Peter Young Home Inspections is open for business to take care of all your home inspection needs.

If you suspect your home was damaged in the recent hurricane, we are offering limited storm damage inspections, such as:

• Roof • Exterior • Basement • Attic • Crawlspace

Please call Peter Young at 828-808-4980 for pricing.

For regular home inspections, please see our contact information below to arrange an appointment.

Winterize your home now to stay cozy

Autumn has passed its prime. Dazzling gold and red are giving way to brown, and the trees are laying down their crunchy, leafy carpets everywhere. As the crisp autumn air becomes cooler, it’s time to prepare your home for the upcoming winter months.

A well-winterized home not only ensures comfort but also helps you save on energy costs. By taking the necessary steps to winterize your home, you can enjoy a warm and cozy winter season. Let’s take a look.

The great outdoors

Insulate pipes: One of the most crucial steps in winterizing your home is to protect your plumbing system from freezing temperatures. Insulate exposed pipes, particularly those located in unheated areas like basements, attics, and crawl spaces. Use pipe insulation foam or heat tape to wrap pipes effectively.

Drain outdoor faucets: To prevent freezing and potential pipe bursts, turn off the water supply to outdoor faucets and drain them completely. You can also attach a frost-proof faucet cover to provide additional protection. If you don’t have a shut-off for outdoor faucets, protect them with an insulating cover that is available at most home supply stores. Polar Cap is an effective and inexpensive option.

Clean gutters and downspouts: Clogged gutters can lead to ice dams, which can cause significant damage to your roof and home’s interior. Remove leaves, twigs, and other debris from gutters and downspouts to ensure proper water drainage.

Trim trees and shrubs: Overhanging branches can damage your roof and power lines during heavy snowfall or strong winds. Keep trees and shrubs away from your roof line.

Inspect your roof: A well-maintained roof is essential for keeping your home warm and dry. Inspect your roof for missing or damaged shingles, and repair any issues promptly. Consider hiring a professional inspector for a thorough assessment.

Indoor preparations

Check your heating system: Schedule a professional inspection and tune-up of your heating system to ensure it’s working efficiently.

Change the air filter regularly to improve airflow and reduce energy consumption.

If you have a fireplace or woodburning stove, clean the chimney and flue to prevent carbon monoxide buildup.

Cleaning your fireplace and chimney is essential to remove creosote buildup and prevent chimney fires. Stock up on firewood and ensure your fireplace is in good working condition.

Seal air leaks: Drafts can significantly impact your home’s energy efficiency and comfort. Seal any gaps or cracks around windows, doors, and other openings to prevent cold air from entering your home. Use weatherstripping, caulk, or insulation foam to seal these areas effectively.

Insulate your attic: Proper attic insulation is crucial for maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature. Ensure your attic is adequately insulated to minimize heat loss. If necessary, add additional insulation to improve energy efficiency. Click here for an Energy Star article on attic insulation.

Reverse ceiling fans: During the winter months, reverse the direction of your ceiling fans to clockwise rotation. This will push warm air downward, creating a more efficient heating system.

Additional steps for winter comfort

Wait! There’s more.

Take these additional steps to stay warm and cozy during those cold winter months.

Your preparation will pay dividends in both comfort and in lower energy bills.

• Install Storm Windows or Weatherstripping: Storm windows can significantly improve your home’s energy efficiency. If you don’t have storm windows, apply weatherstripping to seal gaps around your existing windows. Here’s a guide to weatherstripping from This Old House.
• Use Thermal Curtains: Thermal curtains can help insulate your home by reducing heat loss through windows.
• Lower Your Thermostat: Lowering your thermostat by a few degrees can save energy and reduce heating costs.
• Use a Programmable Thermostat: A programmable thermostat allows you to set specific temperatures for different times of the day, optimizing energy usage.
• Keep Your Home Humidified: Dry air can irritate your skin and respiratory system. Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air and improve indoor comfort.

By following these tips, you can ensure your home is ready to withstand the winter weather and stay warm, cozy, and energy-efficient all season long!

Buying or selling a home in Western North Carolina?

Avoid unpleasant surprises! Contact Asheville Home Inspector Peter Young before signing any contracts. Call (828) 808-4980, or click here to make an appointment.

The post Open for business appeared first on Peter Young Home Inspections.

The holidays are nearly upon us. Does it seem like the year just flew by? As the song goes, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” Families reunite in the joy of the season. Little ones make a joyful noise. But it’s also a time for household accidents and injuries.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) cites approximately 160 accidents a day related just to home decorating. Nearly half of those involve falls, broken bones, concussions, and soft-tissue injuries. Let’s explore why more accidents happen during holidays.

Connecting the dots

Holiday accidents are influenced by several factors, such as:

• Increased activity. Holidays mean more cooking, baking, decorating, and entertaining, all of which can increase accident risks.
• Distraction. Stress, shopping, trips to the airport, meal planning and more make people distracted. This can lead to mishaps, such as forgetting to turn off burners or tripping over electrical cords.
• Decoration hazards. Holiday decorations (lights, candles, and ornaments) can be safety hazards. Frayed cords can cause fires, and small decorations can be choking hazards for toddlers.

Deck the halls

Since decorations play a big role in holiday entertaining, let’s take a look at some safety precautions.

Here are some tips for safer holiday decorating.

• Let kids help with decorating, but only with non-breakable items within their reach. Adults should hang breakable decorations, ornaments, light bulbs, and tinsel out of kids’ reach. 
• Watch out for decorative plants that can be toxic to children when eaten. Some examples are mistletoe, holly, Jerusalem cherry, and amaryllis. Keep these away from children and pets.
• Beware of bubble lights, which contain a chemical that’s harmful if swallowed and irritating to skin. 
• Keep cans of snow spray out of children’s reach. The powder is hazardous when swallowed or sprayed into your eyes or on your skin.

