C.H.I. Home Inspections

🔥 What You Can’t See… Can Cost You
This ceiling looks perfectly fine to the eye 👀
But through a thermal camera? 👇
You can clearly see the framing — meaning missing insulation.
Even worse… there are signs of past moisture staining.
❄️ In Calgary, this can lead to: • Heat loss
• Cold spots & condensation
• Hidden moisture damage
👉 And it’s right below a balcony — one of the most common leak areas.
✔️ The fix: • Add proper insulation
• Air seal the cavity
• Verify the balcony above isn’t leaking
This is why thermal imaging during inspections matters — it reveals what your eyes can’t.
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With all the melting snow this week in Calgary, this is when we start to see water issues show up.
If the ground around your home slopes toward the foundation, all that melting snow has nowhere to go — except straight toward your house.
This can lead to:
• Water pooling near the foundation
• Basement moisture
• Leaks or seepage
✔️ Make sure your downspouts are extended away from the home
✔️ Check that water is draining away, not toward the foundation
✔️ Watch for pooling near your basement walls
This time of year is when small drainage issues become big problems.
If you notice water where it shouldn’t be, it’s worth addressing early.
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Bathroom fans play a big role in preventing moisture problems inside the home.
If fans aren’t used during showers, moisture can build up and lead to:
• Mold growth
• Peeling paint
• Condensation on windows
• Frost in the attic during winter
✔️ Run the fan during showers
✔️ Leave it on 15–20 minutes after
Good ventilation helps protect your home from moisture damage.

Electrical panels shouldn’t have mice… and furnaces definitely shouldn’t grow mushrooms.
Two very different issues with one thing in common: moisture + neglect = hidden damage.
A good inspection catches the problems you never knew were there.

Teamwork makes the dream work
Home inspection day with the well & septic specialist and an awesome realtor.
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We pride ourselves on our 235 Google reviews - and 5 star rating ... but every once in awhile we get a client who doesn't have a gmail account - and goes out of their way to send a personal message.

Way to go Carson Lisowski - always bringing your BEST and making a difference with every CHI Home Inspections client!

FIRST REVIEW of 2025:

We had a home inspection done by Carson Lisowski and he did a great job, he was very thorough and knowledgeable.

He took his time and explained everything. He was very pleasant to deal with. I was very impressed with his work and his final report was clear and detailed.

I would recommend your company to anyone looking for a good trustworthy inspection. Carson is great at his job.

Thank You Patti F

Ice Dam Hazards

An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow from draining. As water backs up behind the dam, it can leak through the roof and cause damage to walls, ceilings, insulation and other areas.

How do ice dams form?
Ice dams are formed by an interaction between snow cover, outside temperatures, and heat lost through the roof. Specifically, there must be snow on the roof, warm portions of the upper roof (warmer than 32° F), and cold portions of the lower roof (at freezing or below). Melted snow from the warmer areas will refreeze when it flows down to the colder portions, forming an ice dam.
Although the primary contributor to snow melting is heat loss from the building's interior, solar radiation can also provide sufficient heat to melt snow on a roof. For example, in southern Canada, enough sunlight can be transmitted through 6 inches (150 mm) of snow cover on a clear and sunny day to cause melting at the roof's surface even when the outside temperature is 14° F (-10° C), with an attic temperature of 23° F (-5° C).
Gutters do not cause ice dams to form, contrary to popular belief. Gutters do, however, help concentrate ice from the dam in a vulnerable area, where parts of the house can peel away under the weight of the ice and come crashing to the ground.

Problems Associated with Ice Dams
Ice dams are problematic because they force water to leak from the roof into the building envelope. This may lead to:

rotted roof decking, exterior and interior walls, and framing;
respiratory illnesses (allergies, asthma, etc.) caused by mold growth;
reduced effectiveness of insulation. Wet insulation doesn’t work well, and chronically wet insulation will not decompress even when it dries. Without working insulation, even more heat will escape to the roof where more snow will melt, causing more ice dams which, in turn, will lead to leaks; and
peeling paint. Water from the leak will infiltrate wall cavities and cause paint to peel and blister. This may happen long after the ice dam has melted and thus not appear directly related to the ice dam.

Prevention

Keep the entire roof cold. This can be accomplished by implementing the following measures:
Install a metal roof. Ice formations may occur on metal roofs, but the design of the roof will not allow the melting water to pe*****te the roof's surface. Also, notice how the ice is heaviest beneath the chimney, where snow can be melted easily snow and ice are more likely to slide off of a smooth, metal surface than asphalt shingles.
Seal all air leaks in the attic floor, such as those surrounding wire and plumbing penetrations, attic hatches, and ceiling light fixtures leading to the attic from the living space below.
Increase the thickness of insulation on the attic floor, ductwork, and chimneys that pass through the attic.
Move or elevate exhaust systems that terminate just above the roof, where they are likely to melt snow.
A minimum of 3" air space is recommended between the top of insulation and roof sheathing in sloped ceilings.
Remove snow from the roof. This can be accomplished safely using a roof rake from the ground. Be careful not to harm roofing materials or to dislodge dangerous icicles.
Create channels in the ice by hosing it with warm water. Because this process intentionally adds water to the roof, this should be done only in emergencies where a great deal of water is already flowing through the roof, and when temperatures are warm enough that the hose water can drain before it freezes.
Prevention and Removal Methods to Avoid

electric heat cables. These rarely work, they require effort to install, they use electricity, and they can make shingles brittle.
manual removal of the ice dam using shovels, hammers, ice picks, rakes, or whatever destructive items can be found in the shed. The roof can be easily damaged by these efforts, as can the homeowner, when they slip off of the icy roof.
In summary, ice dams are caused by inadequate attic insulation, but homeowners can take certain preventative measures to ensure that they are rare.

