Your Inspector, Tim Spargo is
an expert, Certified inspector with
qualifications beyond Standard!
661-317-5770 to Schedule
Hours:
Phone Calls 8:00am to 9:00pm
Appointments
Monday-Saturday
We schedule appointments
fast.
an expert, Certified inspector with
qualifications beyond Standard!
661-317-5770 to Schedule
Hours:
Phone Calls 8:00am to 9:00pm
Appointments
Monday-Saturday
We schedule appointments
fast.
What an Inspection Covers and What to Expect from Inspector Tim
What is Covered By and Inspection? How does this benefit Me? Generally, a professional inspection should be done BEFORE you finish purchasing your home and allows a professional such as myself the opportunity to evaluate the condition of the property and determine defects. Inspections are a lot of work. You can get an idea of how much work goes into an inspection report by clicking INSPECTION REPORT to see a sample report. |
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When Buying a Home You Ask Yourself?
What Really Matters???
Buying a home? The process can be stressful. A home
inspection is supposed to give you peace of mind, but often
has the opposite effect. You will be asked to absorb a lot of
information in a short time. This often includes a written
report, checklist, photographs, environmental reports and what
the inspector himself says during the inspection. All this
combined with the seller's disclosure and what you notice
yourself makes the experience even more overwhelming.
What should you do?
Relax. Most of your inspection will be maintenance
recommendations, life expectancies and minor imperfections.
These are nice to know about. However, the issues that really
matter will fall into four categories:
1.)Major defects. An example of this would be a structural
failure.
2.)Things that lead to major defects. A small roof-flashing
leak, for example.
3.)Things that may hinder your ability to finance, legally
occupy or insure the home. Solid Strand Aluminum Wiring
Antelope Valley and Southern Southern California. Does your
inspectoryour inspectorCalifornia. know the difference, I
DO!
4.)Safety hazards, such as an exposed, live buss bar at the
electric panel.
Anything in these categories should be addressed. Often a
serious problem can be corrected inexpensively to protect
both life and property (especially in categories 2 and 4).
Most sellers are honest and are often surprised to learn of
defects uncovered during an inspection. Realize that sellers
are under no obligation to repair everything mentioned in the
report. No home is perfect. Keep things in perspective. Do
not kill your deal over things that do not matter. It is
inappropriate to demand that a seller address deferred
maintenance, conditions already listed on the seller's
disclosure or nit-picky items.
What Really Matters???
Buying a home? The process can be stressful. A home
inspection is supposed to give you peace of mind, but often
has the opposite effect. You will be asked to absorb a lot of
information in a short time. This often includes a written
report, checklist, photographs, environmental reports and what
the inspector himself says during the inspection. All this
combined with the seller's disclosure and what you notice
yourself makes the experience even more overwhelming.
What should you do?
Relax. Most of your inspection will be maintenance
recommendations, life expectancies and minor imperfections.
These are nice to know about. However, the issues that really
matter will fall into four categories:
1.)Major defects. An example of this would be a structural
failure.
2.)Things that lead to major defects. A small roof-flashing
leak, for example.
3.)Things that may hinder your ability to finance, legally
occupy or insure the home. Solid Strand Aluminum Wiring
Antelope Valley and Southern Southern California. Does your
inspectoryour inspectorCalifornia. know the difference, I
DO!
4.)Safety hazards, such as an exposed, live buss bar at the
electric panel.
Anything in these categories should be addressed. Often a
serious problem can be corrected inexpensively to protect
both life and property (especially in categories 2 and 4).
Most sellers are honest and are often surprised to learn of
defects uncovered during an inspection. Realize that sellers
are under no obligation to repair everything mentioned in the
report. No home is perfect. Keep things in perspective. Do
not kill your deal over things that do not matter. It is
inappropriate to demand that a seller address deferred
maintenance, conditions already listed on the seller's
disclosure or nit-picky items.
What can Inspector Tim tell a little
more about??? I look at a lot, to
say the least, here is just an
example of things I consider:
Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters
Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs)
are special types of electrical outlets
and circuit breakers designed to
detect and respond to potentially
dangerous electrical arcs in home
branch wiring.
How do they work?
AFCIs function by monitoring the
electrical waveform and promptly
opening (interrupting) the circuit they
serve if they detect changes in the
wave pattern that are characteristic of
a dangerous arc. They also must be
capable of distinguishing safe, normal
arcs, such as those created when a
switch is turned on or a plug is pulled
from a receptacle, from arcs that can
cause fires. An AFCI can detect,
recognize, and respond to very small
changes in wave pattern.
What is an arc?
When an electric current crosses an
air gap from an energized component
to a grounded component, it
produces a glowing plasma discharge
known as an arc. For example, a bolt
of lightening is a very large, powerful
arc that crosses an atmospheric gap
from an electrically charged cloud to
the ground or another cloud. Just as
lightning can cause fires, arcs
produced by domestic wiring are
capable of producing high levels of
heat that can ignite their
surroundings and lead to structure
fires.
According to statistics from the
National Fire Protection Agency for
the year 2005, electrical fires
damaged approximately 20,900
homes, killed 500 people, and cost
$862 million in property damage.
Although short-circuits and overloads
account for many of these fires, arcs
are responsible for the majority and
are undetectable by traditional
(non-AFCI) circuit breakers.
Where are arcs likely to form?
Arcs can form where wires are
improperly installed or when
insulation becomes damaged. In older
homes, wire insulation tends to
crystallize as it ages, becoming brittle
and prone to cracking and chipping.
Damaged insulation exposes the
current-carrying wire to its
surroundings, increasing the chances
that an arc may occur.
