by Josh on August 25, 2010
An all to common occurrence these days here in Phoenix is the vandalism and theft in vacant homes. Thieves know that these vacant bank owned homes are an easy target and take full advantage. Some of the more common items that we find stolen or vandalized during our Home Inspections in Phoenix are the air conditioners, appliances, built in grills and pool equipment.
During a recent Phoenix Home Inspection I found that the thieves had even cut and removed the long runs of copper wiring in the attic!
As you can see from the photo, air conditioners get stripped apart and all of the valuable components removed. These air conditioners contain allot of copper that can be recycled and other components that can be resold. In this particular neighborhood there were three more air conditioners that had been stripped that I could see from this roof.
What can you do to protect the home between the time you sign the contract and the time you close? Unfortunately there isn’t much that you can do. I do recommend that you take allot of pictures at the time you sign the contract. Take photos of all of the appliances, light fixtures, fans, pool equipment and pretty much anything that has value and could be taken or vandalized. This way you can at least prove what was there when you signed the contract.
This information was provided by Southwest Premier Home Inspection, the Phoenix Arizona Home Inspection Leader. Visit our website at www.swpHomeInspect.com or call us at 623-203-0106 to schedule your Home Inspection in Phoenix.
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by Josh on August 25, 2010
One of the most common plumbing problems we find during our Home Inspections in Phoenix is leaking water faucets and fixtures. These water leaks may seem like minor problems but over time, they can add up to cost you allot of money not to mention the wasted water. Water leaks at plumbing fixtures are the easiest leaks to find by they may not be the worst leaks that are happening. The purpose of this article is to discuss water loss and not the damage caused by hidden water leaks, I will discuss that in another post.
To many people a leaking faucet means either replacement of the faucet or expensive repairs by a plumber, while this is sometimes the case it is not always true. If you don’t feel comfortable working on the plumbing system in your home, you should definitely have a plumber perform these repairs for you.
- Kitchen and Bathroom faucet leaks: Kitchen and bathroom faucets have internal seals that wear out over time, replacement of these seals will usually stop a faucet from leaking. If the faucets internal cartridge valve has been damaged it may need to be replaced to stop the leaking.
- Toilets: If the toilet is constantly running you should first replace the flapper valve in the tank. If this doesn’t fix the problem you should adjust the float so that the tank stops filling before the water level overflows into the standpipe. If you have external leaks from the toilet you should repair these immediately to prevent damage to the surrounding areas, leaks from the base can usually be removing the toilet and replacing the wax ring. Leaks from between the tank and bowl can be repaired by replacing the rubber seal, you can find these parts at a home improvement store.
- Exterior water faucets (hose-bibs): Besides the normal water leaks, exterior faucets often leak from around the handle when they are turned on. Depending on the condition of the faucet and the way it is installed it may be easier to replace the entire faucet instead of repairing it. These faucets are relatively cheap and easy to replace.
- Sprinkler system leaks: Sprinkler systems are one of the biggest culprits when it comes to water leaks, they are difficult to find and often go unnoticed. One way to find out if you have a leak in your sprinkler system is to check your water meter. Make sure all water using appliances are turned off in the home and that the sprinkler system is turned off. Go to your water meter and find the small tenths indicator (usually a rotating indicator). If this indicator is moving with all water shut off it indicates that there is a leak somewhere. Now go shut off the sprinkler system water supply shutoff valve. If the indicator stops moving, you have a leak in your sprinkler system. If the indicator continues to move, you have a leak somewhere else in the plumbing supply system.
I have just covered a few of the most common types of water leaks that we typically find during our home inspections in Phoenix. To save money, water and your home from damage you should be proactive in making sure you don’t have any water leaks in your home.
This information was provided by Southwest Premier Home Inspection, the Phoenix Arizona Home Inspection Leader. Visit our website at www.swpHomeInspect.com or call us at 623-203-0106 to schedule your Home Inspection in Phoenix.
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by Josh on August 16, 2010
Here in Phoenix Arizona an air conditioner (or heat pump)is an absolute necessity. As with any mechanical item an air conditioner will wear out over time. While it is possible to extend the life of an air conditioner well past the average life expectancy, it is not always cost effective to do this. With an aged air conditioner there are increased maintenance expenses and increased operating expenses. Over the years, air conditioner manufacturers are designing more and more efficient units that drastically reduce the amount of electricity consumed compared to the older units.
The average life expectancy of an air conditioner is approximately 15 years, however the air conditioners life expectancy is dependent on many factors including:
- Quality of the unit – Lower quality air conditioners will typically fail much faster due to the quality of parts installed
- Routine maintenance – If routine maintenance was neglected, the air conditioner will typically fail sooner
- Amount of use – An air conditioner installed in a cooler climate will typically last longer due to decreased use
- Proper sizing – If the air conditioner is not properly sized for the home it will either run too much or cycle on and off too often causing it to fail sooner
I see allot of air conditioners during my home inspections in Phoenix that are over 20 years old that work just fine. Just because these systems work, you should keep in mind the added cost of an older air conditioner.
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