- Locate your septic tank and drainfield. Keep a drawing of these locations in your records.
- Have your septic system inspected at least every three years, or annually if required by local ordinances.
- Pump your septic tank as needed (generally, every three to five years).
- Don’t dispose of household hazardous waste in sinks or toilets.
- Keep other household items, such as dental floss, feminine hygiene products, diapers, and cat litter out of your system.
- Use water efficiently.
- Plant only grass over and near your septic system. Roots from nearby trees or shrubs might clog and damage the system. Also, do not apply manure or fertilizers over the drainfield.
- Keep vehicles and livestock off your septic system. The weight can damage the pipes and tank, and your system may not drain properly under compacted soil.
- Keep gutters and basement sump pumps from draining into or near your septic system.
- Check with your local health department before using additives. Commercial septic tank additives do not eliminate the need for periodic pumping and can be harmful to your system.
Tag Archives: mount vernon
HANDYMAN SHIMMING AND SUPPORT COLUMNS IN CRAWLSPACE
In general, handyman construction practices are not recommended by home inspectors. As is typical in historic homes, certain liberties with respect to common building practices have been undertaken over time. While we can’t really bring historic homes per se “up to code,” significant handyman shimming practices are be logical to repair and improve. What really drives pricing is access (i.e., how much space is there underneath the home for contractors to work?). If it’s really tight, it will take more time; sometimes, excavation is required which drives the price up too. If you do require excavation under an historic home, make sure the contractor doesn’t get too close to the foundation or footings, as this would be a potential structural problem too.
SATURDAY REVIEW: ‘AMAZING REPORT WITH TIPS ON LONG-TERM HOME CARE’
A couple of Saturdays per month, I like to share recent customer reviews with you. I hope that these client testimonies—which come primarily from Yelp, Facebook, and Google Reviews—help you to feel more confident in my services while also saying “thanks” to clients who provide me with feedback.
This week, we hear from client Matt Jones.
My customers (you) allow me a chance to do a job I love in a place I’ve called home my whole life. Without you, All Islands Inspections wouldn’t exist. Thank you!
If you have questions or comments about home inspections in general, tweet me (@AIHomeInspect).
DON´T LOOK UP!
Have you ever walked on a stairway that didn´t have a handrail? Have you also fallen down unbeknownst to yourself until you found your face two (2) feet from the steps? I have! This isn’t a problem that occurs in a vacuum.
You may think that exterior handrails are more important, but interior grippable handrails are equally as such. In this day and age of disproportionate elderly persons compared to working age persons in the population pyramid, increased usage of phones taking our attention away from where we step, and a general increase in accessibility/accommodation, handrails have become more important than ever. It is all of our responsibilities to make sure that everyone is well taken care of and to realize others’ struggles are not so much different than our own.
Did you know that between 1,000 and 12,000 people die each year from falling down the stairs? It was also well known that more than 100,000 people are treated for serious injuries following a fall down the stairs each year.
Still not convinced? Handrails can be aesthetically pleasing too! Check out this link for more information: 9 Unique Stair Railings – Dwell
3 QUESTIONS: FLOORING WITH WOODCRAFT WOOD FLOORS
Every month, we seek to bring our readers insight from the worlds of home construction, home repair, and home maintenance straight from local Northwest Washington contractors in a segment we call “3 Questions.” Yep, you guessed it: we ask three questions, and the contractors answer them.
This month, we talk about flooring issues with WoodCraft Wood Floors, Inc. in Mount Vernon.
Q1: Oftentimes, home inspectors observe and report water-damaged or cupped wood flooring in kitchens, bathrooms, or adjacent exterior doors. Can this be repaired and restored?
Floors that are water damaged can be replaced and refinished, or if the floor is not too far damaged by water, they can be dried and re-sanded. This must be determined by a hardwood flooring professional.
Q2: In older homes, with original wood flooring, can the floors typically be refinished and restored? Any advice or pointers for DIY weekend warriors thinking about restoring old wood floors?
Yes, old homes that have wood floors can be refinished. We typically don’t recommend DIY sanding floors because—if you do not know what you are doing—you can damage the floor and sand down too much of the surface, which can sand all the life left on the wear surface.
Q3: What’s your favorite type(s) of wood flooring, and why?
Red and white oak flooring is still a classic that does not go out of style. It is a stable wood that is not susceptible to a lot of movement.
Bonus Q: Having floors refinished professionally vs. the DIY weekend warrior: what’s the typical cost difference one can expect?
Professional refinishing can run approximately $4.50 per square feet and up. DIY will cost rental, sanding materials (paper, wood filler, sealer, finish, applicators), time and labor.
About WoodCraft Wood Floors, Inc.
Woodcraft Wood Floors, Inc has been serving Skagit, Whatcom, Island, San Juan and part of Snohomish Counties since 1980. In the 1980s, the company operated under the name of Woodcraft Construction, and focused on design and building construction with a wood flooring division. Over the years, its wood floors became so popular that the business decided to close the design-build portion of its business and concentrate on only wood flooring. In 1991, it became Woodcraft Wood Floors, Inc. Woodcraft Wood Floors is also a member of the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA), which sets the standards for the wood flooring industry. For more information, visit https://www.woodcraftwoodfloors.com.
