rain water leak How to Spot Water Damage in a House scaled

How to Spot Water Damage in a House

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Water damage is one of the most common home repairs we see as home inspectors. Especially in Florida, it usually starts on the exterior of the property. There are so many opportunities for water to get inside. Rain, humidity, and flooding is a constant threat to every flaw on your property, especially 

  • Roof
  • Windows
  • Doors
  • Siding
  • Chimney
  • Foundation

But the risk of water damage is greatest around plumbing. One broken pipe can cost homeowners thousands of dollars to repair. Since water damage restoration isn’t cheap, many people cut corners by handling the job themselves. That spells trouble down the road when rotting wood and mold are hidden behind walls, floors, and ceilings.

When you are in the middle of the home buying process, you need a trained eye to identify signs of water intrusion. But how? 

Well today, we are sharing a few ways that we spot water damage in a house. These are InterNACHI standards that Divinity Inspection Service upholds.

The Outdoor Inspection

Sometimes the best way to find water damage in a house is to determine entry points from the exterior of the property. A home inspector willRain Water Leak - How to Spot Water Damage in a House look for factors such as

  • Gaps or cracks
  • Damaged building materials
  • Roof age and integrity
  • Bad or missing insulation
  • Bad or missing flashing
  • Nail pops
  • Bent or missing gutters
  • Poor drainage

The exterior surfaces of the property can tell you a lot about what is going on inside, behind walls, and under floors where it’s harder to detect water intrusion. If water can find a way inside, it will! 

Ventilation Issues

All rooms with plumbing need to have working exhaust vents. Bathrooms, the laundry room, and the kitchen have manual fans that pull moisture through ductwork that leads outside. When performing household chores and tasks like bathing, washing, and cooking, you don’t want steam to build up.

It might not seem like a lot, but plenty of moisture accumulates from normal indoor activities. All of this vapor rises into our attic space. 

If the roof is well ventilated, the moisture escapes. If not, the humidity in the air collects as water droplets on the surface of wood beams and insulation, which can lead to mold growth.

This is why inspecting the attic space is crucial to spot water damage in a house. If the roof ventilation system is not adequate, the building is at high risk for moisture problems. It’s also a good idea to check any exhaust vents to ensure that they are free from blockages and are working properly.

Measurable Evidence

When we perform a home inspection, we use an infrared camera and moisture meter to “see” behind surfaces that may be hiding pockets of moisture or even actively leaking pipes. The infrared camera can detect cold spots that could indicate water. The moisture meter will confirm if there is water present.

It’s important when investigating a home for water damage that you consider your physical restrictions and try to find ways around them. Early detection of water behind a wall or ceiling can be a tremendous help. The sooner you spot water damage in a house, the more money you save in restoration costs.

HVAC System

A home’s HVAC system has a lot of potential to cause water damage to your house. As the evaporator coils remove moisture from the air, it collects in a dish that leads outside through a small tube. If this water doesn’t make it outside due to a clog or break in the tubing, the water will spill out inside of the attic space or utility room floor. 

Furthermore, if the HVAC system is old, oversized, or in need of repair, excess moisture can form on and around the unit and inside the ductwork. The HVAC system will require service or a dehumidifier will need to be installed to handle the high humidity levels present.

Clear Signs of Water Damage

Other obvious indications of water damage are relatively easy to detect. Watermarks or stains of any kind should be noted. Bubbling or peeling paint is often a sign of moisture problems in that area.

All water pipes and the surfaces around them should be carefully examined. Physically touching these locations to sense dampness is important.

Our sense of smell is also valuable in determining the presence of water. If a room or area has a musty odor, spend extra time in these places to find the source of the scent.

Do You Need a Home Inspection in Tampa, St. Petersburg, or Brooksville?

If you are concerned about the integrity of a current or prospective residential property, you should hire an expert who has the experience and knowledge to spot water damage in a house. 

