Appliance Inspections

Good morning everyone..  This is a blog that I put out once or twice a year.

When we are starting to prepare for cooking our meals we really don’t give much thought about the oven (s) but when we are preparing a special meal like cooking for Valentines day or St. Patricks Day and Easter then we need to give some extra attention to this. And I want to share some points that also should be thought of.

On a general inspection we inspect all the appliances for operation and the systems as well. However, we do not inspect the oven for temperature. And that is where I like to start. The oven is quite simple. You have conventional and convection.  If you have the traditional style convention oven and its electric first thing is to make sure the elements are in tact. Test the oven to make sure the broiler works and oven element. Make sure the bottom of the oven is clean.  And additionally, get a small thermometer and check the temperatures. Set the oven for 425 and check with the thermometer. Every range from your temperature setting should be +/- 5 degrees. More then that then you may wanna think about an appliance technician. Now, if you have a convection oven. Make sure the fan is working with the other parts I just mentioned.

And now you may say what about the oven if its natural gas or propane. Good question, the biggest thing with them is the burner and pilots. Now days ovens have electric ignition. You still need to clean the pilot holes and burner for the ovens. Plus check the temperatures as well.

If you have an outdoor kitchen with propane tank, make sure you have a spare bottle. Never want to be cooking your favorite steak on a grill and poof. No more fire. Additionally, some bottles will leak. Its always best to make sure all the fittings are tight, the hoses are not kinked and again the burners are cleaned.

Now when we get called for an appliance inspection we will do this plus more. We inspect the washer hoses and dryer vent. We additionally, make sure the units are working normally. Then we inspect the garage door for proper operation. If there are trash compactors and garbage disposals we inspect them too. And lastly the HVAC units.

So we hope this helps and gotcha thinking before your next big meal prep. If you have any questions anytime feel free to call us at 352-322-2700 or look us up at: http://www.emeraldinspectionservice.com   We can perform this type of inspection in the Tampa, Lakeland, Tarpon Springs and Brooksville Florida areas. Thank You.

Pool Inspections

This weeks blog is a topic that people in colder environments are not thinking about at this moment. However in Florida we still use our pools. Most home inspection companies will have an ancillary service for pool and spa inspections. At Emerald Inspection Service, we do as well. But provide this service as a main entity as well. So I wanted to make this weeks blog about Pool & Spa inspections and some tips how to maintain the pool areas. So, lets begin.

Pool and spa inspections are some what simple to an experienced inspector. But for a beginner if the inspector is not properly trained and certified the inspection process can be horrific. Some inspectors today are stating to customers, yeah I can look at it for free, but if you want me to thoroughly inspect the pool they recommend a pool service company. This will increase the inspection process and delay the venture more. We don’t believe in that. Its kinda like taking your car for an oil change to one mechanic then going to the tire dealership to rotate the tires and then maybe the electric shop for replacing the headlamp. YUK. Too much confusion and too much cost.  And for a lot of our followers they know and clients we provide the one stop shop. So, pool inspections has a few major components that we inspect and we have listed them below.

You have the main component, the pump. The pump is the back bone of the system. It needs to be free of leaks, running properly, and bonded. If not there will be a deficienicy on the report. The pump will also allow backwashing for the system, This is something that only trained inspectors should test. Main reason is for the fact you could harm the pump or hoses if too much pressure is on the system.

A few other features on the system is the automatic fill for the water level and anti-siphon valves. The auto fill is a mechanism that detects the water level and will fill up the water as needed. The anti-siphon valve allows no pool water back into the main water supply. These are small items that need to be checked for operation as if either element is failed the water could re-enter the plumbing system or overfill the pool.

From there you have the time clock and pool filter. The time clocks have gotten a bit more complex. The original kind was an analog type with an on and off time. The biggest thing was to make sure the time is set, the stops are engaged and moisture barrier is in place to protect the wiring. Some pool timers are digital and may control the heater, pump, and other elements of the pool. Again, the digital type a more experienced inspector will be able to inform their clients. (as we are). Then the pool filter. There are several types, the main one is a cartridge style. On the inspection we do inspect the cartridge. Mainly to make sure its clean, not torn and no debris in the container. The container is usually under a vacuum seal from the water, so if its not open properly the people near by will get a bit wet. Additionally, the pressure guage should be operating and the glass should be clear and present. If not this is a major deficiency. The pressure should be near 22 psi.