A big “thanks” to Woodcraft Wood Floors for their responses.
If you have questions or comments about home inspections in general, tweet me (@AIHomeInspect).
February: 3 ‘DOS’ & 3 ‘DON’TS’ TO SAVE YOUR WOOD FLOORING
Now presenting this month’s All Islands Argus! This month, we discuss wood flooring tips—including when it does and doesn’t make sense to take repairs into your own hands. Make sure to sign up for the Argus today!
SATURDAY REVIEW: ‘(TIM) IS PATIENT & WILLING TO ANSWER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS’
Since I started All Islands Home Inspections in 2006, I’ve worked hard to become the best home inspector in Northwest Washington. To accomplish this goal, I’ve tried to meet and exceed client expectations during every inspection.
In return, my business has developed an excellent reputation throughout Island, San Juan, Whatcom, and Skagit Counties.
A couple of Saturdays per month, I like to share recent customer reviews with you. I hope that these client testimonies—which come primarily from Yelp, Facebook, and Google Reviews—help you to feel more confident in my services while also saying “thanks” to clients who provide me with feedback.
This week, we hear from client Cindy F.
In conclusion, my customers (you) allow me a chance to do a job I love in a place I’ve called home my whole life. Without you, All Islands Inspections wouldn’t exist. Thank you!
If you have questions or comments about home inspections in general, tweet me (@AIHomeInspect).
INFOGRAPHIC: WANT TO RUIN YOUR HARDWOOD FLOOR? DO THESE 3 THINGS
You know the saying: “Owning a hardwood floor doesn’t have to be hard.”
Okay, I don’t think that’s actually a saying, but it really should be because that’s pretty clever (if I don’t say so myself). Bottom line: If you follow a few basic rules, your floor will last for many years and decades to come.
If you have questions or comments about flooring issues or home inspections in general, tweet me (@AIHomeInspect).
STANDALONE SATURDAYS: SANDY STEPS
On Saturdays throughout the year, I hope to give you a peek of what I see as a home inspector traveling around San Juan, Island, Whatcom, and Skagit counties through photos and videos I’ve taken along the way.
I’m sure if you know or live in Northwest Washington, you probably feel the same about how special it is here. That’s why I invite you to share your Northwest Washington imagery! Simply take your picture or video showing why you appreciate the region, and tag it with #AllIslandsLife on Twitteror Facebook.
If you have questions or comments about home inspections in general, tweet me (@AIHomeInspect).
3 QUESTIONS: HEATING SYSTEMS WITH FOSS HEATING & COOLING
Every month, we seek to bring our readers insight from the worlds of home construction, home repair, and home maintenance straight from local Northwest Washington contractors in a segment we call “3 Questions.” Yep, you guessed it: we ask three questions, and the contractors answer them.
This month, we talk about heating systems with Alex Gravley, manager at Foss Heating & Cooling in Mount Vernon.
Q1: Home inspectors are always calling for annual service of furnaces, fireplaces and heat pumps. Is this really necessary?
It sure is! Yearly maintenance not only ensures that the comfort system is performing at its rated output and efficiency, but can identify potential problems like component failure/wear and fix issues before they become emergency repairs.
Q2: When you inspect furnaces, are you able to fully see and inspect the heat exchanger? This critical component isn’t fully visible to home inspectors.
We cannot fully inspect a heat exchanger on a furnace without completely removing it. This service is not intended by manufacturers and thus is difficult and time-consuming. We employ a few procedures to ensure the heat exchanger is intact. A combination of pressure testing, Carbon Monoxide testing, visual inspection, and flue gas analysis is the best way to be sure a heat exchanger is not in failure and dangerous.
Q3: Do customers get an economy-of-scale discount by contracting with you to service multiple appliances in one trip?
Yes, we have lower pricing built in for our customers that have multiple units to service all at once.
Bonus Q: Is it really important to make sure the arrows on furnace filters are pointed in the correct direction, or is this kind of silly?
There is an anti-microbial coating on many disposable media filters that is only on one side of the filter. This is the main reason for the arrows, but in reality, someone would likely not notice a difference if the filter was installed backward.
About Foss Heating & Cooling
Foss Heating & Cooling has been serving Skagit Valley since 1974. The company specializes in residential and light commercial service, retrofit, air quality, and water heaters. The business is a Trane Comfort Specialist and Mitsubishi Diamond Dealer, which means that Foss Heating & Cooling must attend training and offer support for those brands while servicing all other brands as well. The company’s focus is on 100 percent customer satisfaction and taking extra care to educate clients on the importance of proper equipment sizing, efficiency, safety, air quality, yearly service, and properly sized, sealed, and insulated ductwork.
For more information, visit www.fossheating.com.
A big “thanks” to Alex for his responses!
If you have questions or comments about home inspections in general, tweet me (@AIHomeInspect).