Follow Home Inspection Blog, filter it, and define how you want to receive the news (via Email, RSS, Telegram, WhatsApp etc.) https://follow.it/home-inspection-blog Wed, 29 Mar 2023 08:58:53 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtPyNGQ4IbJ-LOT5HJgy6HUf The spring market has sprung for real estate in Minnesota. For the third year in a row, some home buyers are skipping the home inspection to make their purchase offer more attractive. We don’t advocate this, and most real estate agents don’t like it either, but it’s still happening.  Enter the Walk-Through Consultation We […]]]> Tue, 28 Mar 2023 13:07:30 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtPyNGQ4IbJ-LOT5HJgy6HUf https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtPTBVkVgPLlwZVjH6qdYdAk I recently blogged about stuff to do when you’re leaving your house vacant for a while. I touched on plumbing, heating, and general stuff, but I didn’t mention anything regarding electricity usage. After writing that post, someone told me it’s a good idea to unplug stuff all over the house to help reduce phantom loads. […]]]> Tue, 21 Mar 2023 14:00:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtPTBVkVgPLlwZVjH6qdYdAk https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtMauJcxIny-TV1cWWor9YPv Phantom loads, also called standby power, is the electricity used by appliances even when they are turned off.  Reuben talks about the experiment he did at home with the Sense Home Energy Monitor. He shares using Kill A Watt meter, a device that measures the power consumed by an appliance. He then discusses the results […]]]> Mon, 20 Mar 2023 12:00:19 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtMauJcxIny-TV1cWWor9YPv https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtNS3c5e7xZC-cb1naedg1wr As home inspectors, we come across many signs and warnings left by home sellers. I assembled a compilation of my favorites, and I hope you find them as amusing as I did.  Winterized, kinda. The handwritten part that says “Best Possable” reduces my confidence by about 90%. Copper Stolen. Don’t bother trying to break into this […]]]> Tue, 14 Mar 2023 14:00:13 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtNS3c5e7xZC-cb1naedg1wr https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtMqK-voofWVQMb1naedg1wr What should you do with your house if you’re leaving for a long time?  Reuben first talks about plumbing. He recommends turning the water off and keeping the house humidifier and water heater running. Tessa highlights how some homeowners misuse humidifiers. They also discuss avoiding sewer gas from leaking into the house as well as […]]]> Mon, 13 Mar 2023 12:00:10 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtMqK-voofWVQMb1naedg1wr https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtMj7chXQouqhezdsCmHakzH I listen to a ton of audiobooks on Audible, and I share many of these books with friends, family, and colleagues. I did a blog post sharing many of my favorite books back in 2019, and it’s time for an update. These are some of my favorite reads from the past few years, broken down […]]]> Tue, 07 Mar 2023 14:17:37 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtMj7chXQouqhezdsCmHakzH https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtNg-A-X_X-zOOT5HJgy6HUf Today, Reuben and Tessa touch on some key points about radon.  Reuben discusses what radon is, and addresses the biggest arguments about testing, and myths about it. He mentions that health authorities have claimed that radon is a silent killer that causes lung cancer.  They talk about the statistics of radon elevation, as well as […]]]> Mon, 27 Feb 2023 12:01:35 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtNg-A-X_X-zOOT5HJgy6HUf https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtOOobXAf5C-tl1cWWor9YPv Today is part 4 of the Window Replacement series. Today we’re gonna talk about the big three window manufacturers. Ryan Carey first talks about a Minnesota company, Andersen, which is a more popular brand. He discusses the type of windows that Anderson makes: the 400 and 100 series, the regular, and the Renewal products. They […]]]> Mon, 20 Feb 2023 12:09:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtOOobXAf5C-tl1cWWor9YPv https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtNO8XzDj1ciIXn9ye8UNv30 Another week with Ryan Carey ! In today’s show, we’re going to talk everything about window replacement. Ryan discusses the two main types and the difference in window replacements: the insert or retrofit window and the full frame. He also explains the window replacement process and which type is best for each window or type […]]]> Tue, 14 Feb 2023 01:00:53 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtNO8XzDj1ciIXn9ye8UNv30 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtMm6IOMUVK8TeT5HJgy6HUf Recessed lights need to go. I love recessed lights, but most of them create a ridiculous amount of heat in attics, which can lead to ice dams. Until I started performing infrared inspections in attics, I never understood how much heat recessed lights contributed to attics, but now my eyes are wide open. The main […]]]> Tue, 