Divinity Inspection Services has highly trained inspectors with contracting experience. They don’t just know how to inspect a home, they understand how to build one correctly. 

You will receive an extensive report that meticulously analyzes the property from top to bottom. And if you want a house checkup, we do those too! 

Contact us today if you have any questions or schedule an appointment to get started.

 

Plumber working on common plumbing issues scaled

The 3 Most Common Plumbing Issues

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plumber working on common plumbing issues

Water damage is one of the most expensive repairs a homeowner can face. In fact, the restoration of a single room can cost over $5,000! Most of these repairs could be avoided if an inspector identified them.

This is why it’s best to receive a home inspection before buying the property, and why homeowners should receive regular home maintenance checkups. An inspector can spot plumbing issues before they cause enormous problems and save you thousands! 

Whether it’s a misplaced hammer blow during a DIY project, a contractor’s mistake, or outdated construction when you need an expert to spot common plumbing issues, look no further than your local inspector.

At Divinity Inspection Service, we go above and beyond the call of duty and meticulously investigate your plumbing to detect any potential problem. Let’s look at the top 3 most common plumbing issues we look for. 

Water Heater Woes

Most people think that the only way to know if a water heater works well is to turn on the hot water. If it heats, it’s good. If it doesn’t, it needs to be replaced.

If only it were that easy!

There are multiple problems that plague the simple water heater, and a home inspector will look out for every troubling sign to ensure that your water heater is performing as it should.

An inspector will look for evidence of:

  • Rust
  • Sediment
  • Leaks
  • Malfunctioning thermostat and T&P Safety Pipe
  • Improperly sized unit
  • High water pressure
  • Low water pressure

Faulty Pipes

Pipes have been made with a number of materials over the years. While manufacturers sought the ultimate pipe, they missed the mark multiple times, like P.V.C. pipes are not permitted inside building structure like your home and commercial building.

I.P.C. 601.1 Scope

This chapter shall govern the materials, design and installation of water supply systems, both hot and cold, for utilization in connection with human occupancy and habitation and shall govern the installation of individual water supply systems. Table 605.4, water Distribution pipe (no P.V.C.)
From outside to the building (from meter or well to building) Table 605.3 Water Service Pipe (P.V.C. is permitted)

Cast-Iron Pipes

Cast-iron pipes were used for over one hundred years and can still be found in some homes. They were quite popular because of their long lifespan; however, all good things end and many cast-iron pipes have come to the end of their life. 

When cast iron piping corrodes under your home, you might not know. Leaks can be nearly undetectable without the right knowledge and equipment. 

Galvanized Pipes

Galvanized pipes were extremely popular until the 1960s. They were strong and resilient until the zinc coating inside of them wore off. 

The tricky thing about these pipes is that the outside can look amazing, while the inside corrodes and adds traces of lead to your drinking water. That is a huge safety risk and not one that many homeowners know about. 

It takes a skilled home inspector to recognize this pipe material and warn about its dangers. Once identified, galvanized pipes should be replaced immediately.

Polybutylene Pipes

Polybutylene was popular for about 20 years, but its reign ended in the 1990s:

Although this plastic resin piping seemed to be a better, non-corrosive alternative to metal, it didn’t hold up to the test of time. In fact, polybutylene becomes brittle as it ages and fractures, leaving homes and businesses drowning in water damage and the repair costs associated with it.

Polyethylene Pipes

Polyethylene pipes for plumbing are known to deteriorate rapidly after a decade of use and cause water damage.

They are, however, not to be confused with PEX tubing, which has been chemically altered to be safer and more durable. Although some home insurance will not cover homes with crosslinked polyethylene tubing known as PEX, it is a popular and affordable plumbing option throughout Florida.

Behind the Walls

X-Ray vision might not be our superpower, but there are ways to detect a leak in the wall. If it left certain clues behind that signal a leak, your inspector will use a thermography scanner to detect temperature changes out of sight. 

