All of these problems together can be fixed for under $100, but can cost thousands if ignored!
A defective flapper valve will cause your toilet to run co
ntinuously. A replacement kit costs about $25.00 and can be installed in under an hour. Potential damages include an unnecessarily high water bill, or for homes on well water the worse case scenario is a dried up well and burnt up pump! If you’re on a well this $25 kit can save you big money in repairs.
Missing or moldy/deteriorated sealant can let water leak behind your tub or shower into the wall and floor below. It does not belong there! Over time this water will build up and damage the building materials. For upstairs bathrooms you might notice some discoloration or bowing of the ceiling below, or it could silently
deteriorate the underlying structure without any sign at all… until it comes crashing down! This can be avoided with about $10 of silicone caulk and a little bit of elbow grease.
I often see this problem at very nice new homes. The toilet sits on a seal made of wax, and if it’s not properly tightened down the toilet can move around and wear the wax ring out. This will cause a leak and it won’t be the clean water from the tank that sneaks into the floor below! Water damage gets expensive fast, but if you have a wrench and it’s not leaking yet, you can fix this problem for free. Need a new wax ring? It will run you a whopping $5.
These fairly simply DIY bathroom repairs can all be done in an afternoon. The time and financial investment is lower than going out to dinner and a movie if done right away, but can be more comparable to a European vacation if ignored.
This blog focuses on an electrical problem that can look perfectly normal, even to some electricians. In the electrical service panel pictured above all breakers work properly, none of them are loose, there’s no sign or scorching, and conductors are wired just as they should be, so what’s the problem?
This specific service panel was made by Federal Pacific Electric under the Stab-Lok brand name. They made and sold millions of them starting in the 1950s and into the 1980s. All electrical panels are tested for standards established by the safety company UL, and Federal Pacific Electric falsified their tests. Frequent breaker failure lead to testing by the Consumer Product Safety Commission which has determined all Stab-Lok panels to be a safety hazard.
About one third of all breakers are defective, so in the panel pictured above you would expect five breakers not to trip when they should. Wires in the home that should be protected are not, and fires can start as a result of the faulty breakers.
Even though this panel has been discontinued for about 30 years, I still see them in the Grand Rapids area. This is just one example of faulty products that have been used in homes throughout the years, and when you get an inspection from Grand Home Inspection LLC I will be on the lookout for this and other safety hazards that appear to be harmless to the untrained eye.
This blog focuses on an electrical problem that can look perfectly normal, even to some electricians. In the electrical service panel pictured above all breakers work properly, none of them are loose, there’s no sign or scorching, and conductors are wired just as they should be, so what’s the problem?
This specific service panel was made by Federal Pacific Electric under the Stab-Lok brand name. They made and sold millions of them starting in the 1950s and into the 1980s. All electrical panels are tested for standards established by the safety company UL, and Federal Pacific Electric falsified their tests. Frequent breaker failure lead to testing by the Consumer Product Safety Commission which has determined all Stab-Lok panels to be a safety hazard.
About one third of all breakers are defective, so in the panel pictured above you would expect five breakers not to trip when they should. Wires in the home that should be protected are not, and fires can start as a result of the faulty breakers.
Even though this panel has been discontinued for about 30 years, I still see them in the Grand Rapids area. This is just one example of faulty products that have been used in homes throughout the years, and when you get an inspection from Grand Home Inspection LLC I will be on the lookout for this and other safety hazards that appear to be harmless to the untrained eye.
Many homeowners don’t consider getting a wood-destroying organism (WDO) inspection unless they are selling their home. However, these are the inspections that protect your property from depreciation. The WDO inspection benefits can never be understated. These inspections provide detailed and useful insights into your property to confirm if it’s ever been under a WDO attack. […]
You can’t expect anything good from mold. That’s obvious. But its adverse effects come as a surprise – both on health and at home. Mold is a pollutant affecting your home and family. When it comes to health issues, it causes respiratory issues, allergies, infections and asthma attacks. Mold is also responsible for wood decays, […]
Your poolside paradise needs protection! You must have imagined a summer full of poolside relaxing moments, sipping your pina colada, and having the best time ever. But, pause this rejuvenating plan for a bit and imagine what if the blessing in disguise – your pool starts experiencing some unseen issues? Which later affects its safety […]
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How WDO Inspections Protect Your Property’s Value
Many homeowners don’t consider getting a wood-destroying organism (WDO) inspection unless they are selling their home. However, these are the inspections that protect your property from depreciation. The WDO inspection benefits can never be understated. These inspections provide detailed and useful insights into your property to confirm if it’s ever been under a WDO attack. […]
How Air Quality Tests Can Pinpoint Mold in Your Home
You can’t expect anything good from mold. That’s obvious. But its adverse effects come as a surprise – both on health and at home. Mold is a pollutant affecting your home and family. When it comes to health issues, it causes respiratory issues, allergies, infections and asthma attacks. Mold is also responsible for wood decays, […]
How Seasonal Pool Inspection Can Save You Money in the Long Run
Your poolside paradise needs protection! You must have imagined a summer full of poolside relaxing moments, sipping your pina colada, and having the best time ever. But, pause this rejuvenating plan for a bit and imagine what if the blessing in disguise – your pool starts experiencing some unseen issues? Which later affects its safety […]