Then the pool area should be inspected. The water should be clear, not cloudy or opaque. The pool lamp should illuminate. The tile and grout should be clean and intact. The skimmers should be free of debris. The pool coping should have no cracks as with the decking. If water gets into these areas it could cause major damage. The railing and diving board should be secure, no rust and free of chips or cuts into the surface.

The heaters when present are normally utilized in cooler months. They may service the spa and pool. This is an awesome feature especially here in Florida for the pool or built in spa. Think about it. Thanksgiving is approaching and we are in the pool that day as friends of ours in the north are a bit chilly.  Anyway, the heaters should only be tested when temperatures allow. Some heaters are gas, electric or solar. The gas heaters should have the lines inspected for leaks. The electric heaters should make sure the service cables are proper and grounded. The solar type heaters are self maintain. The panels need to be free of debris and their can not be any leaks on the system. Solar heaters usually are leased and have a warranty with them.

Lastly we get asked alot about stand alone hot tubs. These are great added feature to any home. Yes we inspect them as an ancillary service only. Alot of the same elements as mentioned above are in these units. The biggest componet to inspect is the 20 amp receptacle and make sure its a GFCI outdoor wet area use. Or check to see if its hardwire for 220v because of the heater mainly. The inspection and write up are the same and it again takes an experienced inspector to inspect these.

So in closing, when we have a pool or spa we need to maintain these elements of the pool. A lot of pool companies do offer a service to maintain the chlorine or salt levels and monitor the equipment. The main thing about the pool is keeping it clean, free of leaks on the equipment and water levels adequate for the pumps.  If you have questions about your pool and spa, feel free to call us anytime. 352-322-2700 or look us up on the web, www.emeraldinspectionservice.com/services.html

We gladly will provide pool and spa inspections in Clearwater, Lakeland, Land O Lakes and Hernando Florida as a primary service. We will service other areas as well. Feel free to inquire anytime.

Away From Home Inspections

First I wanted to let everyone know that I am near Tampa Florida and Hurricane Mathew had no affect on me. I got just a little rain. So today, I wanted to share about a type of inspection that people hardly have anymore. This type is for when people are away from their homes. So lets begin.

An away from home inspection is the type of inspection to give people that are traveling or part time residents piece of mind about their homes. This type of inspection is very economical and the owner of the property sets the standard. For example. Lets say you are away for work or vacation for 10 days. Emerald Inspection Service can visit the property once or twice and make sure that the home or condo is OK.  Some clients want us to just check the exterior to make sure that there is no broken glass, the landscaper has cut the grass on there scheduled day and to make sure there is no damage to the property.  A more extensive inspection would be for us to enter the property and make sure that the electrical system is operating normal. There were no leaks that occurred and that the HVAC system is operating.

A lot of people do not think about this type of inspection because they fear the cost. Or they may think, I just get a neighbor to keep an eye out. OK, our reply to this is 2 fold. One, the cost starts at $25.00 and second part is what if your neighbor gets sick or has to go out of town un-expectantly. Hiring a professional inspection firm is your best way to know that your property is being watched and you will have total piece of mind.  To inquire about this service or others we do, visit us on the web; www.emeraldinspectionservice.com or call us at 352-322-2700. We gladly perform these inspections in Land O Lakes, Lakeland, Tarpon Springs and Brooksville Florida all the time.

Annual Home Maintenance

We have now officially entered the Spring season. Flowers starting to bloom, planning vacations, getting the outside cleaned up from the winter. Possibly moving into a new home. But did you ever think about the maintenance on the home all year round. This is true no matter where you live. For example, our office in Florida is catering to residents in Orlando, Tampa, Clearwater communities. In Maryland, the Baltimore area.

Your home needs attention all year long. And now is a great time to make a plan for every month and continue to follow this each month. For example, now maybe a great time to power wash the exterior and concrete because of the snow salt in north or the moss in the south. Cleaning the furnace and changing the filter, from the dust that has accumulated from the heat mode. In April, is a great time for cleaning the gutters and checking the eaves and roof for any possible deficiencies. This list can go on and is very simple to maintain. Some new home owners, we can assist in this for a very reasonable cost. We will create a plan for your home, provide an inspection later in the year to see the progress and if you have an area that needs attention but unable to maintain or inspect we can assist with that too. Always check our Twitter and Facebook accounts, as they may have home owner tips periodically too.

For more information, feel free to go to our website; www.emeraldinspectionservice.com or email us at; info@emeraldinspectionservice.com or feel free to call us 352-322-2700 or  888-295-9879