Posts by Avid
Crawlspace Safety
Crawlspace Safety Crawlspaces are notorious for the nasty discoveries made there by homeowners, inspectors, and home remodelers, and it isn’t hard to figure out why; for one thing, their cool, dark environment attracts undesirable pests and can promote dangerous conditions. And since the crawlspace is mostly unmonitored, hazards can breed there unchecked for a long…
Read MoreAttic Pull-down Stairs
Attic Pull-down Stairs An attic pull-down ladder, also called an attic pull-down stairway or stairs, is a collapsible ladder that’s permanently attached to the attic floor. It’s used to access the attic without being required to use a portable ladder, which can be unstable, as well as inconvenient. Common Defects It’s typical for the homeowner,…
Read MoreThe Dangers of Asbestos
Asbestos Asbestos Cement Roofing and Siding Despite its desirable qualities, the use of asbestos in building materials has proven to be a dangerous practice. This naturally-occurring, fibrous rock has heat and fire-resistant properties. But the long term effects proved to wreak havoc on our health. Asbestos and Portland Cement Commonly used in homes and buildings…
Read MoreAir Conditioner
Air Conditioner When the summer heat arrives, a cool habitat is one of the places sought after for relief. Most of the time, that habitat is our home where we can relax, sip on a cold beverage and enjoy the cool air blowing through the house – from the air conditioner. To ensure your air…
Read MoreIntroducing Our New Thermal Imaging Service
Limited Time Offer: Free Thermal Imaging Scan with the purchase of any Home Inspection. Schedule TODAY! We’re excited to announce that as part of our ongoing commitment to provide the most comprehensive and thorough home inspections for our customers, we’re introducing a new thermal imaging service! Thermal imaging is designed to uncover hidden issues…
Read MoreHow to maintain your yard during the peak of Summer
life·hack ˈlīfˌhak/ noun a strategy or technique adopted in order to manage one’s time and daily activities in a more efficient way. With a large portion of the country going through extreme droughts, maintaining a lush yard could be seen as a futile effort. Fighting against the summer heat and extreme conditions can make for…
Read MoreTermites
When it comes to ingenuity, perseverance and sheer strength in numbers, few species can compete with Termites. There are colonies on every land mass on Earth ( with the exception of Antartica ) and one colony can have as many as several million termites. These guys aren’t playing around and neither should you. Especially due…
Read MoreGFCI
What is GFCI? A Ground-fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) is a device used to turn off an electrical power circuit when it detects an unbalanced current flow. These unbalanced current flows are also known as a short circuit or nuisance tripping and are caused when live wires touch metal conduits. The GFCI’s main objective is to…
Read MoreOutlets
Understanding Grounded and Ungrounded Electrical Outlets What are those holes in an electrical outlet and how do they work? When you look at a normal 120-volt outlet in the United States, there are two vertical slots and then a round hole centered below them. The left slot is slightly larger than the right. The left…
Read MoreElectrical Safety
Electricity is an essential part of our lives. However, it has the potential to cause great harm. Electrical systems will function almost indefinitely, if properly installed and not overloaded or physically abused. Electrical fires in our homes claim the lives of 485 Americans each year and injure 2,305 more. Some of these fires are caused…
Read More