By Nick Gromicko, founder of InterNACHI Electricity -- the flow of electrical power or charge -- is a basic product of nature and one of the most widely used forms of energy in homes. It is generated from energy sources found in the environment, such as sunlight, coal and wind. Houses themselves are, in effect, electrical devices, fed directly from utilities to power almost all appliances, from heaters to hair dryers. It is thus valuable to have some understanding of where el

What Is Asbestos? Asbestos is a mineral fiber that can be positively identified only with a special type of microscope. There are several types of asbestos fibers. In the past, asbestos was added to a variety of products to strengthen them and to provide heat insulation and fire resistance. InterNACHI inspectors can supplement their knowledge with the information offered in this guide. How Can Asbestos Affect Human Health? From studies of people who were exposed to asbestos i

By Nick Gromicko, Ben Gromicko, and Kenton Shepard  of InterNACHI Most people don’t know how easy it is to make their homes run on less energy, and here at InterNACHI, we want to change that. Drastic reductions in heating, cooling and electricity costs can be accomplished through very simple changes, most of which homeowners can do themselves. Of course, for homeowners who want to take advantage of the most up-to-date knowledge and systems in home energy efficiency, InterNACH

By Nick Gromicko of InterNACHI A building's central air-conditioning system must be periodically inspected and maintained in order to function properly. While an annual inspection performed by a trained professional is recommended, homeowners can do a lot of the work themselves by following the tips offered in this guide. Clean the Exterior Condenser Unit and Components The exterior condenser unit is the large box located on the side of the building that is designed to push h

Biological pollutants Outdoor air pollution in cities is a major health problem. Much effort and money continue to be spent cleaning up pollution in the outdoor air. But air pollution can be a problem where you least expect it, in the place you may have thought was safest -- your home. Many ordinary activities, such as cooking, heating, cooling, cleaning and redecorating, can cause the release and spread of indoor pollutants at home. Studies have shown that the air in our hom

By Nick Gromicko and Kenton Shepard, of InterNACHI The purpose of this article is twofold. First, at InterNACHI, we’d like you to take measures to keep your garage free from fire. Fortunately, there are ways this can be done, some of which are described below. Secondly, garage fires do happen, and we’d like you to make sure that a fire cannot not easily spread to the rest of your house. While you can perform many of the recommendations in this article yourself, it is a good i

By Nick Gromicko and Kate Tarasenko, of InterNACHI About 2.5 million children are injured or killed by hazards in the home each year. The good news is that many of these incidents can be prevented by using simple child-safety devices on the market today. Any safety device you buy should be sturdy enough to prevent injury to your child, yet easy for you to use. It's important to follow installation instructions carefully. In addition, if you have older children in the house,

As a certified professional inspector, I'm required to inspect homes to a certain standard. If you've ever wondered what that standard is, I can help. I'm certified through the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, or InterNACHI. As such, I'm required to inspect homes to InterNACHI's standards. The inspector trade association's full standards can be found by clicking here. This link will show the full list of items we must inspect, as well as items that woul

Based on the age of the home, I can regularly predict the type of electrical deficiencies I'll find inside its electrical panel(s). Not always, but commonly. One of those common deficiencies is double-lugging. Some professionals use the term double-tapping to describe it. Double-lugging occurs when two or more wires are connected to a breaker that is only rated for one wire. These two photos show you what the deficiency looks like. Note the bottom breaker in each photo. Two w

Need a home inspection and radon test? I'm offering $100 off the total price for a home inspection and radon test. To redeem the offer just mention this blog post or, if you are a real estate agent, please have your customer refer to it. The offer is valid until August 31, 2018. The only restrictions are: the home must be located in Missoula and you must hire me to perform a home inspection and radon test . My typical home inspection and radon test price for any Missoula home