15 Tools Every Homeowner Should Own!

The following items are essential tools, but this list is by no means exhaustive. Feel free to ask an InterNACHI inspector during your next inspection about other tools that you might find useful.

1. Plunger

A clogged sink or toilet is one of the most inconvenient household problems that you will face. With a plunger on hand, however, you can usually remedy these plumbing issues relatively quickly. It is best to have two plungers -- one for the sink and one for the toilet.

2. Combination Wrench Set

One end of a combination wrench set is open and the other end is a closed loop. Nuts and bolts are manufactured in standard and metric sizes, and because both varieties are widely used, you’ll need both sets of wrenches. For the most control and leverage, always pull the wrench toward you, instead of pushing on it. Also, avoid over-tightening.

3. Slip-Joint Pliers

Use slip-joint pliers to grab hold of a nail, a nut, a bolt, and much more. These types of pliers are versatile because of the jaws, which feature both flat and curved areas for gripping many types of objects. There is also a built-in slip-joint, which allows the user to quickly adjust the jaw size to suit most tasks.

4. Adjustable Wrench

Adjustable wrenches are somewhat awkward to use and can damage a bolt or nut if they are not handled properly. However, adjustable wrenches are ideal for situations where you need two wrenches of the same size. Screw the jaws all the way closed to avoid damaging the bolt or nut.

5. Caulking Gun

Caulking is the process of sealing up cracks and gaps in various structures and certain types of piping. Caulking can provide noise mitigation and thermal insulation, and control water penetration. Caulk should be applied only to areas that are clean and dry.

6. Flashlight

None of the tools in this list is of any use if you cannot visually inspect the situation. The problem, and solution, are apparent only with a good flashlight. A traditional two-battery flashlight is usually sufficient, as larger flashlights may be too unwieldy.

7. Tape Measure

Measuring house projects requires a tape measure -- not a ruler or a yardstick. Tape measures come in many lengths, although 25 feet is best. Measure everything at least twice to ensure accuracy.

8. Hacksaw

A hacksaw is useful for cutting metal objects, such as pipes, bolts and brackets. Hacksaws look thin and flimsy, but they’ll easily cut through even the hardest of metals. Blades are replaceable, so focus your purchase on a quality hacksaw frame.

 9. Torpedo Level

Only a level can be used to determine if something, such as a shelf, appliance or picture, is correctly oriented. The torpedo-style level is unique because it not only shows when an object is perfectly horizontal or vertical, but it also has a gauge that shows when an object is at a 45-degree angle. The bubble in the viewfinder must be exactly in the middle -- not merely close.

10. Safety Glasses / Goggles

For all tasks involving a hammer or a power tool, you should always wear safety glasses or goggles. They should also be worn while you mix chemicals.

 11. Claw Hammer

A good hammer is one of the most important tools you can own. Use it to drive and remove nails, to pry wood loose from the house, and in combination with other tools. They come in a variety of sizes, although a 16-ounce hammer is the best all-purpose choice.


12. Screwdriver Set

It is best to have four screwdrivers: a small and large version of both a flathead and a Phillips-head screwdriver. Electrical screwdrivers are sometimes convenient, but they're no substitute. Manual screwdrivers can reach into more places and they are less likely to damage the screw.

13. Wire Cutters

Wire cutters are pliers designed to cut wires and small nails. The side-cutting style (unlike the stronger end-cutting style) is handy, but not strong enough to cut small nails.

14. Respirator / Safety Mask

While paints and other coatings are now manufactured to be less toxic (and lead-free) than in previous decades, most still contain dangerous chemicals, which is why you should wear a mask to avoid accidentally inhaling. A mask should also be worn when working in dusty and dirty environments. Disposable masks usually come in packs of 10 and should be thrown away after use. Full and half-face respirators can be used to prevent the inhalation of very fine particles that ordinary facemasks will not not stop.

15. Duct Tape

This tape is extremely strong and adaptable. Originally, it was widely used to make temporary repairs to many types of military equipment. Today, it’s one of the key items specified for home emergency kits because it is water-resistant and extremely sticky.

Sample Report

At House CSI, we use Horizon reporting software. This is an industry leading home inspection report system which has been designed and developped for experienced inspectors by Carson Dunlop, an accomplished engineering firm. By using Horizon your report can be prepared and printed on site which can help lead to a quick decision. 

