• Link to Mail
  • Link to Facebook
  • Link to X
  • Link to Youtube
  • Link to LinkedIn
  • Link to Yelp
  • OK: 405-905-9175
Home Run Inspections, LLC
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
  • What We Inspect
  • Your Report
  • For Agents
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Schedule Now
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu

Floor Vents

August 26, 2016/0 Comments/in Blog, Inspection Day/by Scott Price

Old School

I don’t think I have come across a newly built home with the HVAC ductwork, or floor vents in the concrete floor.  That’s not to say builders do not do that any more,  but I think it’s fair to say they avoid that practice if possible.

It was a common practice in the 1970s and 1980 to place the homes ductwork in the sand and soil prior to the pouring of the homes slab.  I actually worked for a heat and air company while in college and did several of these myself.  The system was designed to last a very long time, but even with the efforts we took, time often takes its toll on various aspects of these systems.

The Problems

The most common defect I see on “in concrete duct work” as a Home Inspector is rusted, deteriorating floor boots and poor air flow at various locations in the home.  If the problem is minor, replacement of floor boots is all that is recommended.  If most or all of the boots show deterioration and or accumulation of sand, I recommend further evaluation by an HVAC professional with a duct scoping.

With the HVAC being one of the most important systems in your home, I recommend all buyers and realtors lift up a floor register or two if they find the perfect home that happens to have in floor duct.  I inspected a home yesterday in Edmond that was built in the 90s and the boots looked like they were installed yesterday, so you really never know what you will find.

Depending on the extent of any damage found, the repairs could range from $200 to $8000.  Repairs could be as simple as replacing a couple of floor boots to having to install a whole new system, moving all the duct work to the attic or other alternative location.  There are so many different types of home configurations the solutions are numerous

Home Run Inspections, LLC

Oklahoma:  405-905-9175

Florida:  850-203-3239

Info@HomeRunInspections.com

We Cover All the Bases!

Serving the Oklahoma City metro and surrounding areas including Edmond, Yukon, Piedmont, Bethany, El Reno, Tuttle, Mustang, Moore, Norman, Midwest City, Del City, Choctaw, McCloud, Shawnee, Harrah, Newalla, Jones, and more.

Also Now Serving the Florida Panhandle metro areas including Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa Island, Miramar Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, Niceville, Shalimar, Freeport, Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, Panama City Beach, and more.

Schedule Your Inspections Online at:

Oklahoma Scheduler

Florida Scheduler 

Like us on FaceBook

Follow us on Twitter

Follow us on Instagram

 

Upgrading 2-Prong Outlets

August 19, 2016/0 Comments/in Blog, Home Safety, On-Going Home Maintenance/by Scott Price

Upgrading

Two prong receptacles, often found by an inspector in an older home, that are connected to two-wire cables, do not have the ground wires, which protect people and electrical devices in case of a ground fault. Upgrading 2-Prong Outlets to a new three-prong or GFCI receptacle in the same receptacle box without any rewiring is possible as long as the box itself is grounded.

Metal boxes attached to armored, or BX cable, which is a type of wiring commonly found in old homes, are typically found to be properly grounded. The armored or BX cable’s flexible metal jacket serves the same purpose as a dedicated ground wire.

If the box is not ­grounded, a GFCI can be installed or an electrician can be hired to fix the wiring.

GFCI-Ground Fault Circuit Interruption

The image to the right is a GFCI that was installed to replace the old, 2-prong ungrounded wall receptacle in an older home. This GFCI must be labeled as a GFCI without an equipment ground.

Simply replacing an older 2-prong outlet with a 3-prong outlet can be hazardous, because the receptacle will appear to be functional with a ground, but in fact there isn’t one. If someone were to plug a faulty 3-prong device into that “fake” grounded receptacle, a shock hazard is very likely. Electricity moving through the device casing would create an energized surface from which a person could be electrocuted.

Another problem with replacing ungrounded 2-prong receptacles with 3-prong one is in relation to surge-protection device, which relies on a solid ground to route any transient activity. The ungrounded receptacle would not be able to protect the device from a surge.

It is permissible to replace a 2-prong ungrounded outlet with a 3-prong GFCI outlet.  But, it must be labeled as “GFCI Protected Outlet, No Equipment Ground.” Even though there is not a grounding conductor, there is still some protection against shock provided by the GFCI.

Play it Safe

The bottom line is, play it safe.  To do electrical receptacle upgrades in a manner that will provide the most protection to the inhabitants of the home, have a licensed electrician who has the proper equipment and knowledge to do it right make the upgrades.

Home Run Inspections, LLC

Oklahoma:  405-905-9175

Florida:  850-203-3239

Info@HomeRunInspections.com

We Cover All the Bases!

Schedule Your Inspections Online at:

Oklahoma Scheduler

Florida Scheduler 

Like us on FaceBook

Follow us on Twitter

Follow us on Instagram

 

What is a Home Inspection?

