​We have all experienced that annoying burst of hot or cold water in the shower when someone else in the house turns on a faucet or flushes a toilet. While for many of us, it simply requires a quick maneuver out of the way of the flowing water, for others, such as the elderly or very young, it could result in scalding or shock from the sudden change in temperature.

An answer to this could be installing an anti-scald valve. Anti-scald valves work by keeping water at a safe temperature, even when water pressure fluctuates in the pipes. An advantage to this also, is that hot water drains slower from the hot water tank, so you won’t run out of hot water as quickly.

Anti-Scald valves are usually simple to install and not too expensive. To protect the whole house, they can be installed at the hot water heater, or if you only want to regulate certain areas they can also be installed in specific places.

After installation, the temperature you set the anti-scald valve at may need to be adjusted to compensate for pipes that aren’t insulated or defects in the valve.

Please contact us for more information on anti-scald valves

Water that has a high mineral content is often called hard water. This is something that many homeowners have to deal with, and it usually comes from a water source that runs through limestone layers. The minerals in question are mainly calcium and magnesium, and they can have many different effects on your water.
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​Soap doesn’t lather well when you have hard water, and you might find that there is a film left behind after you wash and do laundry. In some cases, you will find that there is white buildup forming on your faucets and showerheads, and this buildup can also form inside your pipes and appliances, leading to costly repairs.

Since you are unlikely to be able to find a different source for your water, you might need to install a water softener that will treat your water and remove a large percentage of the minerals from your water to make it easier to deal with.

​Did you know that the average size of houses in the United States is around 2,500 square feet? Since that’s an average, naturally some people feel like that’s too much, and others feel like that’s not enough.

If you’re part of the group that feels like that’s too much, it could be that you’ve been looking at your own home and considering some ways that you may be able to thrive with less space.

Many have found that life is a lot more simple when there’s less to take care of around the house. Less dead space means that it’s possible to have much more efficient use of utilities like heating and cooling, which in turn translates into cheaper monthly bills.

​Fewer rooms mean less furniture, less clutter, and less time spent cleaning your home. With more income and time at your disposal, it may be possible to travel more or to spend more time with friends and family.

If you don’t come from a background of home improvement projects or general contracting work, it can be frightening to think about doing certain tasks around your property on your own. And, to be sure, there’s a lot of benefit in getting help from a professional, or at the very least, from someone who knows what they’re doing. However, some tasks are fairly straightforward. Take replacing your faucet, for example.
The basic steps to replace a faucet are very simple:

1. Turn off the water
2. Remove the old faucet
3. Remove the old drain (if applicable)
4. Install the new faucet
5. Install the new drain (if applicable)
6. Turn the water back on

Of course, you should follow any instructions that come with your new faucet to make sure everything is done right according to this specific model. However, this is the general process, and it’s pretty straightforward. Besides, if you need help, you can always search YouTube!

​Did you know that a typical clothes dryer could cause significant damage to a home? Among other things, if your home’s dryer is not installed properly, it could be a serious risk for moisture damage or fire. Here’s what we mean:

​Moisture damage. When you grab that giant load of heavy, wet clothes out of the washer and shovel it into the dryer, you’re probably not giving a second thought to where that water is going. You’re just looking forward to the warm, dry, fresh clothes! However, typical dryers can expel somewhere around a gallon of water into the air with every load of laundry. If your vent is pointed indoors, this is bad news.

Fire. While you’re more than acquainted with the lint trap in your dryer, that’s not the only place that lint goes. As exhaust is pushed through the ductwork behind your dryer, it’s also pushing lint and other particulates through. If the duct is not pointed straight, the lint can get caught and is very flammable.

​We all know that there are some things in life that we cannot live without, and clean drinking water is one of them. If you are using well water for your home's water source when was the last time you had it tested? Why is regularly testing your well water so important?
 
To help answer this question we recommend you take a look at the following short video. It will provide you with a better understanding of the types of contaminants often found in well water and help you see why well water testing is an important step to take before you purchase a home that has a well.
 
Please do not hesitate to contact us regarding any home inspection questions you have. We are ready to help you through the process and want to help ensure that your new home is the right one for you.

​Recycling our used household items has become part of our daily lives, but something we may not always consider recycling is our wastewater. What are some ways to do this, and what are the advantages of doing so?
 
