Sometimes breaking through a wall uncovers a mystery.
As co-host of the DIY Network series, “Finders Fixers,” home inspector Rick Yerger enjoys sifting through clues to diagnose catastrophes waiting to happen – even if that means demolishing a wall, dismantling a faucet or removing a toilet.
Some home and design shows stop there. But Yerger and co-hosts teach homeowners how to make the necessary repairs themselves.
Here, this unofficial house detective talks about the importance of regular inspections.
Q: Most inspections only take place when a structure is being bought or sold. Should home owners do more regular checkups on their property?
A: People should have their homes inspected every three to five years. We take better care of our vehicles than we do our homes because society conditions us that way. If we expect our cars to last, we know it has to have regular maintenance. We have to change the oil every 3,000 miles, rotate the tires or replace the break pads every 10,000 miles.
Our homes need maintenance, too. A home inspector can tell you where you are lacking in maintenance and what conditions have changed that may be effecting your house. You may have planted that elm tree five feet away from your house, but five years later, its roots have invaded the foundation.
Q: What qualifications should a good home inspector have?
A: Hire one who continues to train himself in various maintenance issues around the house. While I was a general contractor, I didn’t have to take any additional courses or continue my education to update my license. I just had to pay a fee.
But as a home inspector, I’m required to maintain a certain amount of educational credits each year to remain accredited with organizations such as the American Society of Home Inspectors and the National Association of Home Inspectors.
Q: What DIY-maintenance projects can homeowners do?
A: We recommend bi-annual maintenance checks. Get up on the roof and inspect it to make sure nails haven’t protruded through the material. Also check that there has been no breach in the penetration in the roof.
Make sure gutters are clear of debris. Check the grade around the house. It should be sloped positively away from the structure. Regularly check and change out the furnace filter. Check the paints around the house and the caulking around the windows and doors to make sure they aren’t starting to crack, weather or peal.
Q: Are there any other ways to protect this investment?
A: Having a home warrantee policy will help homeowners if they have a catastrophic experience at home. You pay a monthly fee for a policy that will protect you should an appliance fail, such as the furnace or water heater, or if you get a small leak.
Q: What is one of your favorite solved mysteries?
A: The first show I did was with owners of a house who thought there were mice scratching inside the walls of their bedroom. We did some tests and eventually followed the sound to the garage. That’s when we realized that the flue for the furnace was incorrectly installed.
Heat was escaping at each joint of the flue and the heat was transferring into the drywall and wood framing members. When we demolished the drywall, we could see black char marks where the wall was being scorched from the inside. It could easily have been that the next time they turned on their furnace, the wood inside the wall cavity could have combusted (and started) a fire.
Staff Writer Sheba R. Wheeler can be reached at 303-954-1283 or swheeler@denverpost.com.