But what evidence tips us off that you may have a leak behind your wall? Besides the obvious wetness or moisture trail, you may have:

  • Musty or mildew smells
  • Peeling paint
  • Water stains
  • Bubbling wallpaper
  • Warped sheetrock

Since water can travel down, the damage may not reveal exactly where the leak is located. For that, you’ll need tools that can see into your walls in different ways. 

At Divinity Inspection Services, we use infrared technology to pinpoint leaks. The infrared camera detects both temperature and infrared energy, which allows us to pinpoint the cool water leaking from a pipe.

Plumbing Inspection Services to identify Common Plumbing Issues

When you are in the middle of the home buying process or you own a home, you deserve to know what kind of common plumbing issues and repairs are in your future. Many times, you can avoid expensive home improvement projects by discovering the problem early on. 

Especially when the issue causes water damage, the sooner you repair the issue, the more money you will save. Not only does moisture destroy building materials, but it also warps walls, ceilings, and floors. If left untreated, it will breed mold and mildew. 

Invest in the future of your property by letting a home inspector comb through your house to find hidden damage, safety risks, and repairs. Contact us and schedule an appointment.

 

Sources and additional reading:

 

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The Most Common Electrical Issues

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electrical drawings - common electrical issuesElectricity is a dangerous but necessary utility in our lives. We use it to power our lights, major appliances, and everything in between. 

Even though an electrical system is too complex for the average homeowner to understand, to a seasoned home inspector it’s no mystery. Your Divinity inspector has the tools, experience, and knowledge to inspect your home for electrical issues and potentially save lives in the process.

According to the ESFI, every year, over 50,000 electrical fires start in homes, killing hundreds and injuring far more. Even when everyone gets out safely, the damages of those fires become a heavy burden to bear, exceeding well over a billion dollars.  

We want to reduce that number, one home at a time. So today, we are discussing the most common electrical issues that may be hidden in your home right now. These problems should be addressed as soon as possible to protect you and your family from the risk of an electrical fire. 

Electrical Panels

A lot can go wrong with an electrical panel. Your Divinity inspector will examine the electric panel for age, errors, and damage such as signs of water or rust.  

In general, your box should be replaced every 20 years or so to prevent them from becoming faulty due to old age. Not only will an inspector examine the box closely, but they will also check what kind of panel you have. 

Panel Brand

Chances are, you don’t know what brand your electrical panel is. You may have never thought to check, but your inspector will. There are certain brands that have been flagged for being defective, causing electric shock, fire, and property damage. 

Among the dangerous brands are:

  • ITE
  • Zinsco
  • Bulldog Pushmatic
  • Sylvania
  • Federal Pacific

Fuse Boxes

You may remember blowing a fuse in your home. With a flashlight in hand, you would need to find the right fuse and replace it in order to restore your power. 

Well, if your home still has fuses, it’s time to replace your electrical panel!

Today’s electrical panels have circuit breakers. Not only can you save money on fuses, but it’s safer. Circuit breakers respond faster and have a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) that cuts off the power. 

Ungrounded Outlets 

Speaking of GFCI, it’s also required in all rooms where water is present. With the presence of ground fault circuit interrupters, the risk of shock and burns is greatly reduced, especially when moisture is to blame. 

GFCI outlets should be used on the exterior of the property as well as the:

  • Kitchen
  • Bathroom
  • Laundry Room
  • Garage

Outdated Wiring

Electricity systems have come a long way in the past 70 years. Unfortunately, most houses still have the original electricity they were built with. Since most residential properties were built in the 20th century, the odds are high that your electrical system is outdated. 

Let’s take a look at two of the most common culprits. 

Knob and Tube

This is a single copper wire that passes through porcelain tubes in the framing and is attached by knobs. These may have worked efficiently for homes before large appliances and advanced technology became commonplace in Florida’s homes, but today they are inadequate and pose a severe fire risk.

