Homewerx Home Inspection in Mesa, AZ

Author: AZ Home Inspector

  • Repair Leaky Pipes to Avoid Costly Repairs

    Repair Leaky Supply & Waste Pipes Promptly to Avoid More Costly Repairs

    Leaky waste piping can lead to water damage and mold growth.  Any leak from a waste or supply pipe should be promptly repaired to avoid costly repairs.

  • Air Conditioner & Heat Pump Warning Signs

    As we get into the 100+ degree temperatures, the efficiency of your home’s cooling system becomes of the utmost importance.  Your air conditioner or heat pump is usually the most expensive appliance in your home, not only in terms of initial cost, but also when it comes to maintenance cost and energy use.

    To maintain comfort in your home and to keep your cooling unit working at peak efficiency, you should:

    • have your air conditioner or heat pump serviced annually by a qualified professional
    • change your air filters at least once per month (yes – every month!)
    • keep at least 90% of all your home’s air vents open to avoid creating a pressure imbalance
    • clean any debris or obstructions near the outdoor components of your cooling system to improve cooling efficiency

    In many cases, it makes alot of sense financially to replace an older cooling system even if it still works just fine.  This is because newer cooling units are much more energy efficient than older ones.  Therefore, the money you save in electric bills will pay for the cost of the new unit in a fairly short time.  It obviously depends on how long you plan to keep your home.  If your air conditioner or heat pump is more than 10 years old and you plan to keep your home for several years, you should definitely consider a newer, more efficient cooling system.

    One or more of the warning signs below could indicate that your cooling system may soon be due for repair or replacement:

    • Your cooling system makes excessive noise
    • Your air conditioner or heat pump turns on and off frequently
    • You notice some rooms are colder than desired, or hotter than desired
    • Your electricity usage increases
    • You notice excessive dust in your home
    • Your cooling system requires frequent repair
    • Your cooling system is more than 10 years old

    Hope this information helps you and your family stay cool this summer.  Remember, if you have any type of problem in your home, Homewerx Home Inspections can help!  We do homeowner maintenance inspections and special inspections, in addition to many other services.

    Call today for more information
    or to schedule your inspection!

    Valleywide (480) 503-2611
    Toll free: 1-888-THE-WERX

  • HomeInspectionBlog.com Gets Mention in Arizona Republic Real Estate Blogging Article!

    HomeInspectionBlog.com was recently mentioned in an Arizona Republic article by David van den Berg.  The article on real estate bloggers came out in the May 17th Arizona Republic.  "Blogs Will Grow As Tool For Real Estate", can also be viewed online.

    Note:  In the article, the link to HomeInspectionBlog.com mistakenly has a space in it, so the link in the online article doesn’t work.

  • Wildfire Season is Here – Protect Your Home

    You see it on the news.  Wildfire season is upon us.  Fires are constantly burning acreage all across the country, and Arizona is no exception.  Each summer, Arizona also sees numerous fires and hundreds of acres scorched due to our dry, desert conditions along with our extremely high temperatures and winds.  However, there are some easy steps you can take to protect your property this wildfire season:

    • Be sure that combustible materials are properly stored away from your house.
    • Be careful as you re-fuel garden equipment and routinely maintain the equipment.
    • Regularly check and maintain your irrigation system to prevent vegetation from getting dried out.
    • Immediately remove dead plants, trees, shrubbery and other debris from your yard, and yes… your roof too!
    • Never store firewood or other easily ignited items near your home.  Firewood stored near your home can also cause undesirable insect activity.
    • Regularly prune trees and trim overhanging branches.  The lowest limb should be no more than 6 to 10 feet from the ground.

    It is inevitable that wildfires will burn across Arizona this summer, like last.  However, taking a few simple steps can help protect your home and family from a wildfire.

  • Proper Drainage is Important to Your Foundation

    Buried Downspout Can Cause Foundation Problems

    Can you guess what the problem is here?  If you asked how is the water going to get out of this completely buried downspout, you’re right!  This condition is particularly bad for the foundation.

  • Don’t Get Squished By Your Garage Door

    One of the most commonly overlooked maintenance items in the home, and a very common safety defect, is the garage door and opener.  The garage door assembly is the largest and heaviest moving object in the home.  If it is not in good working order and properly adjusted, it can pose a serious safety risk.  There are three basic safety features on your garage door that should periodically be tested, ideally once a month.

    The first safety feature that should be checked is the safety reverse beam.  This light beam should be installed at about 6 inches from the floor, and should reverse the direction of the door when the beam is broken.  Be sure to refer to the installation instructions for proper mounting of this important safety feature.

    The second safety feature that should be checked is the auto reverse.  This feature will reverse the direction of the door should it encounter resistance while in motion (both up and down).  This can be tested by placing an object in the path of the door or holding the door while in motion.  I prefer the holding method because a faulty auto reverse can do serious damage to the door (usually the top panel will bend or crack where it attaches to the opener).  If the opener fails this test, minor adjustments to the sensitivity setting on the opener will often resolve this issue.

    The final safety feature on your garage door is the safety or counter balance spring.  This spring takes up the weight of the door and should not allow the door to fall when disconnected from the opener.  If this spring is damaged or incorrectly adjusted, the door can close with considerable force.  Serious injury or death can result if you, a child or a pet is struck by the door.  To test the spring, disconnect the door from the opener (while the door is in the closed position), open the door manually and see if it will remain balanced at the half open point.  Should your door fail this test, consult a professional to make repairs.  Counter balance springs are under tension and can cause serious injury if adjustments are attempted by an amateur.

    If you have any questions regarding the operation of your garage door, feel free to call our office at  (480) 503-2611.

  • Some Homeowner ‘Improvements’ Can Create Problems When Selling

    Several trusses were cut through to make this large hole in the garage ceiling.When this large hole in the garage ceiling was made, several trusses that hold up the roof were cut through, possibly compromising its structural integrity.

  • Saving Hot Water Can Save You Money

    According to SRP, up to 20% of their average customer’s annual energy usage goes towards producing hot water for every day tasks such as laundry, bathing, cooking and dishwashing.  Employing a few simple tips can help you save money while also saving water and energy.

    • Identify and repair all leaky water faucets.  A slow drip can leak hundreds of gallons of water per year.  If it’s a hot water leak, both the water and heating it will cost you money.  Be sure to turn off faucets completely and teach your kids to properly turn off faucets.
    • Set the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees.  Lowering the temperature from 140 degrees to 120 degrees can save you up to $7 per month.  Setting your water heater thermostat to 120 degrees can also reduce the risk of scalding accidents, which are especially a concern with young children and the elderly.
    • If you participate in a peak-hour type program with your electric company, you should consider installing a timer on your water heater.  Set the timer in a manner that will prevent the water heater from cycling on during the expensive, on-peak hours.
    • Instead of taking baths, take short showers.  A bath can use 15-25 gallons of water, while an average 5-minute shower uses less than 10 gallons.
    • Consider installing low-flow faucets or aerators in your kitchen and/or bathroom.  This can reduce consumption of hot water by up to 35%.

    The above figures are based on a typical SRP customer with an electric water heater.  However, saving hot water can also save you money if you have a gas water heater!

    Source:  SRP’s Contact, February 2006

  • Did You Know Termites Can…

    Did you know that some queen termites can give birth every 15 seconds?*  You learn something new every day!

     

    *  Source:  Animal Planet’s Top 10 Most Extreme show

  • Bricks & Evaporative Coolers Don’t Mix!

    Evaporative cooler with bricks being used as leg stands. This is not recommended! Bricks are probably NOT the manufacturer’s recommended material for evaporative cooler stand legs!