A Northern Virginia Home Inspector's Perspective

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Home Inspector - Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - 3380-000723
RECENT BLOG POSTS
With air filters the air flow arrow should point toward the unit.While I have never kept track statistically, I bet that more than half the time the HVAC filter air flow arrow is pointing in the wrong direction.Twice in two days I have seen this.The arrow is pointing away from the unit.The air fl...
12/15/2016
As much as thirty percent of energy loss happens here.Remember, heat seeks cold.  Heat looks for cold!  Heat then moves toward cold!In a finished house, assuming everything is in place (including insulation) the energy loss (meaning thermal movement - heat toward cold) breaks down more or less li...
12/12/2016
The HVAC return grill was screwed in place and painted many times.What would that say to you?That the filter had not been replaced in quite some time.And  I was not disappointed.Peeking through the little slots I could see what looked like a wool blanket.The camera was able to capture a bit of it...
12/11/2016
When a toilet wobbles.  And what do wobbly toilets lead to?Moisture!  The transition between where the toilet bowl sits on the floor and the drain beneath is a $1 wax donut.  The wax donut is what provides the water seal so water is flushed directly into the drain.If the toilet wobbles that $1 do...
12/10/2016
In this new construction, during the pre-drywall walk through, I was looking for the missing indoor hose bib shut off valves.And could not find them.  Yes the basement was dark, as it was about 615am, but I have a great flashlight!The indoor shut-off valves are typically located where the yellow ...
12/09/2016
Self-closing fire doors.Fire possibilities are a big deal and fire-safety codes are designed to help put people in a better position to handle themselves should a fire occur.One such code regards fire doors.What is a fire door?  One that seals an opening, like the house or a bedroom, against the ...
12/07/2016
I see it all the time - painted bath tub repairs.And painted ceramic tile, and towel bars, and soap dishes, etc.This is almost always the result.The cracking and peeling usually begins near the drain, and progresses from there.  It looks like bubbles form, or something is dropped onto the surface...
12/05/2016
What do dryer vents and Cousin It have in common?Well, nothing.  However, if a dryer vent is covered up with a grill it will get so hairy with fuzz you might just think it looks like Cousin It.And there you have it.Covering a dryer vent with the all-purpose grill to keep the birds out will do tha...
12/04/2016
Don't paint receptacle covers!It's simple.  The covers should be removed before the wall around a receptacle should be primed and painted.Painting the cover and receptacle while on the wall is not a good thing to do for many reasons:1.  The cover plate is essentially glued to the wall and the rec...
11/30/2016
This is what happens when wood siding is too close to the ground.It gets wet, it rots, and it attracts termites!Wood siding should be 4" or so from the ground whether that be soil or solid surface.  Six inches would not be too far.The further the better.  When it is higher from the ground splashi...
11/28/2016
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Jay Markanich

Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia
local_phone(703) 330-6388
smartphone(703) 585-7560
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An experienced home inspector's look at current home inspection events and conditions along with his useful recommendations.