We use a great deal of water just by going about our everyday lives. Bathing, doing the laundry, and washing dishes are all tasks that use a lot of water. The wastewater resulting from these activities is known as greywater and, while it is not potable, it can still be used for things like irrigation and flushing the toilet, etc. It is important to note, however, that greywater is a lot different from blackwater which should never be reused in an untreated state. Blackwater contains high levels of contaminants.
 
There are two categories when it comes to greywater, treated and untreated. When greywater is properly treated it can be stored for a period of time. Untreated greywater on the other hand must be reused immediately.
 
Opinions are often mixed regarding the use of greywater in homes. While some people view it as an excellent way to conserve our precious water, by using it for things like irrigation which uses a lot of water, others are concerned that greywater increases the risk of spreading disease-causing bacteria.
 
What should we take from these differing opinions? If you are wondering if greywater could be used in your home, do a lot of research into the matter and make sure you consult with your local council to see what regulations they have in place regarding greywater usage.
 

You are probably well aware by now that a home inspection is vital for ensuring that your new home is a wise investment. So, what should you do if the home inspection uncovers a problem? What will that mean for you as the buyer?
 
It is common for some items on a home inspection report to be listed as faulty. The important thing is to find out what those items are and how serious of a problem it is. For instance, the inspection may note down issues like faulty smoke detectors, or loose roof shingles, etc. However, these problems are not too serious and can be fixed at little cost. Then there are the more serious issues like structural damage, wood rot, and mold for example. Fixing a problem like this is a much bigger job and could be very expensive, in some cases, the damage may be so extensive that you may want to renegotiate the deal or even back out of the sale. These few examples highlight the important role that a thorough home inspection plays when purchasing a new home.
 
You will often find that a home inspector is also a licensed building contractor. If you find a home inspector you trust, should you employ them to fix the problems they found when they inspected the home? This is not the best course of action as it could call into question the accuracy of the inspection report and look like problems were found or exaggerated in order to generate more work for the home inspector.
 
If you are wondering who you can trust to carry out your home inspection, it is good to look for a home inspector who is InterNACHI certified and follows the InterNACHI Code of Ethics, this will ensure that your home inspection is carried out thoroughly and honestly.

​Condensation may not be something we automatically think of when it comes to property damage. However, over time, condensation can become something of an issue. Why? A continuous dripping of water due to condensation could cause anything from mold problems to rotten flooring. Plus, if condensation starts to drip on electrical items, it can easily become a fire hazard. So, how can you reduce the amount of condensation in the home?
 
Firstly, it is important to lower humidity levels in your home. You can do this using a dehumidifier or an air conditioner. Dehumidifiers work by drawing water vapor into their tank which prevents it from accumulating on surfaces.
 
Insulate pipes. This is another effective way to reduce condensation. Just be aware that if you need these pipes to assist in heating the home, any insulation you wrap them in will prevent this.
 
Limit the number of plants in your home. Plants, while beautiful, contribute to higher levels of humidity so, by reducing the number of indoor plants you have, the lower the humidity will be.
 
Open windows and doors. A well-ventilated home will help with humidity levels indoors and reduce condensation. Of course, this only works if the air outside is not as humid as inside.
 
If, after trying these methods, you are still experiencing high levels of condensation, what should you do? This may be a good time to have the problem looked at professionally as the water may be caused by another problem like a water leak.
 

​Automatic garage doors are not only one of the heaviest doors of the home, but they are also responsible for many of the injuries that take place within the household each year. It is clear to see the importance, then, for automatic garage doors to be regularly maintained and checked for safety. While a professional should be called to come and fix these doors when there is a major problem, is there anything that the homeowner can do to keep them safe and well maintained?
 
Yes. A homeowner can keep an eye out for potential hazards that are associated with automatic garage doors. For example, because they usually work by using a spring supported mechanism that is operated by a wall-mounted switch or a remote-controlled device, there are many moving parts that can easily malfunction or begin to wear out, so It would be a good idea for a homeowner to do a thorough check of the garage door as well as its framework to see if they detect any signs of wear and tear.
 
Another extremely important safety step is to educate any children in the household about the dangers of playing around with the automatic garage door. They need to be aware that it is not safe to walk under the door when it is in motion or play with any pulleys and strings attached to it. The homeowner should also ensure that all safety warning labels associated with the door are clearly visible and that everyone living in the home knows where the manual release handle is located as well as how to operate it.
 
In summary, although a professional should be called to fix a broken automatic garage door, the homeowner can check it for signs of wear and tear and educate the household about the potential dangers.