Biological Pollutants in the Home 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 […]

Attached Garage Fire Hazards by Nick Gromicko and Kenton Shepard 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 […]

Asbestos 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 and Ben Gromicko     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.  Plunger A clogged sink or toilet […]

10 Easy Ways to Save Money & Energy in Your Home by Nick Gromicko, Ben Gromicko, and Kenton Shepard  10 Façons Simples de Limiter Votre Consommation énergétique chez Vous Las 10 maneras fáciles de reducir el consumo de energía en su casa Most people don’t know how easy it is to make their homes run […]

Tamper-Resistant Receptacles by Nick Gromicko, Thomas Zachar and Kate Tarasenko   It is estimated that approximately 2,400 children suffer from electrical shock and burns in the home each year when they force foreign objects into unprotected electrical outlets.  Installing tamper-resistant receptacles (TRRs), also called tamper-resistant outlets, are one way to safeguard young ones in the […]

How to Clean Algae and Moss Off Asphalt Shingles   by Michael Chotiner of The Home Depot   Stains on asphalt roofing shingles make a house look shabby, which detracts from its value. In some cases, stains are merely a cosmetic issue.  But sometimes they’re symptomatic of a problem that, if left unchecked, can lead […]

Replacement Windows for Improved Energy Efficiency: A Walk-Through Case Study by Michael Chotiner of The Home Depot I’m not a building inspector, but as a former building contractor and a widely published home-improvement writer, I’m often asked by friends and acquaintances to assess their homes and suggest the best ways to address whatever issues there […]