Just to be on the safe side, keep the number handy for the National Poison Control Center, 800-222-1222.

Don’t play with fire

The best advice for fire safety is to prevent fires from happening at all. Here are some tips:

• Be sure to test smoke alarms and change their batteries before starting holiday decorating.
• Never leave holiday lights on when you’re sleeping or if you are leaving the house.
• Don’t overload indoor or outdoor electrical outlets.
• When hanging lights, check wires for fraying or damage. If damage is evident, discard the lights.
• If you’ll have a living Christmas tree, be sure to keep it watered. Dry trees are more likely to go up in flames. Keep the tree in a sturdy stand that won’t tip over. Most importantly, keep the tree away from all heat sources, such as outlets, candles, radiators, and space heaters.
• If you prefer artificial trees, be sure to purchase one that’s “fire-retardant.”
• Take candles seriously! Stay in the room when candles are burning, don’t leave unsupervised children alone with candles, and be sure to blow them out before going to bed.
• Have your fireplace inspected by a professional before lighting the season’s first fire. Always use a sturdy fireplace screen, or if you’re using a wood stove, keep flammable materials away from it.
• Be sure to have an emergency evacuation plan in case of fire.

Eat, drink, and be safe!

Holidays always have a whole lot of cooking going on, so take these steps to prevent burns:

• Cook on back burners whenever possible, and turn pot handles away from the front of the stove.
• Never leave the oven door open
• Don’t let kids play near the oven.
• Keep kitchen appliances clean to prevent grease fires.
• Here are some other food and drink tips:
• Nuts and small candies can be a choking hazard for toddlers. Keep these out of reach.
• Avoid alcohol poisoning by keeping drink cups out of reach. Even a small amount of alcohol can injure children.

By following these tips, you can help to keep yourself and your family safe during the holiday season.

Buying or selling a home?

Avoid unpleasant surprises! Contact Asheville Home Inspector Peter Young before signing any contracts. Call (828) 808-4980, or click here to make an appointment.

The post Keep holiday season safe for kids, family, and YOU! appeared first on Peter Young Home Inspections.

It’s almost the season for cool autumn nights, sitting near a toasty fire and sipping your favorite warm beverage. Whether you have a fireplace, a woodburning stove, or a gas log insert, nothing warms your bones as completely as fire.

However, there’s a “dark side.” Fires can be dangerous! Let’s take a closer look.

A burning issue

Approximately 14,000 chimney fires occur in the United States annually, according to the US Fire Administration (USFA), and nearly 90% of them are caused by creosote buildup. 

Chimney fires cause property damage upward of $120.9 million in this country alone, 60% of these during the winter months, and 75% of these fires involve chimneys or flues.

Download a report from USFA on residential chimney fires.

On the side of caution

While fireplaces, wood stoves, and gas logs can be cozy ways to heat your home on cold nights, it’s imperative to learn some safety rules to avoid accidents and house fires. Here are some tips for fire safety:

• Get your chimney or metal chimney pipe cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional. This helps prevent fires and ensures that your fireplace or wood-burning stove is operating efficiently.
• Use only dry, seasoned wood. Wet or green wood produces creosote, a sticky, flammable substance that builds up in chimneys and pipes and causes fires.
• Never burn flammable materials other than wood, with the exception of a bit of newspaper or store-bought fire-starter packs. Never burn pressure treated wood or plastics. These emit toxic fumes and may contribute to chimney or pipe fires.
• Keep the area around your fireplace or stove clear of flammable materials, including rugs, curtains, and furniture. Sparks can and do happen!
• Don’t leave fireplaces unattended. Modern wood stoves can be set up to run all night, but that’s only accomplished with a lot of practice. Better to be sure the fire is out before you go to bed.
• Always use a fire screen or spark guard to prevent flying sparks.
• Open the damper when you start a fire, and close it when the fire is out.
• NEVER use gasoline or flammable liquids to start your fire!

That’s a gas!

Gas log fireplace inserts have become popular, due to their ease of use. Here are some additional safety tips for gas fireplaces:

• Make sure the gas line was professionally installed, and have it checked annually.
• NEVER use your fireplace if you suspect a gas leak.
• Turn off the gas when not using the fireplace.
• Use only gas logs approved for your fireplace.
• Never leave gas logs unattended when lit.
• Clean and inspect your gas fireplace annually.

More considerations

Fireplaces, woodburning stoves, and gas logs can produce carbon monoxide (CO), an odorless, colorless gas that can kill you. 

Be sure to install CO detectors in your home, and test them monthly. Wear earplugs during the tests.

While we’re on the subject of CO, common sense dictates that you’d be better off not using ventless gas log fireplaces.

While the amount of CO released may be small, the tight insulation envelopes in many modern homes keeps them quite airtight. That means CO will be present, lessening the quality of your indoor air. Open the flue and vent these gases up and away from you.

Fireplaces and wood stoves can injure children and pets. Take steps to keep them away while in use.

Follow these tips, and then you can feel confident about enjoying the warmth and ambiance of your wood stove or fireplace on those crisp autumn and winter evenings.

Buying or selling a home in Western North Carolina?

Avoid unpleasant surprises! Contact Asheville Home Inspector Peter Young before signing any contracts. Call (828) 808-4980, or click here to make an appointment.

The post Stay safe enjoying the fire on cool autumn nights appeared first on Peter Young Home Inspections.