Seasonal Checklists
How do you test the sump pump before the ground freezes?
Learn how to run a 5-gallon bucket test on your sump pump, check the discharge line and backup pump, and prepare before the ground freezes.
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Seasonal Checklists
What should you look for in the dryer vent before winter?
Learn what to check in your dryer vent before winter, inside and outside, including duct material, airflow, blockages, and when to call a pro.
Plumbing
How do you shut down the outdoor faucets before a freeze?
Learn how to drain and shut off outdoor faucets before a freeze: disconnect the hose, close the indoor valve, drain the line, and add a cover.
Inspection FAQ
Pennsylvania does not license home inspectors. A bill just passed the House
Pennsylvania has no home inspector license today. Learn what current law requires, what HB 2645 would change, and how to vet your inspector.
Seasonal Checklists
The Day-Before Fireplace Check: A Pass-or-Fail List Before Guests Arrive
Run through a 7-point fireplace safety checklist the day before holiday guests arrive.
Inspection FAQ
Wet Windows on a Cold Morning: Condensation, a Failed Seal, Dew, or a Leak?
Diagnose why windows sweat in winter: is it condensation, a failed seal, dew, or a leak? Where moisture sits tells you what to fix.
Safety
Test Your Carbon Monoxide Alarms Before the First Cold Night: What Each Beep Means
Test your CO alarms and learn what each beep means. This guide covers testing procedures, sound patterns, when to replace units, and safety steps.
Inspection FAQ
Can your kitchen circuit run the oven and a space heater at the same time?
Find out if your kitchen can run an oven and space heater together, and how to safely check your breaker panel.
Seasonal Checklists
Attic Pests in Fall: Signs of Squirrels, Raccoons and Bats
How to tell squirrels, raccoons and bats apart by sound, droppings and entry holes, plus why you can't just seal bats out in fall.
Safety
Holiday Lights and Extension Cords: A 10-Minute Safety Check
A 10-minute check for Halloween and holiday lights: safety labels, outdoor-rated cords, GFCI outlets, overloaded circuits and the warning signs of a cord about to fail.
Plumbing
Frozen Pipes: Where They Freeze First and How to Check Before Winter
Find the pipes in your house most likely to freeze, protect them for a few dollars this fall, and know what to do if a faucet goes dry on a cold morning.
Plumbing
Sewer Scope Inspections: When a Buyer Should Pay for One
Which houses need a sewer scope before you close, what it costs as of October 2026, what the camera finds, and how to use the results to negotiate.