07 Feb 2023 13:00:16 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtMm6IOMUVK8TeT5HJgy6HUf https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtMDfZBT31GEAiejEQ2Mq9rY Ryan Carey  of My 3 Quotes joins us for another week to discuss which type of window is the best. Tessa asks about low emissivity or low-E windows and the layers of coating. Ryan explains its effect on houses, the light, and the heat that comes into the house especially in the winter. He discusses […]]]> Mon, 06 Feb 2023 12:01:50 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtMDfZBT31GEAiejEQ2Mq9rY https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtMFoBPTgcKQoZVjH6qdYdAk This is a guest blog post by Ryan Carey, of My 3 Quotes. How important is a well-known name brand for you? That is a big question, and the answer greatly affects our buying decisions. For example, when several in-home window presentations by high-pressure salespeople are giving you a headache, do you get generic ibuprofen, […]]]> Tue, 31 Jan 2023 13:00:59 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtMFoBPTgcKQoZVjH6qdYdAk https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtOTh-SRekAioMb1naedg1wr Ryan Carey discusses the sales process of window companies and the mind-game tactics they use. Reuben and Ryan also reminisce about Department Supervisor Training from Home Depot, where they learned how to deal with different types of customers.  Reuben inquires about the important stuff to understand and look for when choosing a window. Ryan discusses […]]]> Mon, 30 Jan 2023 12:02:12 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtOTh-SRekAioMb1naedg1wr https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtOBph0u7OpJu5VjH6qdYdAk If you’re buying a home in Minnesota, get it tested for radon.  There are two reasons I give for having radon tested; lung cancer and money.  A few quick facts about radon Radon is a gas formed by the breakdown of uranium and radium, both of which are found in high levels in Minnesota. […]]]> Tue, 24 Jan 2023 16:05:04 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtOBph0u7OpJu5VjH6qdYdAk https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtNBMid7dLFlrylmFkX7M1Jw Reuben and Tessa advise looking for a good, competent, and qualified contractor by getting help from trained and certified professionals through Building Performance Institute (BPI Contractor and Test Center Locator | Building Performance Institute, Inc.). Tessa highlights that a good contractor should discuss air sealing, attic bypasses, and attic ventilation with the homeowner.  They review […]]]> Mon, 23 Jan 2023 12:02:21 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtNBMid7dLFlrylmFkX7M1Jw https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtOG6svrDXeBu-T5HJgy6HUf This is a guest blog post by Ryan Carey, of My 3 Quotes. If you didn’t call My 3 Quotes and you’ve just been through three very long and very painful window sales pitches, your head is now spinning. One salesperson told you all vinyl windows are junk, one told you to avoid wood windows […]]]> Tue, 17 Jan 2023 13:00:17 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtOG6svrDXeBu-T5HJgy6HUf https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtMaFrc7pOhz33n9ye8UNv30 Ice dams are literally dams of ice that form on roofs and cause water to back up. Ice dams form when the snow that touches the roof melts, and then that water freezes again before running off the roof. This usually happens at the edges of roofs, but not always. If you’d prefer to watch […]]]> Tue, 10 Jan 2023 13:00:25 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtMaFrc7pOhz33n9ye8UNv30 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtPOkqXt6yWkZOT5HJgy6HUf Dr. Ben Franske joins the show to speak about the internet of things and technology around your house.    Ben discusses home automation and the software that helps him control various disparate devices such as HVAC control and thermostats, security and alarms, and door locks, among others. He also talks about devices that communicate through […]]]> Mon, 09 Jan 2023 12:01:29 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtPOkqXt6yWkZOT5HJgy6HUf https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtMO7w3IPRh_l3n9ye8UNv30 This is a guest blog post by Ryan Carey, of My 3 Quotes. Time for window shopping? Get ready for the product that was absolutely made for the kitchen table sales pitch. Windows are a salesperson’s dream, chock full of parts and pieces that can be handed to the homeowner, moving sashes to display operation, […]]]> Tue, 03 Jan 2023 13:00:26 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtMO7w3IPRh_l3n9ye8UNv30 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtP0SrP_WucAUeT5HJgy6HUf Welcome 2023! It’s a new year, a new podcast. The two-legged ladder, Reuben and Tessa, host the show.    Tessa shares her journey with Structure Talk and leaves the company after 7 years. She shares about her new adventure.    Reuben talks about how the new show will go. He highlights that there will be […]]]> Mon, 02 Jan 2023 12:01:47 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/v0xuMQDrGtP0SrP_WucAUeT5HJgy6HUf