Aluminum

After 1965 for a little less than a decade, copper wiring was replaced by aluminum. This proved to be a horrible idea because aluminum overheats. Any aluminum wiring should be replaced immediately.

Home Health Checkups and Home Inspection Services in Tampa Bay and St. Pete

If you suspect that your home may have electrical issues, hire Divinity Inspection Services to give your home a Maintenance Inspection or Home Health Checkup.

Don’t gamble with lives. Pinpoint the issues in your home and protect yourself and your family from disaster. When you catch damage or mistakes early, you can avoid tragedy and thousands of dollars in repairs. 

All it takes is an arcing current or misplaced wire to set a house ablaze. Make the right choice. Schedule a visit from a Divinity inspector today!

 

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Radon Gas in Homes: The Invisible Danger

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What you can’t see can be hurting you right now. Radon gas is everywhere and when it’s found in high concentrations, it canwarning about radon gas in homes be deadly. 

As it rises up from the ground under your feet, it’s pushed around and dispersed by the breeze. That’s good news for you when you’re outside because the gas can’t accumulate enough to do any damage.

But in enclosed spaces, it’s a whole different story. Radon gas in homes can build up to such extreme levels, that the radiation is dangerous. When you breathe it in, it causes lung damage which over time can become cancerous.

Proper ventilation is crucial as buildings are constructed to be more energy efficient. An airtight home can quickly become a tomb when deadly toxins are trapped inside. Anywhere there isn’t sufficient airflow is a place that risks your health.

What is Radon Gas?

Radon is a natural radioactive gas emitted from decaying uranium or thorium in soil, water, and rocks. It’s tasteless, odorless, and invisible to the naked eye. 

People exposed to high levels of radon gas have an increased chance of developing lung cancer. The longer the duration of exposure, the higher the probability. In fact, radon is responsible for up to 14% of lung cancer according to the World Health Organization.

Radon Testing

Florida’s radon program is thorough in its safety practices and procedures. This is because it’s estimated that up to one in every two homes will test for elevated levels of radon gas. 

If your home tests at 4 pCi/L or higher, the EPA recommends that you take immediate action to remedy the problem. Even after mitigation, it’s best that homes be tested twice per year. 

But it’s important to be aware that the state of Florida does not require those who sell their property to test for radon. Homebuyers should take note of the risks that this stealthy gas poses and take initiative. 

A home inspection isn’t the only way prospective buyers can play it safe. Always test a property’s radon levels before moving in! 

Who Tests for Radon?

You should always ask for proof of certification when hiring someone to measure the radon levels of a residence. In 1989, Florida made it a requirement for professionals who measure or mitigate radon to be certified and registered. 

Radon Mitigation

So your home tested for radon levels at or above 4pCi/L, now what? When the concentration of radon gas is at a dangerous level, the best course of action is to hire a professional contractor that specializes in radon mitigation. 

Once the right actions have been taken, a second test will determine if the radon levels are at an optimal level. The property should be safe within 24 hours.

There are two different courses a radon mitigation professional will take:

  • Prevent radon gas from leaking into the home.
  • Lower levels of radon present in the home.

When contractors can identify the entry point of radon, it might be possible to create an airtight seal and lock out the gas. This may be the case if there is an obvious crack in the foundation, but the rest of the building is sound.

However, if the point of entry is difficult to pinpoint or there are too many, the next best option is to facilitate better ventilation. A specialist will analyze the unique building construction and decide how and where to increase air ventilation. Then, he or she will install an exhaust fan that pulls polluted air outdoors. 

Since homes in Florida do not have basements, your contractor will likely install a sub-slab depressurization system. This is a relatively easy solution that involves pipes and an exhaust fan. This is the most common mitigation method and one that will work as long as the fan is running.

Radon Inspection Service in Tampa, Brooksville, and St. Petersburg, Florida

If you are looking for a certified inspector to test your home or business for high radon levels, look no further than Divinity Inspection Service. 

