Walkabout Home Inspections Surrey BC

Property Inspections Since 1992

Blog

Quiet running heat pump.

It wasn't that long ago that air conditioners and heat pumps had one downside. A noisy fan assembly that would irritate neighbors in the summertime with excessive exterior noise. And of course, heat pumps that in our local moderate climate would continue to have noise issues. These days the decibels are barely trackable. I'd call my heat pump "whisper quiet", which pleases me, and my neighbors even more. Please excuse the only irritating sound ... my camera's zoom feature. [video width="640" h... More

Wet basements can be prevented

Maintenance and Repair

Clean it up! The number one reason for perimeter drain failure causing wet basements or crawl space is roof water and debris collected in the gutters flowing down the down pipes and depositing directly into perimeter drains, filling them with roof debris and all that extra water. While it's raining outside (which is happening a lot in the Lower Mainland right now) walk around your home and take a look at your gutters. Is water pouring off the gutters onto the ground? If it is, you've diagnosed ... More

Aluminum Wiring in 1970's homes - Info and Solutions

Electrical Maintenance and Repair

I've inspected quite a few homes in the Lower Mainland built in the 1970's. It's not uncommon for me to find aluminum wiring. And it's also not uncommon for me to find a portion of that wiring updated incorrectly, where dissimilar metals are connected, which can be a fire hazard. There are two ways of solving this problem if your home is currently wired this way, or you are considering purchasing a home and this crops up in your inspection report. Over the past years it's been more difficult t... More

Mold?

Home Inspection Leaky Condo Mold and Mildew

Are you seeing mold or fungus growing on windows, walls and bathrooms? If so, I can help. What you need to do is call me up, book an "INSPECTION WALKABOUT". By the time we are finished, you will know how to control, and eliminate fungus growth in your living space. CALL NOW TO BOOK. All living spaces are different and we need to see what's up, then think of how to solve the problem based on what we are looking at. No two places are the same! Call now: 604-220-0305 (Gary) 604-222-0305 (Jimm... More

Heat pump or Regular Furnace in Surrey - which one is better in our temperate weather?

Furnace Home Inspection Maintenance and Repair

Last year our heating system was "coming to the end of its useful life". We had a nice 2 ton Carrier air conditioner and a Carrier furnace, both of which were original equipment when we built the house we live in in 1988. We never had any problems with either system, but being a home inspector, I knew it was going to be any time when they had to be replaced, and I was pretty certain the air conditioner wouldn't last the summer, so last spring I started to investigate the best combination of heat... More

What to ask at an Open House

HIABC Home Inspection Leaky Condo Maintenance and Repair Real Estate

The home buying process can be stressful. A home can look beautiful but be masking expensive issues or hidden ownership fees. The best time to find out about all of this is at the open house, this way you can make the most informed decision about what you're getting yourself into. How long has the house been on the market? If it turns out a home has been on the market for quite some time, you may be able to make an offer somewhat lower than the asking price. On the other hand, if a house seems... More