso home that are damaging your doors and/or trim? Most of the older style stops that mount onto the hinge pin of the door can cause damage.

During a home inspection, I often find damage to the walls. While the inspector’s job is not looking for cosmetic items, it’s hard not to notice the door handle and door stop damage.

By simply removing the hinge pin on any interior or exterior door and re-installing with the Smart Stop brand door stop (available at The Home Depot hardware department), homeowners can protect their walls, doors and trim without the use of unsightly bumpers or doorstops. The device comes in different finishes and features a low-profile design that catches both sides of a hinge for optimum protection. Check them out at www.getsmartstop.com

Silicone spray makes a great lubricant for windows and sliding doors. Use this on the tracks of your windows if they are sticking. Windows that are hard to operate are often found during the home inspections. Many can be improved by adding a little spray onto a rag and then applying some to the inside of the window tracks.

Clear silicone spray lubricants not only make large surfaces slippery; but also repel water and are safe to use on painted surfaces, rubber, plastic, wood, and metal.

This type of lubricant can also be used to prevent soil and snow from sticking to shovels, snowthrowers, wheelbarrows and outdoor equipment like mowers. (Note: Don’t confuse silicone lubricants with oils like WD-40, which attract dirt.)