Homewerx Home Inspection in Mesa, AZ

Category: Home Repair and Maintenance

  • Home Heating Prices Increase Significantly

    Home heating costs are expected to be significantly higher this winter due to recent hurricanes in the Gulf Coast, as well as other factors.  The prices of natural gas, heating oil and propane are all expected to rise, with natural gas increasing approximately 41% over last winter’s prices.  Heating oil is expected to be about 27% more expensive this winter, and propane is expected to cost in excess of 20% more than last winter.  In dollars and cents, this means the average U.S. family can expect heating bills to cost over $300 more this winter than last.  Once we get through the cold weather, those of us that live in Arizona will be rewarded with yet more high utility bills this summer!

    But help is on the way!  Homewerx Home Inspections is now offering a new service that can help homeowners keep those electric and gas bills affordable.  It’s called a Home Energy Tune-uP and it’s easy and inexpensive to have done.  Our Certified Home Inspector will collect certain data throughout your home such as information about your windows, doors, insulation, heating and cooling units, etc.  The Inspector examines and measures all energy related parts of the house, and then uses the data to prepare a report describing what you can do to improve the energy efficiency of your home.  For each energy-saving recommendation, your report will estimate the cost and potential savings.

    Anyone who plans to live in their home for more than a few years should consider having a Home Energy Tune-uP.  It can easily pay for itself by reducing your utility bills, and we should all do our part to conserve energy!

    For more information or to schedule a Home Energy Tune-uP, call Homewerx Home Inspections today.  The sooner you call, the sooner you can start saving energy and money!

    (480) 503-2611 or 1-888-THE-WERX

  • Stay off the Roof!

    As Christmas rapidly approaches, homeowners climb their ladders and hang their Christmas decorations.  And each weekend, I witness yet another one of my neighbors walking on their tile roof as they string their lights up.  This is a really bad idea!  Tiles crack very easily.  It takes an extremely skilled professional to walk on a tile roof without damaging it.  Don’t try it – you will most likely be sorry!  Home Inspectors generally do not even walk on tile roofs to inspect them!

    If you have already walked on your tile roof this year or in the past, you may want to have your roof inspected for broken tiles before it begins to leak.  It’s relatively inexpensive to have a few tiles replaced.  But once they start leaking, it can be much more costly.

    If you or someone you know is in need of a home inspection, call today!

    (480) 503-2611 or 1-888-THE-WERX

    Because an ounce of inspection is worth a pound of repair!

  • EPA Says 1 in 15 U.S. Homes has Radon Problem

    Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas that has been found in homes all over the United States. It is created naturally by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water.  Radon typically gets trapped inside your home by moving up through the ground to the air above, then into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation.  Radon can also get into the home through well water.  Once inside your home, it becomes part of the air you breathe or the water you drink.  Depending on ventilation and other conditions inside your home, the radon concentration may pose a serious health risk to your family. Radon is invisible, odorless and tasteless so the only way to know your home’s radon level is to test for it.

    Most people feel safe when they are at home and don’t worry about getting radiation exposure from their house.  But according to the Environmental Protection Agency, home is where you and your family are most likely to get your greatest radiation exposure because it’s where you spend most of your time.  In fact, the EPA estimates that radon causes 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the U.S. each year.  This makes radon the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. today, second only to smoking.  And if you smoke plus have high radon levels in your home, your risk of lung cancer is extra high.

    The EPA says one out of every fifteen U.S. homes has an elevated level of radon (4 pCi/L or more).  Furthermore, radon can be a problem in any home – new house or old, well-sealed or drafty, basement or no basement and regardless of the home’s geographical location.  It’s not possible to predict radon levels based on state or local radon measurements, nor can you rely on radon test results taken in other homes in the neighborhood.

