10 Easy Ways to Save Money & Energy in Your Home

    www.HomeBossInspection.com Although trees are generally a desirable feature of home landscaping, they can pose a threat to buildings in a number of different ways. Inspectors may want to educate themselves about tree dangers so that they can inform their clients about potentially dangerous situations.   Tree Roots and Foundations   Contrary to popular belief, InterNACHI has found that tree roots cannot normally pierce through a building's foundation. They can, however, damage a foundation in the following ways: Roots can sometimes penetrate a building's foundation through pre-existing cracks.    Large root systems that extend beneath a house can cause foundation uplift.  Roots can leech water from the soil beneath foundations, causing the structures to settle and sink unevenly.  Other Dangers: Trees that are too close to buildings may be fire hazards. Soffit vents provide easy access for flames to enter a house.  Leaves and broken b

www.HomeBossInspection.com Daylight Saving Time (DST), also known as British Summer Time (BST) in the U.K., is the practice of adjusting clocks an hour ahead of Standard Time so that afternoon s have more daylight and mornings have less. It is designed to reduce energy consumption in residences and businesses, but its effectiveness is controversial. Interesting DST Paradoxes  In September 1999, two bombs were passed from West Bank terrorists to their Israeli counterparts to be planted on busses. The men misunderstood the bombs’ timers because Israel had just switched back to Standard Time, causing the bombs to explode prematurely and kill only the terrorists.  Daylight Saving Time can reverse birth order. If twins are born minutes before and after the fall switch, the baby born later will appear on paper to be born first. No babies are born from 2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. after the spring switch.  During the 1950s and 1960s, for five weeks out of every year, New York was on the

www.HomeBossInspection.com Condensation is the accumulation of liquid water on relatively cold surfaces. Almost all air contains water vapor, the gas phase of water composed of tiny water droplets. The molecules in warm air are far apart from one another and allow the containment of a relatively large quantity of water vapor. As air cools, its molecules get closer together and squeeze the tiny vapor droplets closer together, as well. A critical temperature, known as the dew point, exists where these water droplets will be forced so close together that they merge into visible liquid in a process called condensation. Double-pane windows have a layer of gas (usually argon or air) trapped between two panes of glass that acts as insulation to reduce heat loss through the window. Other types of gas used in this space have various effects on heat gain or loss through the window. Some windows also have a thin film installed between panes that separates the space between the panes

www.HomeBossInspection.com Between approximately 1965 and 1973, single-strand (solid) aluminum wiring was sometimes substituted for copper branch-circuit wiring in residential electrical systems  due to the sudden escalating price of copper. After a decade of use by homeowners and electricians, inherent weaknesses were discovered in the metal that lead to its disuse as a branch wiring material. Aluminum will become defective faster than copper due to certain qualities inherent in the metal. Neglected connections in outlets, switches and light fixtures containing aluminum wiring become increasingly dangerous over time. Poor connections cause wiring to overheat, creating a potential fire hazard. In addition, the presence of single-strand aluminum wiring may void a home’s insurance policies. Inspectors may instruct their clients to talk with their insurance agents about whether the presence of aluminum wiring in their home is a hazard, a defect, and a problem that requires changes to t

Image courtesy of  Pixabay http://dadknowsdiy.com   Taking care of your house can seem like a never ending to-do list.  Here is a handy guide for tending your most important preventative maintenance tasks before cooler weather hits. Prevent frozen pipes.   According to  Redfin , there are several steps you can take to prevent the water lines in your home from freezing and bursting.   ●  Prepare.  Cut blocks of foam insulation to block foundation vents that lead to crawl spaces.  Know where your water shut-off valve is in case a line bursts.   ●  Adjust your thermostat.   If you are expecting an extreme cold snap, set aside concerns for your heating bill and turn up the temperature in your home.  Keeping your pipes from freezing prevents costly repairs.   ●  Add insulation.  You can add insulation to unheated areas that house water lines.  Pay attention to areas such as crawl spaces and attics.   ●  Install heat tape.  You can purchase heat tape at a home center, h