Situations in which arcs may be
created:
electrical cords damaged by
vacuum cleaners or trapped
beneath furniture or doors.
damage to wire insulation from
nails or screws driven through
walls.
appliance cords damaged by heat,
natural aging, kinking, impact or
over-extension.
spillage of liquid.
loose connections in outlets,
switches and light fixtures.
Where are AFCIs required?
Locations in which AFCIs are required
depend on the building codes
adopted by their jurisdiction.
Inspectors are responsible for
knowing what building codes are used
in the areas in which they inspect.
The 2006 International Residential
Code (IRC) requires that AFCIs be
installed within bedrooms in the
following manner:
E3802.12 Arc-Fault Protection of
Bedroom Outlets. All branch circuits
that supply120-volt, single-phase, 15-
and 20-amp outlets installed in
bedrooms shall be protected by a
combination-type or
branch/feeder-type arc-fault circuit
interrupter installed to provide
protection of the entire branch circuit.
Exception: The location of the
arc-fault circuit interrupter shall be
permitted to be at other than the
origination of the branch circuit,
provided that:
The arc-fault circuit interrupter is
installed within 6 feet of the branch
circuit overcurrent device as
measured along the branch circuit
conductors, and
The circuit conductors between the
branch circuit overcurrent device and
the arc-fault circuit interrupter are
installed in a metal raceway or a
cable with metallic sheath
more about??? I look at a lot, to
say the least, here is just an
example of things I consider:
Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters
Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs)
are special types of electrical outlets
and circuit breakers designed to
detect and respond to potentially
dangerous electrical arcs in home
branch wiring.
How do they work?
AFCIs function by monitoring the
electrical waveform and promptly
opening (interrupting) the circuit they
serve if they detect changes in the
wave pattern that are characteristic of
a dangerous arc. They also must be
capable of distinguishing safe, normal
arcs, such as those created when a
switch is turned on or a plug is pulled
from a receptacle, from arcs that can
cause fires. An AFCI can detect,
recognize, and respond to very small
changes in wave pattern.
What is an arc?
When an electric current crosses an
air gap from an energized component
to a grounded component, it
produces a glowing plasma discharge
known as an arc. For example, a bolt
of lightening is a very large, powerful
arc that crosses an atmospheric gap
from an electrically charged cloud to
the ground or another cloud. Just as
lightning can cause fires, arcs
produced by domestic wiring are
capable of producing high levels of
heat that can ignite their
surroundings and lead to structure
fires.
According to statistics from the
National Fire Protection Agency for
the year 2005, electrical fires
damaged approximately 20,900
homes, killed 500 people, and cost
$862 million in property damage.
Although short-circuits and overloads
account for many of these fires, arcs
are responsible for the majority and
are undetectable by traditional
(non-AFCI) circuit breakers.
Where are arcs likely to form?
Arcs can form where wires are
improperly installed or when
insulation becomes damaged. In older
homes, wire insulation tends to
crystallize as it ages, becoming brittle
and prone to cracking and chipping.
Damaged insulation exposes the
current-carrying wire to its
surroundings, increasing the chances
that an arc may occur.
Situations in which arcs may be
created:
electrical cords damaged by
vacuum cleaners or trapped
beneath furniture or doors.
damage to wire insulation from
nails or screws driven through
walls.
appliance cords damaged by heat,
natural aging, kinking, impact or
over-extension.
spillage of liquid.
loose connections in outlets,
switches and light fixtures.
Where are AFCIs required?
Locations in which AFCIs are required
depend on the building codes
adopted by their jurisdiction.
Inspectors are responsible for
knowing what building codes are used
in the areas in which they inspect.
The 2006 International Residential
Code (IRC) requires that AFCIs be
installed within bedrooms in the
following manner:
E3802.12 Arc-Fault Protection of
Bedroom Outlets. All branch circuits
that supply120-volt, single-phase, 15-
and 20-amp outlets installed in
bedrooms shall be protected by a
combination-type or
branch/feeder-type arc-fault circuit
interrupter installed to provide
protection of the entire branch circuit.
Exception: The location of the
arc-fault circuit interrupter shall be
permitted to be at other than the
origination of the branch circuit,
provided that:
The arc-fault circuit interrupter is
installed within 6 feet of the branch
circuit overcurrent device as
measured along the branch circuit
conductors, and
The circuit conductors between the
branch circuit overcurrent device and
the arc-fault circuit interrupter are
installed in a metal raceway or a
cable with metallic sheath
OK TIM, What are you going
to look at on my Home???
to look at on my Home???
We look at all important aspects of
your home purchase, structural,
mechanical, wall coverings, fireplace
and more - I really do provide a
complete service with
Tim's Standards of Practice from
Internachi's Website
Table of Contents
1. Definitions and Scope.
2. Standards of Practice
2.1. Roof
2.2. Exterior
2.3. Basement, Foundation,
Crawlspace & Structure
2.4. Heating
2.5. Cooling
2.6. Plumbing
2.7. Electrical
2.8. Fireplace
2.9. Attic & Insulation
2.10. Doors, Windows & Interior
your home purchase, structural,
mechanical, wall coverings, fireplace
and more - I really do provide a
complete service with
- Technical Knowledge
- Background
- Inspection Tools
- Service
- Excellent Reports!
Tim's Standards of Practice from
Internachi's Website
Table of Contents
1. Definitions and Scope.
2. Standards of Practice
2.1. Roof
2.2. Exterior
2.3. Basement, Foundation,
Crawlspace & Structure
2.4. Heating
2.5. Cooling
2.6. Plumbing
2.7. Electrical
2.8. Fireplace
2.9. Attic & Insulation
2.10. Doors, Windows & Interior
