Fire safety in the home can be achieved with some common-sense steps.  You can also ask your local fire department, as well as your InterNACHI home inspector, to help you discover ways to defend against this threat.  Read about Fire Safety for the Home  now.

Central air conditioning systems should be inspected by a professional before the cooling season begins, but homeowners can do some of the work themselves. The condensate drain line should be unobstructed, the exterior unit covered up and the air filter cleaned. For more information on how to inspect these systems, check out our new article on inspecting central air conditioning systems.

Take sensitive electronics and hoist them up higher than the tallest tree, and permanently install it in a field, and then act surprised when lightning destroys your wind farm. Modern engineers have largely mitigated the problem, but still, the bulk of insurance claims for wind turbine damage are caused by lightning strikes. To find out what components of wind turbines are most sensitive, whether lightning rods are a good idea, and more, check out our new article on wind turbines and lightning.

Treehouses are constructed by homeowners rather than professional builders, they are elevated in trees, and contain unsupervised kids. With such a recipe for injury, it’s best the treehouses are built with high railings, sturdy ladders, and far from power lines. To find out more about safe construction and location, take a look at our new article on treehouse inspection.

Can you tell a winged termite from a winged ant? Do you know which insects are more damaging to houses, and why? Learn where ants enjoy nesting and ways to inspect for damage and infestation in our new article on Ant Inspection.

At InterNACHI, we strive to provide the best in customer service, education, and member services, and IT’S PAYING OFF!

InterNACHI is winner of a Gold Star Certificate from the BBB Denver/Boulder, 2009 for having NO COMPLAINTS for a three-year period!

Read more about the BBB’s Gold Star Certification here.

While most dust is harmless, some of it can spread disease or explode. Nasal cancer can be caused by exposure to wood dust, for instance, and polyethylene dust can explode. Learn more about these risks and how to protect homes and workplaces against the dangers in our new article on dust inspection.

Common in Europe for decades, radiant heating is becoming more popular stateside. These systems are generally more efficient than conventional heating systems and they pose less risk of spreading indoor pollution, although installation can be a hassle. To find out more, check out our new article on radiant heating systems.

Homeowner associations (HOAs) have their perks – depending on where you live, you probably won’t need to mow the lawn or paint the house. That sounds great, but don’t underestimate the power that HOAs wield, for better or for worse. Essential governments unto themselves, HOAs have the authority to restrict your freedoms in surprisingly petty ways, and when you don’t comply, you get more than a slap on the wrist. Small fees for something as mundane as walking your dog without a leash, if left unpaid, can balloon into obscene sums that can get you evicted. That’s right, HOAs in many states have the power to foreclose on your house, out of court, and you don’t even have the right to confront the board. The message to take from this is that HOAs are surprisingly unregulated and controlled by a few elected officials who can do almost anything they want with your most valuable asset – your home. To find out more, check out our new article on The Dark Side of Homeowner Associations.

Crawlspaces are commonly host to a number of conditions that can be harmful to the house as well as the inspector. Hantavirus, snakes, wood decay and electrical hazards are just a few of the things encountered in crawlspaces and inspectors should be ready for them. To find out more, check out our new article on crawl space hazards and inspection.

While not a typical site during inspections, wind turbines are increasing in popularity and it’s helpful if you learned a bit about them. There are several different designs, but the more common “horizontal” wind turbine is  generally more efficient than the “vertical” design. They each have their drawbacks, however, which you can learn more about in our new article on wind turbines, which also details how the mini power plants work.

Buried oil tanks pose huge environmental, safety and financial risks to homeowners because the tanks are prone to leakage. If can cost thousands of dollars to clean up oil spills that can happen gradually and go undetected for years. To find out more about the hazards that buried oil tanks pose and how professionals test for leaks, take a look at our new article on underground fuel tank hazards and inspection.

Inspectors provide a service, but their product is their report.  How good is yours?  The best reports are simple but packed with information.  Read “Inspection Reports:  Engage Your Five Senses” to find out how to use observational details in your reports.

Should inspectors write their report observations in the past tense?

I say, “Yes.” It may help reduce your liability.

Isn’t the report a document stating the condition of the property at the time of the inspection? Yes. Then why use the present tense?

Read “Inspection Reports:  Past or Present Tense?” here.

When writing up your inspection reports, many inspectors are divided between using past or present tense, but Nick and Ben discuss why it’s legally better to stick to past tense.  Read  “Inspection Reports:  Past or Present Tense?”