Insulation in a home is measured by R-Value (the capacity of insulated material to resist heat flow).  Some people believe the higher the R-Value, the better the insulation.  This is not necessarily true.  Insulation is meant to stop the movement of heat.  Heat moves...

Why Buy and Energy Efficient Air Conditioner?In an average air conditioned home, air conditioning consumes more than 2000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, causing about 3,500 pounds of carbon dioxide and 31 pounds of sulfur dioxide to be emitted at the power...

In this day and age of high tech gadgets, we sometimes forget about a low tech gadget we may take for granted, thermostats.  As an inspector, I see all sorts of thermostats from analog non-programmable types, digital programmable and now automatic.Tips and TricksThe...

Know when to repair or replace your furnace, air conditioner and water heaterAs a home inspector, I see a lot of furnaces, air conditioners and water heaters that are past their useful life.  This is not something a home buyer wants to hear and usually not something a...

CENTRAL HUMIDIFIERSHumidifiers are devices that humidify air so that building occupants are comfortable. Central humidifiers are hard-wired into a house’s plumbing and forced-air heating systems.What is humidity?Humidity refers to the amount of moisture in the air....

Home improvements that increase energy efficiency are appealing on many levels, from saving you money on heating and cooling costs to the confidence you get from knowing you're doing something good for the environment. They're even better when you can get some money...

There are two types of exposed exterior doors, those that leak and those that are going to leak.Sure, there are exceptions if your exterior doors are under an overhang or face north, but most doors exposed to weather are unsafe.  There are a few things you can look...

As a home inspector, I know there are many things that can be detrimental to homes.  The number one enemy is water.  The second are homeowners.  Sure, we love stores like Home Depot and Lowes but if you don't know the proper way to fix something or improve it, you may...

Kansas City Home Inspectors are a dime a dozen, but a good home inspector in Kansas City is worth his wait in gold. Home inspections in Kansas take a lot of skill and knowledge that come with hard work and experience. But doing a good home inspection requires more...

Trees can be a great feature to your home landscaping but also pose certain dangers.  What are those dangers?  Tree roots can cause damage to the foundation.  They can penetrate the foundation wall through existing cracks.  Large roots can get under the foundation and...