We will: 

  1. Provide you with accurate and reliable radon test results.
  2. Help you to understand what your radon level means.
  3. Offer advice and recommend mitigation contractors you can trust. 

Your health and safety are our priority. Choose an inspection service with experience and knowledge in construction. Schedule your radon inspection today!

 

Gas Detector Carbon Monoxide Safety scaled

Your Guide to Carbon Monoxide Safety

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In your home, one of the greatest threats to your health and safety is carbon monoxide (or CO) poisoning. It’s a gas with no smell, color, or taste that can kill you in concentrated amounts. 

CO is produced whenever fuel burns and is most commonly associated with cooking and heating appliances in the home. Another dangerous source of carbon monoxide is vehicle emissions. 

There are two different levels of poisoning:

  1. Consistent low to medium concentration
  2. Sudden high concentration

Gas Detector - Carbon Monoxide SafetIf you have a slight carbon monoxide leak, it can cause a myriad of symptoms including:

 

  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Blurred vision
  • Agitation
  • Fatigue
  • Weakness
  • Chest Pain
  • Difficulty breathing

 

However, if you are experiencing high levels of carbon monoxide poisoning, you may experience the above symptoms, plus confusion, lack of coordination, and loss of consciousness.

The most frightening part about high concentrations of CO is that the victims struggle to save themselves. Over 400 people die from it every year in America according to the CDC.

But education, early detection, and prevention can save lives. That’s why today, we are discussing carbon monoxide safety.

Your Home Inspection

During a  home inspection, we comb through the entire house, checking every major component’s form, function, and safety. Along with the plumbing and electricity, we also check your fuel-burning appliances. 

Gas burning appliances like your water heater, furnace, and kitchen stove are all subject to analysis. Every home is different. For instance, if there is a boiler in a bedroom closet, the door should close by itself and be weather-sealed for maximum protection from CO poisoning. 

Checking for CO

When we inspect a residential property, we use a combustible gas detector to test the carbon monoxide levels around all accessible gas piping. We take our time to check every joint in the pipes to be as thorough as possible. 

The exhaust vents are also meticulously inspected for leaks, gaps, or damage in your attic. 

Finally, we check the vents outside that connect to the dryer, furnace, and kitchen stove. If these are blocked or covered, it will restrict airflow and prevent carbon monoxide from leaving the building. No matter how sealed the pipes are, the gas could build and back up into your house if it has no way to escape.  

Your inspector will report their findings to you in the home inspection report and offer their recommendations to keep you safe.

Don’t Forget the Chimney

Please note that a home inspection does not include a chimney inspection. This is a service that you will need to schedule separately. 

A chimney inspection is crucial for carbon monoxide safety. According to the National Safety Council, you should have your chimney checked and cleaned once every year. Dirt in the chimney can reduce the chimney’s ventilation and increase the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning.  

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

According to InterNACHI, all of your alarms should plug into an electrical outlet and have a battery backup system in case of a power outage. It’s crucial to have a power backup because CO leaks are more common during blackouts.

The carbon monoxide detector should be placed outside of every bedroom, but over three feet from a bathroom door if it has a tub or shower. 

The reason for this is simple. No one wants to needlessly panic over a false alarm in their birthday suit. Steamy or humid air coming from your hot shower or bathtub has a high chance of tripping the detector.

Skip the hallways if you have a gas-burning appliance in your bedroom. Put the carbon monoxide detector inside of your room instead. 

Home Inspection Service in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Brooksville

Your inspector is an incredible ally who is always in pursuit of your best interest. 

Their duty is to detect code violations, safety hazards, and major repairs. We protect you from health risks and financial crises associated with residential and commercial properties. 

Your health and safety are too important to cut corners and rush this process. Missing a gas leak is not acceptable. Call on a trusted inspection service that won’t put you at risk. Schedule an inspection with Divinity Inspection Service today!