At first glance, pellet stoves may look like wood-burning stoves, but the similarities end there. Pellets are made from biomass that might be wood or a variety of other products such as cherry pits and corn. They have on-board computers that control the flow of pellets into the burning chamber so that a constant, moderate flame is produced. They can be closer to walls and other combustibles than wood stoves because they don’t get as hot, and their flues don’t need to be as wide. To find out more about these unusual appliances and how to inspect them, check out our new article on pellet stoves for inspectors.

Ever wonder why the mortar joints between bricks come in so many different patterns? It isn’t just to make them look pretty, some actually enhance the water-resistance of the mortar and the lifetime of the wall. Some joints are easy to make and some require great care, but all are used for a particular purpose. The grapevine joint, for instance, was used extensively during America’s colonial period and is often replicated in newer buildings to match old styles in the area. The raked joint looks impressive but it has the tendency to trap water and should not be used in exterior walls. To find out more, take a look at our new article on mortar types.

Inspectors who wish to inspect fireplaces should know how large the hearth and hearth extensions need to be. Feel free to read our new article on hearths and hearth extensions to find some specifics about inspecting these fireplace components. Important IRC code can be found there too.