Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Great Debate…. Crawl Spaces, To Vent or Not to Vent!   During the 20th century, before there were building scientists. Homes were built by carpenters and contractors and a quality construction job included foundation vents into the crawlspace. The thinking was that the vents allowed air to circulate under the house, keeping it dry.… Continue Reading

Many times each week we have someone complain that they have Sulfur in their water. While there are probably few areas of the world where sulfur occurs naturally in the aquifers from which drinking water is drawn, the fact is there are very few. More often the source of the odor is something else completely.… Continue Reading

Home inspectors work year round. Snow can pose huge problems for home inspectors who conduct winter home inspections. If a big snow occurs the night before your winter home inspection, the home inspector will be limited in what he or she can do. Home buyers living in these areas of the country should be aware… Continue Reading

Lightning is the “visible discharge of static electricity within a cloud, between clouds or between the earth and a cloud,” as defined by Underwriters Laboratories. Lightning is unpredictable and a serious threat to buildings and their occupants virtually everywhere. Facts about lightning: Benjamin Franklin invented the first lightning rod in 1752 –- a kite outfitted with… Continue Reading

While the considerable advantages offered by solar energy move some proponents to ignore the budding technology’s comparatively minor flaws, these imperfections must be acknowledged, lest their resolutions be stalled. We should take an honest look at the system’s disadvantages and seek to refine solar energy systems into a truly environmentally friendly alternative. The most significant… Continue Reading

With barbeque season already here, homeowners should heed the following safety precautions in order to keep their families and property safe. Propane grills present an enormous fire hazard, as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is aware of more than 500 fires that result annually from their misuse or malfunction. The following precautions are recommended specifically when using propane… Continue Reading

Here comes the Polar Vortex again! And it’s causing havoc to buildings and roofs all over the country this year. So much for Global Warming!! Here are some facts and fiction about our new friend, the ice dam. Fact: You can see ice dams from the ground.  It’s true that you can usually spot a… Continue Reading

So, what are the deal breakers of a home inspection? That depends entirely on you. What is and is not a deal breaker depends on each person’s preferences and needs. For example, an inspection that identifies a roof covering that need to be addressed, might be a deciding factor for one person who feels the… Continue Reading

Home Inspector Kevin Michaels, of Hudson Valley Property Inspections, is certified in solar energy installation and design and can assist the new home buyer by answering any questions that they may have about solar energy. Solar energy offers considerable advantages over conventional energy systems by nullifying flaws in those systems long considered to be unchangeable.… Continue Reading