Wasp Season..

According to the National Pest Management Association wasp populations peak when summer ends. Right now they are reaching their highest numbers, having had the entire summer to reproduce. I found this nest blocking a vent hood exhaust flap during an inspection of a new build yesterday. Right now is a good time to walk around your home to check for wasp activity. Pay particular attention to the areas under your eaves...

Corroded Gas Line Plumbing..

The gas line for this home built in 1994 (top picture) has developed significant corrosion. This is a common problem found on many inspections. Corrosion prevention is easy and inexpensive. Products such as ZeroRust spray and 3M Scotchrap All-Weather Corrosion Protection Tape are great for controlling gas line rust issues.  

One more example to illustrate the great axiom:   "An ounce of inspection, can save you a pound of repair!"

12 IDEAS TO CUT ENERGY USAGE

For those who did not get a chance to read the Dallas Morning News article on energy conservation tips here  is a summery of the highlights:
AT A GLANCE Ideas to cut usage

1. Clean or replace air conditioner filters monthly.
2. Use drapes, blinds and shutters to slow energy loss.
3. Don't block vents with drapes or other obstacles.
4. Seal windows with caulk and use weatherstripping on doors to keep cool air in.
5. Replace incandescent lights with florescent bulbs, which are often subsidized.  They use substantially less power than traditional bulbs.
6. Unplug cellphone charging cables when not in use.  They draw power even when they're not charging.
7. Set thermostats to 78 degrees. 
8. Use ceiling fans to push cool air down.
9. Turn off computers and electronics when not using them - try their "sleep" mode to save energy.
10. Fill dishwashers, cloths washers and dryers to capacity.
11. Use your microwave to cook food.
12. Make sure your refrigerator has at least 1 inch of space around it for proper ventilation; it will use 10 percent more energy if it has poor ventilation.

SOURCES: Oncor; TXU Energy
I hope everyone finds these tips to be helpful.  Feel free to share your thoughts and ideas if you have any other energy saving tips that aren't listed above.

Until next time.

Sustainably yours,
Scott Medlin

Clean-up and disposal of broken florescent lighting

We all know the compact florescent (CFL) replacement bulbs have become a popular energy saving alternative to the older, conventional incandescent bulbs.  They last longer, deliver equal brightness and consume much less energy.  Sounds perfect right?  Well, almost.  There is one important draw-back to CFL's and other florescent bulbs.  They have been proven to release toxic levels of mercury into the air if they are broken.  With this post I wanted to provide some tips on how to safely clean up and dispose of broken florescent bulbs.  Follow these safety tips anytime you find yourself dealing with broken florescents.

1.  Ventilate the room, open windows and let the room air out.  Avoid breathing in the air after the bulb breaks.
2.  Don't re-enter for 30 minutes if possible.  Let the room completely air out before re-entering.
3.  Pick up the large pieces of broken glass first.  The smaller pieces can be lifted with tape later.
4.  Place glass in a sealable container before throwing away.
5.  Do NOT use a vacuum cleaner as this worsens the problem by blowing the toxins back into the air
6.  Do NOT use a broom and dustpan.  As with the vacuum cleaner this also exacerbates the issue by putting the toxins back in the air.

I hope everyone finds this information to be helpful.  Feel free to share your thoughts and ideas if you have any other tips that aren't listed above.

Until next time.

Sustainably yours,
Scott Medlin

Interesting find during roof inspection..

I took this picture yesterday at a home in Frisco.  I was inspecting the roof and found this.  As you can see,  the tops of these sewer vent boots are installed OVER the roof shingle.  The top half of the flashing should be UNDER the shingles... for obvious reasons.  When it rains, water runs right under these flashings and into the attic and down to the ceiling and walls below.  In many cases the leaks go undetected as the sewer vents are in the wall cavity, the water simply collects inside the wall cavity and floor below which can lead to mold problems.

Properly reinstalling the flashing is a fairly inexpensive and easy repair.  The home buyers were very thankful this issue was brought to light in the inspection report and they are addressing the matter now that they understand its importance.

I love it when simple fixes save major $$ in repairs!

Seriously Hot Attic!

I took this infrared thermal imaging picture during an attic inspection of a home in Oak Cliff last week.  Yellow/white represents heat and black/purple represents the cooler end of the spectrum.  This particular attic was equipped with soffit vents only (vents under the eaves).  There was absolutely NO other ventilation.  As you might imagine, with the ambient temperature hovering around 94°, the heat building in the attic was unbearable.  The attic temperature had soared above 150°.  It was recorded at 151.5°F to be precise.  That is CRAZY HOT!  The air conditioner was also unable to overcome the heat because most of the A/C ducts were routed through this insanely hot attic.

Needless to say the home buyer was very grateful to be informed about this issue...