Exterior
How Mice Get In Every Fall: A Homeowner's Check for Entry Points
Mice need a gap about 1/4 inch wide. Here's where to look outside and inside, what to seal each gap with, and how to clean up droppings safely.
All articles
Inspection FAQ
Stairs and Handrails Before the Holiday Guests Arrive
Thanksgiving brings grandparents, toddlers and a lot of traffic on the stairs. How to check handrails, steps, lighting and outdoor stairs before guests show up.
Inspection FAQ
Creaks, Bangs and Knocks at Night: Which House Noises Are Normal
Your house isn't haunted. It's cooling off. Which nighttime noises are normal (creaking framing, booming ducts, ticking pipes), and which ones are worth checking (water hammer, scratching, buzzing, furnace bangs).
Exterior
Window Wells and Basement Egress: Covers, Drains and a Way Out
Basement window wells flood, collect leaves, trap animals, and sometimes are the only way out in a fire. How to check the well, the drain and the cover, and what makes a…
Inspection FAQ
Crawl Space Check: Moisture, Vapor Barrier, Pests
A damp crawl space can cause musty smells, mold and wet windows upstairs. What to look for down there before winter: standing water, the vapor barrier, wood rot, insulation and critters.
Inspection FAQ
Garage Door Safety Check: The Auto-Reverse Test, Springs and Cables
Your garage door is the heaviest moving thing in your house. How to test the auto-reverse and the photo eyes, check the balance, and spot spring and cable problems before winter.
Exterior
Deck Safety Before the Snow: Ledger Board, Flashing, Railings
Snow adds weight to a deck that's been baking and soaking all year. How to check the ledger board, flashing, posts, fasteners, railings and stairs in an afternoon, and the warning signs…
Inspection FAQ
Bathroom Exhaust Fans: Is Yours Actually Venting Outside?
A bathroom fan that dumps steam into the attic causes mold, frost and rot all winter. How to tell where yours goes, whether it's working, and how long to run it.
Exterior
Inspect Your Roof From the Ground: What Binoculars and the Attic Tell You
You don't have to climb a ladder to check your roof before winter. What to look for from the yard with binoculars, what the gutters tell you, and what to find in…
Exterior
Does the Ground Slope Away From Your House? A Grading Check Before the Freeze
Bad grading sends rain and snowmelt straight into your foundation. How to check the slope around your house with a string and a level, what the code calls for, and simple fixes…
Inspection FAQ
Dryer Vent Fire Risk: A 10-Minute Check Before Heating Season
About 2,900 home dryer fires a year, and failure to clean is the top cause. How to check the lint trap, the duct, and the outside flap in ten minutes, and what…
Inspection FAQ
GFCI and AFCI: Test the Outlets and Breakers That Keep You From Getting Shocked
GFCIs prevent shocks. AFCIs prevent electrical fires. Where you should have them, how to test each one in a minute, and what it means when one won't reset.