Jovag Home Inspection, LLC ​License #1820
  • Home
  • Services
  • Blog and DIY
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Services
  • Blog and DIY
  • Contact

Disconnect and Remove a Dishwasher

4/6/2018

 

Upper Roof Runoff

2/23/2018

 
Upper roof run off
Upper roof gutters collect water and channel to the downspouts. As a result, a large volume of water is directed to specific locations on the lower roof which increases wear in these areas.
Upper Roof runoff
Although this is a common arrangement of upper roof downspouts, it is less than ideal. As can be seen from this close up, the significant volume of water from the upper roof is causing excess concentrated water exposure and wear on the lower roof system.
Gutter Extensions
Example of proposed gutter upgrade in a residential setting. The downspout extension from the upper roof will channel water directly to the lower roof gutter.

Help Your Furnace Breathe

1/12/2018

 
Dirty furnace filter
Dirty furnace filter - clogged filter media and accumulations of dust and debris. This filter needs to be changed.
It's the middle of the heating season - how well is your furnace "breathing" through the filter? Have you been changing the filter regularly? If not, January is a great month to start a regular maintenance cycle. Furnace filters should be changed every 3 months for optimal performance of the furnace. A clean filter allows better air flow and a furnace that doesn't have to work as hard to meet the heating demands of your house. 
Filter labeling
Helpful labeling the last time this filter was changed. It's been three months, time to change the filter.
Check out these other posts from Jovag Home Inspection for further information on furnace systems and maintenance.
Clean vs Dirty Filter
New filter on the left, old and dirty filter on the right.

Cold Leaking In - Drafty Attic Hatch

12/15/2017

 
One of the most common sources of drafts and cold air in a home is a leaking attic entry hatch. They are often out of sight and out of mind but can lead to a lot of chilly nights and increased heating costs. 
Thermal image of attic hatch
Thermal image of air leakage around the perimeter of the attic hatch. The darker colors are cooler and show where cold air is entering the house.
As with any drafty situation, the first thing to look for is a source of air leakage. When air can move from one area to another it takes heat with it. This is a good thing for hot air blowing out of a heating duct register but not ideal when that same heated air is moving in to the attic or outdoors.

From the thermal images and with visual inspection of this attic hatch it appears that the weatherstripping is inadequate. There is pretty good insulation over the center of the hatch but there is obvious air movement around the perimeter. Warm air from the house is leaking in to the attic which increases heating costs and decreases comfort in the home.
Weather stripping
There is some old and thin weather stripping around the attic hatch. It is pretty compressed and not doing a good job of stopping air movement. This needs to be replaced.
Attic hatch insulation
Good amount of insulation batting attached to the attic hatch. This by itself won't stop a draft. The edges need to be better sealed with weather stripping.

Should have done this before it rained. How to clear a backed up gutter.

11/3/2017

 

How To Remove A Downspout Clog

10/27/2017

 
It's starting to rain in the Pacific Northwest and time to perform some simple maintenance on your gutters and downspouts. Downspouts are often connected to gutters with an elbow fitting. Because of the bends in the elbow, these are prone to clogs from pine needles, leaves and other debris. It is important to make sure your gutters and downspouts can actually drain the roof before the rainy season starts. Follow the steps below to make sure your downspouts are ready for the next few months of work.
Ladder under a downspout
Tools needed for this project - ladder, gloves, screwdriver or nut driver and a cleaning tool.
Picture
My preferred clog removal tool, a stick found on the ground.
Tools Needed:
•Ladder
•Gloves (sharp edges on the downspout sheet metal)
•Screwdriver - typically slotted or a nut driver - usually 1/4 inch or 5/16 inch
•Clog Removal Device - I'm using a stick I found on the ground
•Colorful Language (optional, but satisfying)
Gutter downspout fastener
Step 1 - Find the sheet metal screws holding the downspout fittings together. These are usually slotted type fasteners located at the fitting junctions.
Removing a sheet metal fastener
Step 2 - Remove all the fasteners of the downspout piece you want to remove.
Removing a downspout
Step 3 - Pull the joint apart. This may require some wiggling and the liberal application of colorful language.
Removing a downspout
Step 3 - Remove both sides of the elbow joint. Colorful language still helpful if needed.
Pine needle clog in a downspout elbow
Step 4 - Remove any clogs or debris from the elbow. This one is clogged with a large amount of pine needles.
Clearing a downspout clog
Step 4 - Using the "clog poking device" clear out any clog from the gutter to downspout connection.
Clogged gutter to downspout connection
Step 4 - View from below at the gutter to downspout connection. This still needs to have debris removed.
Replacing a downspout elbow
Step 5 - Once the downspout is clean, replace the elbow. It is usually easiest to start from the bottom connection. Once again, colorful language is helpful to get things to fit.
Replacing a downspout elbow
Step 5 - Almost done. Once the bottom of the elbow is in start to work on getting the upper end back in place.
Securing a downspout elbow
Step 6 - Once you have found the screw you dropped on the ground, put it back in place to secure the elbow.