August 11, 2016/0 Comments/in Blog, Inspection Day/by Scott Price

For most of us, we buy a home maybe twice in a lifetime.  As with most experiences in life, if you only do it a couple of times, you are not well versed in the process; you are a novice.

I think this is one of the many factors that can make purchasing a home so stressful.  There are so many questions to ask and so many documents to read and sign.

This article is about a document most people sign but never really read (kinda like the apple update agreement – have you ever tried to read that one?):  the Home Inspection Agreement.  Fortunately, the Home Inspection Agreement is not anywhere near as scary or intimidating but there are a few points that are worth emphasizing.  These are points I prefer to share with my clients and their REALTOR (if they have one) at the beginning of each inspection.  It really helps to make clear what it is exactly that we are doing, and conversely, what we are not doing.

So here are the main points:

  • We are there to perform a single visit, visual inspection of the home on a specific date/time that is merely a snapshot in time of the condition of the structure.  We will inspect only the parts of the home that are visually accessible.  We cannot move furniture/storage, and we cannot see through walls (unless you pay extra for a Thermal Imaging inspection) or under slabs of concrete.
  • We choose to perform our inspections in accordance with the current Standards of Practice of the State of Oklahoma and the lnternational Association of Certified Home lnspectors (InterNACHi).
  • We will not test for the presence of environmental hazards such as mold nor radon (a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that may be harmful to humans).
  • We assume no warranty, guarantee, nor liability for the cost of repair or replacement of unreported defects or deficiencies either current or arising in the future.
  • We do not perform engineering, architectural, plumbing, or any other job function requiring an occupational license in the jurisdiction where the property is located.

One of the perks I offer as a home inspector (most inspectors in my area do not) is a 90 Day Buy Back Guarantee.  This offers the perspective home buyer a little extra piece of mind.  In regards to this perk, the buyer needs to understand:

  • Under the “We’ll Buy Your Home Back” program, lnterNACHl purchases the home, not the home inspector; the Home Inspector has no obligation to purchase the home under this program.

One additional feature in my contract is for any REALTOR associated with the transaction.  It states:

  • the signee agrees to “hold harmless” any and all real estate agents involved in the purchase of the property to be inspected and keep them exonerated from all loss, damage, liability or expense.

The bottom line is, as an ethical & licensed professional business person, home inspectors try to catch as many defects and safety concerns in a home as possible in the limited amount of time that we have to do so.  We want you to know what you are buying and, to the best of our ability, assure you and your family that you can live there as safely as possible.  Will we catch everything that is wrong with your home?  Probably not.  But, you will have a report that provides you with a very focused picture, or snap shot in time, of your perspective home.

When you compare the price of the home inspection to the cost of the home, it’s a bargain.

Click on the following link for a list of the aspects of a home that are inspected by InterNACHI certified home inspectors.

https://www.nachi.org/SOP.htm?loadbetadesign=

Home Run Inspections, LLC

Oklahoma:  405-905-9175

Florida:  850-203-3239

Info@HomeRunInspections.com

We Cover All the Bases!

Serving the Oklahoma City metro and surrounding areas including Edmond, Yukon, Piedmont, Bethany, El Reno, Tuttle, Mustang, Moore, Norman, Midwest City, Del City, Choctaw, McCloud, Shawnee, Harrah, Newalla, Jones, and more.

Also Now Serving the Florida Panhandle metro areas including Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa Island, Miramar Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, Niceville, Shalimar, Freeport, Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, Panama City Beach, and more.

Schedule Your Inspections Online at:

Oklahoma Scheduler

Florida Scheduler 

Like us on FaceBook

Follow us on Twitter

Follow us on Instagram

 

Pages

  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • For Agents
  • Home
  • Services
  • Testimonials
  • Thank You!
  • What We Inspect
  • Your Report

Categories

  • Autumn Home Maintenance
  • Blog
  • Holidays
  • Home Energy Efficiency
  • Home Inspections
  • Home Safety
  • Homeowner Tools
  • Inspection Day
  • On-Going Home Maintenance
  • Perks
  • Spring Home Maintenance
  • Summer Home Maintenance
  • Uncategorized
  • Winter Home Maintenance

Archive

  • January 2023
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • August 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • July 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • August 2019
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • February 2018
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015

Home Run Inspections, LLC

We are an All-Star Team of Professional Inspectors providing Excellence in Inspection Services to Help You Assess & Maintain the Value of Your Real Estate Investments.

Call Now: (405) 905-9175

Info@HomeRunInspections.com

Oklahoma Service Areas

Proudly providing inspection services to the OKC metro and surrounding areas from Guthrie to Purcell, El Reno to Shawnee, and everything in-between.

Oklahoma Service Areas

Certified Master Inspector

Verify This Certified Master Inspector
© Copyright 2021 Home Run Inspections, LLC - Website by Spectora
  • Link to Mail
  • Link to Facebook
  • Link to X
  • Link to Youtube
  • Link to LinkedIn
  • Link to Yelp
Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top