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How important are GFCI outlets in your home? GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets are electrical outlets with extra safety features designed to protect people from electrocution. They’re installed in areas prone to contact with water, such as bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and basements. These specialized outlets can sense when there’s a current imbalance between the hot and neutral wires in an appliance or other device plugged into it. If a fault is detected, the GFCI outlet immediately trips and cuts off power to the device. This prevents electricity from flowing through anything that might be connected to it, such as someone touching it with wet hands.

Without a gutter system, your roof can pick up a bunch of leaves and other debris, causing water to stagnate and overflow . This can make your home vulnerable to rotting, rusting, and other damage.

Rotten fascia boards have to be replaced. This is your first defense in making sure water doesn't get to your overhangs and walls. It needs to be addressed so the water doesn't get to the main foundation of your home.

Typically, electric panels last 30-50 years , more or less. That means even the electrical panel in a house built as recently as the late 80s could be worn out, putting you at risk of an electrical fire.

If you discover cloth wiring, it's essential to take immediate action to ensure safety and compliance with modern electrical standards: Hire a qualified electrician to assess the condition of your wiring and provide expert guidance on necessary.

Metal roofs that imitate the appearance of tile offers superior environmental benefits compared to traditional clay tile roofs . For instance, metal roofs typically have higher solar reflectance, meaning they can help reduce cooling costs by reflecting more sunlight away from the building.

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If you are looking to purchase a used mobile home, it is important to have a professional mobile home inspector conduct the inspection . Mobile homes are not built with the same standards as site-built homes and may contain significant hidden defects that a layman would likely miss.

Electric tankless water heaters are typically around 98 percent or more efficient while gas tankless water heaters are around 80-85 percent efficient.

Manufactured homes of today look quite similar to their traditional counterparts, but they’re very different - and the mobile home inspection checklist will reflect that fact.  First, mobile homes are constructed in a factory, after which they’re transported to the location where they’re installed. They can be single-wide or sectioned. The former is transported in a single section while the latter is transported in two separate pieces which are then connected on-site.  Naturally, mobile homes use lighter materials, and in general, everything is smaller, including the HVAC system. Furthermore, traditional homes often use 2x lumber structural boards whereas manufactured ones typically have only 1x boards.  The biggest difference lies in the overall foundation. A regular home is permanently fixed and is built on a permanent foundation such as a concrete slab. On the other hand, a mobile one is only anchored, but not fixed, usually installed on block piers. Some may appear to have a brick or stone foundation, but it’s just decorative skirting to make the house look better. Because of these differences, inspecting a mobile home will cover additional areas of concern, so a mobile home inspection checklist will look a bit different.  A manufactured house is more challenging to inspect in most cases, as lighter materials used are very vulnerable and prone to wear. Some systems and features may also be inaccessible or hidden away in hard-to-reach areas, adding to the complexity of the examination.

Exhausts in bathrooms are installed for two reasons.. to remove noxious odors and to remove moisture. Most often they are sized for moisture. If you do not remove the moisture and take showers you will get mold in the bathroom.

The average metal roof will last between 40-70 years. Some materials, like copper roofing, will last even longer — with some copper roofs dating back over 100 years. There are also a number of factors that can increase the longevity of your roof, as well as decrease it.  Their impressive lifespan is one of metal roofing’s biggest benefits, especially when compared to asphalt shingles’ average lifespan, which is only around 15-30 years . Unlike shingles that can warp and buckle under environmental pressures, metal panels were designed to withstand them. The fact that metal has an almost double average lifespan, paired with its durability and modern aesthetic, it’s no surprise that more and more are using this material as their new roof or re-roofing solution.