Aerogel Aerogel is a class of porous, solid materials that exhibits an impressive array of extreme properties. Invented in 1931 and used for decades in scientific applications, aerogel is becoming increasingly feasible as a building insulation, largely due to a decrease in the price of the material. Aerogel is still prohibitively costly for most homeowners, and [...]
Adjustable Steel Columns Adjustable steel columns, also known as screw jacks and beam jacks, are hollow steel posts designed to provide structural support. An attached threaded adjustment mechanism is used to adjust the height of the post. A few facts about adjustable steel columns: They are usually found in basements. In some parts of North America, [...]
15 Tools That Every Homeowner Should Own The following items are essential tools but this list is by no means exhaustive. Feel free to ask an InterNACHI inspector during your next inspection about other tools that you might find useful. 1. Plunger A clogged sink or toilet is one of the most disturbing problems that [...]
10 Easy Ways to Save Energy in Your Home Most people don’t know how easy it is to make their homes run on less energy, and here at InterNACHI, we want to change that. Drastic reductions in heating, cooling and electricity costs can be accomplished through very simple changes, most of which homeowners can do [...]
Damaged electrical receptacles and light sockets! This is some I have seen a lot of lately broken electrical receptacles and light sockets. These type of defects seem to show up in waves, you will see a few here and there and then you inspect a few homes and they are thought the house. Broken electrical [...]
Mortgage Lenders at your local credit union? Did you know that there are Mortgage Lenders at your local credit union? Since the 1930′s credit unions have been working with people of modest means. Credit Union’s were created with the philosophy of “people helping people” rather than putting profit ahead of people. As a member of [...]
Common Electrical Conductor Types by Nick Gromicko, Rob London and Kenton Shepard Poorly installed and maintained electrical cables are a common cause of electrical fires in homes. Many older homes contain wiring that is now considered obsolete or dangerous. InterNACHI inspectors should understand the basic distinctions between the different types of cable systems so that [...]
“Cool” Energy-Efficient Roofs By Nick Gromicko, Rob London and Kenton Shepard Cool roofs, also known as reflective roofs, are roof surfaces designed to reflect radiation from the sun, reducing heat transfer into the building. How do they differ from conventional roofing products? Unlike most North American asphalt roofs, cool roofs are specially engineered to reflect [...]
Choosing a Manufactured Home Manufactured homes no longer have to be the simple, rectangular, boxy trailer homes of the past. Depending on the size of your homesite, you can choose from single-section or multi-section designs. Homes range in size from 900 to 2,500 square feet, and can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. [...]
Childproofing Your Home: 12 Safety Devices to Protect Your Children About 2.5 million children are injured or killed by hazards in the home each year. The good news is that many of these incidents can be prevented by using simple child-safety devices on the market today. Any safety device you buy should be sturdy enough [...]