Mold….not a nice word or a nice thing to even consider - about the home you have just fallen in love with!

Now, nearly every home has mold present. Some types of mold can be harmless in small amounts, while an overgrowth of mold or dangerous types - can lead to disaster.

Removing large amounts of mold can cost thousands of dollars – and it may even require complete renovations.

Mold inspections during conditional stage - or on possession date before you move in – or even in your current home - can assess for air quality problems, hidden moisture, and microscopic surface mold.

Testing for Mold

An experienced Mold investigator like Cliff Keveryga or Carson Lisowski - can determine if your house has a mold problem. They start by investigating the home’s background. Is there a history of flooding? Has the roof or plumbing leaked?

They will then check for visible signs of mold, the presence of moldy odours and other indicators. This will help them determine the extent of the mold. The larger the affected areas, the higher the concentration of mold in the indoor air.

A trained investigator like Cliff Keveryga/Carson Lisowski – will collect air samples after visually inspecting your house for mold because it can be hidden (for example, in a wall, in the attic or in the crawl space). They will collect these air samples using the proper equipment and send them to a local laboratory for analysis. Then they will go through these reports in detail with you.

The report and findings provided – gives you everything you need to proceed to the next step. IF there is mold – remediating the problem must be done carefully under controlled conditions. After the mold is removed, the underlying moisture problem must be fixed to prevent mold from returning.

Call us today to learn more or book a Mold Inspection/Air Quality test.

If you live in Calgary - the weather is ALWAYS a discussion topic!!!!!

Too hot...too cold...too much snow...not enough moisture!

Giving an exact, universal date for when to put on your summer tires is obviously impossible - given the variety of climates and weather conditions in Calgary.

It's not about picking a month - more about when weather RELIABLY hits 7 degrees or higher on a constant basis!

SAME thing with AC units, irrigation and external faucets!!!!!!

I know yesterdays 17 degree weather - got us all thinking ahead to the HEAT coming in the future (yes - it will be hot someday soon!)

But NOW is NOT the time to turn on the AC....not yet!

Even on home inspections - we can not test these AC units - unless it is 15 degrees or warmer.

Right now we are fielding MANY MANY calls about ICE damming, ATTIC Rain and FROST.

Did you know we offer SPOT inspections!!!?!!!

Are icicles hanging down from your gutters or in eavestroughs? Witnessing new yellow spots on your ceilings - that were not there before?
Windows wet with condensation?
Think you have a leak?
Is there new "apparent" mold growing in corners?

Give us a call or go to our website to book SPOT inspection: calgaryhomeinspections.com

With our moisture metres and our thermal cameras - we can often spot an issue - BEFORE it becomes costly to repair/fix!

Cliff is also certified to do Air Quality Inspections.

Did you know - we also have BLOG posts on our website - which may offer you valuable information as well. Whether you are selling or just maintaining the home you are in!

This one is about Frost in your ATTIC:

https://calgaryhomeinspections.com/blog-posts/frost-in-attics/

Navigating Calgary's Real Estate: The POST-Purchase Home Inspection Guide

It is NOT easy to be a BUYER in the Calgary real estate market!!

We are seeing a TREND - that buyers are WAIVING the right to have a Home Inspection CONDITION - to make their offers stronger.

We get it! It is competitive. Winning the home is the TOP priority. This decision, while strategic in the short term, can leave homeowners unaware of potential issues with their new property.

What we are offering is the opportunity to understand your home's condition and current state - AFTER you get the keys!

Home inspections are NOT limited to the pre-purchase phase; they can be conducted anytime.

POST-possession inspections offer valuable insights into your home's condition, helping you make informed decisions on any future repairs or maintenance needed. Always important to know the CURRENT state!

Home inspections can provide peace of mind - at ANY stage of homeownership, regardless of WHEN they're conducted.

Homeowners who waived the inspection condition, can still benefit from POST-possession inspections to empower themselves with knowledge.

NO REALTOR needed; book your post-possession inspection online (at a time that works for only you!)

We have done these literally the DAY our customer's get their KEYS! YES - they can NOT back out of the deal....but they gain important information about how to LIVE in the home - going forward!

The Calgary real estate market will CONTINUE to be strong. Gaining a competitive edge - does NOT have to mean sacrificing peace of mind.

Whether you are waiting for a possession date in the future - or you moved in 2 days, 2 weeks or 2 months ago....

Book Cliff or Carson online today at www.calgaryhomeinspections.com

Did you know - Appointment booking is SOOOO easy at: calgaryhomeinspections.com

Are you a BUSY realtor working late into the night ... negotiating on a home ... and want to book an inspection to seal the deal?

Are you a BUYER who got their dream home under contract - and now need to find the right home inspector - in a timely fashion? NO more calling and leaving messages. This booking system is easy and efficient.

*We will always call you to confirm - so if you don't "know" exactly what you NEED - we can always add on/delete/change the original booking.
Main priority is to get the timing booked - that works best for you - and your schedule !!

Log onto our website (cant forget that easy name!) and just click on BOOK AN INSPECTION on the top left! Or scroll down under our picture - there is another place to click!

Our availability is UP TO DATE and available online ALWAYS! 24 hrs a day/365 days a year.

Carson Lisowski is now offering his qualified services at NIGHT and also on the WEEKENDS!