    If your home’s radon level is 4 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher, the EPA recommends that steps be taken to reduce the radon level.  Radon mitigation contractors may use a variety of techniques to reduce your radon level.  Sealing cracks and other penetrations in the foundation may be part of the solution, but sealing cracks alone is not enough.  A system of vent pipes and fans may be installed in the crawl space or another location in your home, creating a "sub-slab depressurization system".  This system draws the radon gas through the vent pipes, preventing it from entering the home from below the concrete floor or outside the foundation.  Radon mitigation contractors may also use other methods depending on the design of your home and other factors.  While it sounds complicated and intrusive, these systems generally do not require major changes to your home, and repairs can usually be accomplished for around $800-$2500.  Even in homes where the radon level is less than 4 pCi/L, radon may still pose a risk and in many cases, can be reduced.

    While radon cannot be eliminated, the radon level in your home can be minimized.  Testing for radon is the first step.  The EPA recommends a radon test for anybody that is buying, selling or building a home.  The EPA also recommends testing your home after any major renovations, or if you change your living patterns (i.e. you begin occupying a basement level that was previously not used much).  You should also re-test your home after having radon mitigation features installed to be sure that radon levels have been reduced.

    A Radon Test costs:

    • $200 by itself, or
    • $150 if done in conjunction with a home inspection or other service.

    For more information or to schedule a radon test for your home, CALL HOMEWERX HOME INSPECTIONS TODAY!

    (480) 503-2611
    or Toll Free 1-888-THE-WERX

    or you can schedule online!

    ….because an ounce of inspection is worth a pound of repair!

  • Warranty Inspection Makes Good Sense

    DON’T PAY FOR YOUR BUILDER’S MISTAKES!!

    All homes have flaws and hidden defects, even brand new homes. The cracks in the walls and sticking doors may just be the tip of the iceberg. Some defects can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars to repair, as well as put your family’s health and safety at risk.  That’s why it’s important to have someone on your side like Homewerx Home Inspections.

    A warranty inspection by Homewerx Home Inspections will help you find the hidden problems that exist in your new home BEFORE your warranty expires. From roofs that are improperly installed and in some cases, not even finished, to broken trusses and missing insulation, we regularly find major builder errors that slipped by the busy city inspectors. Our inspection can easily pay for itself by saving you future out-of-pocket repairs.

    In addition to revealing problems caused by sub-standard materials and workmanship, we will also document the problems you already know about, making the ‘builder warranty process’ less of a headache.  Our easy-to-read, yet comprehensive typewritten report has color digital photos, a summary of necessary repairs you can give to your builder, and home maintenance tips to help keep your home in top shape.  Let us catch the problems now to save you time, frustration and money in the future.

    HURRY…CALL BEFORE YOUR WARRANTY EXPIRES!

    (480) 503-2611 or 1-888-THE-WERX

    …or you can schedule online!

    REMEMBER…if our Inspector finds one flaw covered under your warranty that you were unaware of, this inspection can easily pay for itself!!

    Protect Your Investment…call for an appointment TODAY!

  • No Brainer Energy Tips – Light Bulbs

    Conserving energy has become an ever increasing concern as prices keep climbing.  One of the easiest places we can conserve energy (and save money) is by changing our light bulbs.  No, this will not end our dependency on foreign oil or make us rich, but every watt conserved really adds up if we all pitch in. 

    Consider this, a 60 watt incandescent light bulb costs about $1.50 and will last about a year.  A mini fluorescent light bulb uses 14 watts, costs $5 and will last about 7 years.  Even though the initial cost may seem higher for the fluorescent bulb, the savings over the 7 year life is $5.50.  The fluorescent bulb also uses 1/4 of the energy for the same amount of light reducing the cost to operate that bulb. 

    While the fluorescent light is on the temperature is about 120 degrees.  Compare that the the incandescent bulb at 320 degrees.  By switching to the fluorescent light, we reduce the amount of heat being released inside our home.  In the summer, we are trying to remove heat from inside the home.  We do this by running the AC which also costs money.

