H Minus Home Inspections

With North Carolina temperatures dropping, it's time to turn on the heat. Remember that your Emergency Heat switch is just that, for an emergency. Check that yours is working then make sure to turn it off. Your heat pump knows when it should kick in.

Asphalt shingles have a life span of 15 to 40 years. Signs of wear include loss of granules, curling and tears in the shingles themselves. If you see visible signs of wear, contact a qualified roofing professional.

Remember those we lost 22 years ago. Even if you weren't around for it, the impact is felt upon you today. Don't forget what this flag stands for.

If you've ever thought about replacing a breaker with a larger size because it keeps tripping, stop that thought and call an electrician. Wires are gauged to specific breakers. If the wire size is too small for the amperage, you may start an electrical fire.

AC Stop Working?

Your air conditioning system has a float switch that shuts the system down in the event your condensation drain becomes blocked. If your drip pan is full, clean it out with a shop vac and your AC will come back to life!

Most people use their bathroom exhaust fan for all the wrong reasons. This tool is present to help remove moisture from your bathroom. If you don't find it exhausting to the exterior of your home, check your attic. You do not want to increase moisture in this space. If it terminates there, you should have it fixed immediately.

Ground Fault Circuit Interruption prevents shock to humans. These circuits detect an unbalanced current and are placed in areas where water is prevalent such as a kitchen or outdoor outlet. Arc Fault Circuit Interruption prevents fire and damage to equipment. These circuits detect electricity leaking and are placed on all branch circuits to include lighting and receptacles.

If indoor plumbing was originally set of for righties, why is the toilet handle on the left? Early flush toilets were flushed by pulling a chain to the right of the user as they were seated. When this was replaced by a toilet handle in the 1940s, they fell in on the existing plumbing mechanisms which placed this to the right of the user as seated or to the left as viewed from the front. Another win for lefties!

Is there a mechanical or safety reason for hot water being on the left? Nope. It's simply a matter of cold water pumps originally being installed on the right in the 1900s for all of us righties. The only remaining place was the left. The universal plumbing code opted to keep it consistent to avoid surprises. A win for lefties!

If a bathroom you never use begins to smell, you likely have a dried out P Trap. This little loop isn't just intended to catch a wedding ring that falls into the drain. A P Trap is designed to hold water and prevent sewer gases from moving back into your habitable space. Run your facet for a few minutes and the smell will disappear.