Be-leaf it is time to clean your leaves!

To Protect is to prevent. A Hixson Home Story Just the recently there was an inspection taken place at a home in Hixson that was completely covered with a base layer of leaves that had been sitting on the roof (for what looked like years). Sure enough, when I finally...

New Agent Tool: Repair Request Builder

One of the things inspectors have been asking for are tools to assist our agents as they prepare for negotiations. Our updated Agent Tools for inspections does just that! After an Inspection is complete, in a web browser you have the ability to individually select...

15 Tools Every Homeowner Should Have!

15 Tools Every Homeowner Should Own by Nick Gromicko and Ben Gromicko The following items are essential tools, but this list is by no means exhaustive. Feel free to ask an InterNACHI inspector during your next inspection about other tools that you might find useful....

Plaster and Lath Cracking and Cracks

Many homes in Chattanooga built before the 1950’s weren’t using Drywall as a surface for walls and ceilings. Before Drywall it was common to use plaster surfaces. Plaster isn’t like drywall, it is very rigid and instead of giving like drywall does...

Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs)

by Nick Gromicko and Ethan Ward What is a GFCI? A ground-fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI, is a device used in electrical wiring to disconnect a circuit when unbalanced current is detected between an energized conductor and a neutral return conductor.  Such an...

Inspecting Aluminum Wiring

Written by Nick Gromicko and Kenton Shepard Between approximately 1965 and 1973, single-strand (solid) aluminum wiring was sometimes substituted for copper branch-circuit wiring in residential electrical systems due to the sudden escalating price of copper. After a...

TPR Valves and Discharge Piping

Written by Nick Gromicko and Kenton Shepard Temperature/pressure-relief or TPR valves are safety devices installed on water heating appliances, such as boilers and domestic water supply heaters. TPRs are designed to automatically release water in the event that...

Ungrounded Electrical Receptacles

by Nick Gromicko (Copyright of InterNACHI) Grounding of electrical receptacles (which some laypeople refer to as outlets) is an important safety feature that has been required in new construction since 1962, as it minimizes the risk of electric shock and protects...