How To Lubricate A Garage Door - Simple DIY Project

10/20/2017

0 Comments

 
0 Comments

Crawl Space Inspection - Hidden Leak

10/6/2017

0 Comments

 
Plumbing problems aren't always evident from inside the house. Inspecting your crawl space for problems is a good way to find hidden leaks and damage. Follow along in the video with a crawl space inspection that finds some hidden problems.
0 Comments

Winter is coming. Check your thermostat batteries.

9/29/2017

0 Comments

 
Thermostat with battery low indicator
The battery low indicator on this thermostat is a pretty obvious sign that the batteries need to be replaced.
Winter is coming. It's almost heating season and a good time to check and/or replace your thermostat batteries. If your thermostat batteries are dying or dead, your heat isn't going to come on during the next chilly morning.

Most electronic wall mounted thermostats (ones that have a LED screen) have batteries. It's not always obvious where these batteries are located. They can be in a compartment accessible from the front or they can be hidden behind. If you can't find an obvious place for a battery, try googling "thermostat name/model changing battery". 

Thermostat manufacturers recommend changing the batteries yearly. This is probably overkill if you have a heat only system as the thermostat is working for only part of the year. If you have a heat pump or A/C in addition to heat your thermostat is working throughout the year and may need yearly battery replacement due to the increased power demand.
Thermostat battery compartment.
Battery compartment accessible from the front. This is a nice feature.
Removing a wall thermostat
If you can't find an obvious battery compartment on the front, try taking the thermostat off the mounting plate. Most can be pried up from the bottom and lifted off the top.
Removing a wall thermostat from the mounting plate.
Be careful after removing the thermostat. Don't pull on the control wires or they can separate from the thermostat.
0 Comments

I heard a bang and now my garage door won't open.

9/22/2017

0 Comments

 
You try to open your garage door one morning and hear a huge metallic bang. The door isn't opening but the opener still works. What happened? The most common reason for this to occur is that the torsion springs failed. Check out the video below for 3 signs to check to determine if your torsion springs are broken.
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    Brian Jovag, owner of Jovag Home Inspection.

    Archives

    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017

    Categories

    All
    Attic
    Brick
    Chimney
    Construction
    Corrosion
    Crawl Space
    Deck
    DIY
    Electrical
    Furnace
    Gutters
    Heating
    How To
    Information
    Insulation
    Jovag Home Inspection
    Maintenance
    Moss
    Needs To Be Fixed
    Plumbing
    Roof
    Rust
    Safety
    Smoke Alarms
    Tools
    Video
    Wall
    Water Damage
    What Could Go Wrong?
    Yard

    RSS Feed

    Helpful Info

    Infographics
    CPSC Water Heater Temperature
    File Size: 49 kb
    File Type: pdf
    Download File

    CPSC Garage Door Safety
    File Size: 129 kb
    File Type: pdf
    Download File

    CPSC GFCI Info and Facts
    File Size: 263 kb
    File Type: pdf
    Download File

    FEMA Smoke Alarm Recommendations
    File Size: 1942 kb
    File Type: pdf
    Download File

Site powered by Weebly. Managed by MacHighway