    So if we switch our light bulbs from incandescent bulbs to fluorescent bulbs we will save money on the bulb itself, save money in the operation of the bulb over its life time and release less heat into the home that we have to pay to remove by running our AC.

    Hmmm, No brainer energy tip.

    P.S.  That’s also more time watching football instead of changing light bulbs.

  • There’s a What on My Roof?

    Cactus on roof As a home inspector, I often make recommendations to my clients that they should remove or trim vegetation away from the house to prevent damage.  In this case, a small cactus was growing on the patio roof.  This is not the first time I have needed to recommend the removal of a cactus from the roof.   

  • Door To Nowhere

    Door to nowhere! I recently stumbled across this little jewel.  I was inspecting this mid 50’s house and when I opened a pocket door that I assumed was to a closet, I discovered that it was blocked off by the exterior siding.  Maybe this is a door to nowhere like in the famous haunted Winchester Mansion.  Hmmm.

  • Burning Down the House

    Mvc001s One day as I arrived at my inspection, I was greeted by an excited home owner.  He immediately started to talk about the "clean up" and how they were lucky.  A little confused, he led me into the kitchen where I saw the charred remains of the microwave oven, black soot on the ceilings and walls, and crispy cabinets. 

    It turns out that the night before the inspection, they went to clean the oven (they said that it was on my behalf, so I would have a nice clean oven to look at).  A candle was left on the oven (not intentionally) and they left the house.  When they returned, they found the fire department and the entire neighborhood in their driveway to greet them.

    Luckily for the homeowner, a passer by spotted flames through the kitchen window and called for help.  This quick action from a total stranger saved their house from burning to the ground.  I guess there are still some good Samaritans in the world.

    I guess what I am trying to say is watch your oven in the cleaning cycle.  Remove all objects from inside and on top of the unit, and it is even wise to pull it out away from the wall and cabinetry. 

    Although this was an accident, it could have been avoided by taking a few precautions.  I’m just glad they still have a house to sell.

  • Special Inspections – for Homeowners

    Why would you need a Special Inspection?

    • Are those cracks in your walls just settlement cracks or are they structural?
    • Should you pay to fix them or wait…will they just crack again? 
    • Have you received estimates from contractors and aren’t sure they’re being honest with you?
    • Are they telling you that something needs to be replaced when it only needs to be adjusted?
    • Do you have moisture getting in somehow but you’re not sure how?
    • Have you ever wondered why it is warmer in one room than another?
    • Do you hear running water even when no faucets are on?
    • What about the door that sticks and those cracks in your tile.

    Picture of a rotted wall caused by a simple leak that was ignored when it could have been fixed for a few dollars.

    The leaky shower head that caused this damage LOOKED like it was only leaking outside the wall. An inspection revealed that the leak had actually caused the wall to rot, requiring that it be completely rebuilt. (Picture above was taken during wall repairs.  No dismantling or destructive testing is performed during a home inspection.)

    Special Inspections are for homeowners that need help with a specific problem instead of an ‘entire house inspection’.

    CALL for an inspection TODAY!

    (480) 503-2611
    Toll Free 1-888-THE-WERX

    Or Schedule Online

    …because an ounce of inspection is worth a pound of repair!

  • Expert Witness Services

    Need an Expert on your side?

    • Are you fighting with your builder or contractor?   
    • Are you a Real Estate Agent, or otherwise involved in a real estate transaction gone bad? 
    • Feel that a lawsuit may be the only way to resolve your differences?

    Let one of our experienced Home Inspectors be your Expert Witness and:

    • Thoroughly inspect the property or item in question
    • Take pictures, video clips, verbal & written notes
    • Perform various research (public records, codes, etc.)
    • Prepare a comprehensive written report with color digital photos
    • Communicate findings supporting your position to other parties
    • If necessary, appear for depositions and/or testify on your behalf.

    We’re on your side!   Call for a free price quote today.

    (480) 503-2611 or 1-888-THE-WERX