Vacuum breakers (aka - backflow preventers) have always been one of those pesky Truth-In-Housing repairs for homeowners in Minneapolis and Bloomington, but those aren't the only cities where they're required. They're actually a requirement of the Minnesota State Plumbing Code, section 4715.2100
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07/26/2010
An improperly installed drain hose is by far the most common defect that I find with dishwasher installations, but it's also one of the easiest things to get right. In the photo below, which was featured as a Structure Tech Photo of the Day, there are several plumbing defects, two of which are
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07/19/2010
If you watched the news this weekend, you probably heard about the deck collapse that happened in Coon Rapids on Friday. On WCCO news, they even had an expert speculate that the deck collapsed because it wasn't properly secured to the house. When I hear news stories about a deck collapses, th
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07/12/2010
As standard procedure for every home inspection that I perform, I check the toilets to make sure they're properly anchored to the floor. Almost every time I find a toilet that's loose, I also find missing caulk at the base of the toilet. The two go hand in hand. When I find a loose toilet I
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07/06/2010