Child-Proofing Your Home: 12 Safety Devices to Protect Your Children
by Nick Gromicko, CMI® and Kate Tarasenko from InterNACHI About 2.5 million children are injured or killed by hazards in the home each year. The good news is that many of these incidents can be prevented by using simple child-safety devices on the market today. Any safety device you buy should be sturdy enough to prevent injury […]
Residential Air-Conditioning System Inspection
by Nick Gromicko, CMI® from InterNACHI A building’s central air-conditioning system must be periodically inspected and maintained in order to function properly. While an annual inspection performed by a trained professional is recommended, homeowners can do a lot of the work themselves by following the tips offered in this guide. Clean the Exterior Condenser Unit and […]
Building Orientation for Optimum Energy
by Nick Gromicko, CMI® and Ben Gromicko from InterNACHI Building orientation is the practice of facing a building so as to maximize certain aspects of its surroundings, such as street appeal, to capture a scenic view, for drainage considerations, etc. With rising energy costs, it’s becoming increasingly important for builders to orient buildings to capitalize on the […]
Building a Home
From InterNACHI If you want to build a new home, there are things you need to know before you begin. Learn about construction standards and about buying land, so you know your rights. MPS Supplementing Model Building CodesThe Minimum Property Standards (MPS) establish certain minimum standards for buildings constructed under HUD housing programs. This includes […]
Biowall Inspection
by Nick Gromicko, CMI® from InterNACHI Biowalls — also referred to as living walls, vertical gardens, green facades, and green walls — are interior or exterior walls that are covered with living vegetation. Biowalls have practical applications for both indoor and outdoor use. Many indoor biowalls are implemented in homes and offices for their natural air-filtration […]
Biological Pollutants in the Home
From InterNACHI Outdoor air pollution in cities is a major health problem. Much effort and money continue to be spent cleaning up pollution in the outdoor air. But air pollution can be a problem where you least expect it, in the place you may have thought was safest — your home. Many ordinary activities, such […]
Attached Garage Fire Hazards
by Nick Gromicko, CMI® and Kenton Shepard from InterNACHI The purpose of this article is twofold. First, at InterNACHI, we’d like you to take measures to keep your garage free from fire. Fortunately, there are ways this can be done, some of which are described below. Secondly, garage fires do happen, and we’d like you to make […]
Asbestos: Facts and Tips for Home Inspectors and Homeowners
From InterNACHI What Is Asbestos?Asbestos is a mineral fiber that can be positively identified only with a special type of microscope. There are several types of asbestos fibers. In the past, asbestos was added to a variety of products to strengthen them and to provide heat insulation and fire resistance. InterNACHI inspectors can supplement their […]
15 Tools Every Homeowner Should Own
by Nick Gromicko, CMI® and Ben Gromicko from InterNACHI The following items are essential tools, but this list is by no means exhaustive. Feel free to ask an InterNACHI inspector during your next inspection about other tools that you might find useful. 1. PlungerA clogged sink or toilet is one of the most inconvenient household problems that you will face. […]