Useful Tip -- Heating

As the industry leader in professional home inspections, our certified inspectors know what is required for a home to function efficiently and properly according to local building standards. This month learn about furnaces!

How to Inspect the Furnace:

• Locate the furnace. Is the furnace even there? Don't laugh; theft for scrap metal is pretty big these days!

• If possible, identify the manufacturer along with the make and model of the furnace. You then want to determine, based on the manufacturer's sticker and the age of the house, how old the furnace might be. All peace of mind certified inspectors will recommend that with any unit fifteen years or older should have the heat exchange checked for any cracks or leaks of carbon monoxide, this service is typically offered for free buy your local utility company.

• Check around the furnace's location for noticeable water stains, this could potentially mean the furnace condenser is leaking.

• Check the thermostat. The thermostat should be located out of direct sunlight (i.e. hallways). The thermostat should be level and attached properly to the wall to work properly.

• Test the thermostat by turning on the furnace. Upon turning the system and listen for unusual sounds while feeling how warm the air is and how strong the air flow is from the vents. Move around the house, verifying the vents are pushing adequate air throughout the home.

• Look at the air intake located indoors to verify the filter is properly installed and the cleanliness of the filer itself. If the filter looks unclean, the filter most likely needs to be cleaned or replaced. Make note of the filter type, there are many types of filters to choose from.

How to Perform Regular Maintenance on Your Furnace:

Seasonal furnace maintenance is essential to make sure your furnace is running efficiently and safely. We'll walk through some of the steps in maintaining your furnace. It is also a good idea to locate a Carbon Monoxide detector badge at the furnace to monitor its safety.

• Turn Off Gas and Electricity to Furnace -- As with all home repairs, the first step is to turn off the power and in this case, the fuel. There should be a switch near the furnace, if not, check the electrical service panel and shut off the appropriate breaker. The gas line will be connected to the furnace in a black pipe and will have a shut off valve nearby. Turn the valve so it is perpendicular to the gas line to shut it off.

• Vacuum the Furnace Interior -- Open the furnace door. With a vacuum cleaner having a long snorkel attachment, vacuum out the base of the furnace and the gas burners. Get all the crevices cleaned of any loose dust or debris.

• Change the Air Filter -- The furnace filter is the one component that needs to be checked and possibly changed monthly during the heating season. Replace it as part of this seasonal maintenance.Watch the step by step video below by Liberty Home Builders!

• Check the Fanbelt -- Just as on your car, fanbelts wear and get loose. Check the fanbelt on your furnace that drives the blower. Inspect the belt for glazing, cracking or fraying. If any of those signs are evident, replace the belt. Also check the belt tension. By pushing down in the center of the belt, it should feel taut and only deflect about 1/2" - 3/4". If it deflects more than that, tighten the belt by loosening the attachment bracket. Then, move the motor assembly so the belt tightens and hold the motor assembly in place while maintaining tension on the belt. Tighten the attachment bracket.

• Lubricate Oil Bearings -- If your furnace is older or if it has a motor without permanently sealed bearings, the bearings will need to be oiled. Find the oiling caps. They may also be on the bearing shaft. Drop a few drops of lightweight household oil in the oil spout below the caps. Don't over oil.

• Replace Furnace Cover and Reconnect -- Once completed, replace the furnace cover and turn the electrical power back on along with the gas. Relight the pilot if necessary.

Source: About.com Guide

How to Change Your Furnace Filter:

To learn more about Peace of Mind Home Inspections, please visit http://www.peaceofmindhi.net.

Copyright © 2011 Peace of Mind 

Why Should I Get a Home Inspection?

More and more we hear of Americans purchasing homes without purchasing a home inspection. Why not spend just a few hundred dollars more when you are purchasing your home and be prepared for the future? For it is known, that purchasing a house is one of life’s largest expenses and it would be at your best interest to know what exactly you are getting yourself into when you turn the key to your new home!

A Peace of Mind certified inspector conducts a home inspection of a structure's condition as it exists, both interior and exterior, and then provides the home owner with a comprehensive written report.

Now the question is why getting a home inspection, would be of value to you?

1. Can you be objective?
Many home buyers get emotional when looking at a house. Home inspectors, fortunately, aren't distracted by pretty drapes; they're looking for problems because that is their job. We look at the house, while you look at the location and the potential.

2. Your biggest investment.
Purchasing a home is a huge investment, whether it is for first time home buyers, previous homeowners, rentals, or flip houses. Instead of Americans investing into their piggy banks, it is well known Americans invest into homes. With such a large amount invested into a home, you wouldn't want your newly purchased home to be full of unexpected surprises and expenses causing your investments to belly up, would you?

3. A Home Inspection Gives You Extra Room to Negotiate
If your home inspector informs you that the back porch is rotting or the roof needs to be replaced, you may opt to only purchase the home if the seller agrees to fix the items in question. A seller is always free to refuse your offer or respond with a counteroffer, but knowing exactly what is wrong with the property you wish to purchase allows you additional negotiation room with the seller. Even if the problem will be expensive to fix or the home is a foreclosure, it never hurts to ask the owner for a little bit of wiggle room.

4. Home Inspections Let You Prepare for the Future
If you obtain an inspection report that lets you know that the home needs work that you hadn't originally anticipated and the seller refuses to remedy the situation in order to close the deal, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you shouldn't buy the home. It does, however, let you know that at some point in the future you will need to make these repairs to the property. By getting a home inspection, you can prepare yourself for any additional costs that may arise.

5. A Home Inspection Lets You Walk Away
In some cases a home that is beautiful on the outside can be falling apart on the inside. A faulty electrical system, extensive crawlspace mold, or termite damage can all cost you thousands of dollars to fix. Provided that your original offer was made contingent on an accepted home inspection, you don’t have to try to plead with the seller to share the cost of repairs or start cashing in your investments to get the home fixed. You have the right to drop your offer and search for another home that is lower-maintenance than your first choice.

6. Newer Homes Don't Have Problems.
One of the big misunderstandings is that newer homes don't have problems. Many times hidden things aren't apparent like modified electrical wiring you can't see or broken roof tiles that haven't started to leak yet. Even in a new home it is a good idea to have a home inspection due to the fact that most of the trades (foundation, framing, electrical, plumbing drywall, roofing, etc.) are sub-contracted out to the lowest bidder and it is nearly impossible for the builder to personally monitor all phases of home construction.

To sum it all up, you wouldn't buy a used car without having it checked out by a mechanic, so don't purchase a new or used home without ordering a home inspection report.