Please follow the link to view one of our detailed reports and see what sets us apart from the competition!

http://housecsi.com/inspection-report.html

Install Efficient Shower-heads & Toilets

The following systems can be installed to conserve water usage in homes:

• low-flow shower-heads. They are available in different flow rates, and some have a pause button which shuts off the water while the bather lathers up; 
• low-flow toilets. Toilets consume 30% to 40% of the total water used in homes, making them the biggest water users. Replacing an older 3.5-gallon toilet with a modern, low-flow 1.6-gallon toilet can reduce usage an average of 2 gallons-per-flush (GPF), saving 12,000 gallons of water per year. Low-flow toilets usually have "1.6 GPF" marked on the bowl behind the seat or inside the tank; 
• vacuum-assist toilets. This type of toilet has a vacuum chamber that uses a siphon action to suck air from the trap beneath the bowl, allowing it to quickly fill with water to clear waste. Vacuum-assist toilets are relatively quiet; and 
• dual-flush toilets. Dual-flush toilets have been used in Europe and Australia for years and are now gaining in popularity in the U.S. Dual-flush toilets let you choose between a 1-gallon (or less) flush for liquid waste, and a 1.6-gallon flush for solid waste. Dual-flush 1.6-GPF toilets reduce water consumption by an additional 30%.

It's all about savings and making your home more energy efficient!  Get yourself a quality home inspection by qualified home inspectors for more information on how you can save!

Seal & Insulate Your Home

Sealing and insulating your home is one of the most cost-effective ways to make a home more comfortable and energy-efficient, and you can do it yourself. A tightly sealed home can improve comfort and indoor air quality while reducing utility bills. An InterNACHI home inspector can assess leakage in the building envelope and recommend fixes that will dramatically increase comfort and energy savings.

The following are some common places where leakage may occur:

• electrical receptacles/outlets; mail slots; 
• around pipes and wires; 
• wall- or window-mounted air conditioners; 
• attic hatches; 
• fireplace dampers; 
• inadequate weatherstripping around doors; baseboards; 
• window frames; and switch plates. 

Because hot air rises, air leaks are most likely to occur in the attic. Homeowners can perform a variety of repairs and maintenance to their attics that save them money on cooling and heating, such as:

• Plug the large holes. Locations in the attic where leakage is most likely to be the greatest are where walls meet the attic floor, behind and under attic knee walls, and in dropped-ceiling areas. 
• Seal the small holes. You can easily do this by looking for areas where the insulation is darkened. Darkened insulation is a result of dusty interior air being filtered by insulation before leaking through small holes in the building envelope. In cold weather, you may see frosty areas in the insulation caused by warm, moist air condensing and then freezing as it hits the cold attic air. In warmer weather, you’ll find water staining in these same areas. Use expanding foam or caulk to seal the openings around plumbing vent pipes and electrical wires. Cover the areas with insulation after the caulk is dry. 
• Seal up the attic access panel with weatherstripping. You can cut a piece of fiberglass or rigid foamboard insulation in the same size as the attic hatch and glue it to the back of the attic access panel. If you have pull-down attic stairs or an attic door, these should be sealed in a similar manner. 

More ways to Save!

Install a tankless water heater

Demand-type water heaters (tankless or instantaneous) provide hot water only as it is needed. They don't produce the standby energy losses associated with traditional storage water heaters, which will save on energy costs. Tankless water heaters heat water directly without the use of a storage tank. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit. A gas burner or an electric element heats the water. As a result, demand water heaters deliver a constant supply of hot water. You don't need to wait for a storage tank to fill up with enough hot water.

Replace incandescent lights

The average household dedicates 11% of its energy budget to lighting. Traditional incandescent lights convert approximately only 10% of the energy they consume into light, while the rest becomes heat. The use of new lighting technologies, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), can reduce the energy use required by lighting by 50% to 75%. Advances in lighting controls offer further energy savings by reducing the amount of time that lights are on but not being used. Here are some facts about CFLs and LEDs:

• CFLs use 75% less energy and last about 10 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. 
• LEDs last even longer than CFLs and consume less energy. 
• LEDs have no moving parts and, unlike CFLs, they contain no mercury.

More to come!

House CSI

Find better ways to heat and cool your house

As much as half of the energy used in homes goes toward heating and cooling. The following are a few ways that energy bills can be reduced through adjustments to the heating and cooling systems: 

• Install a ceiling fan. Ceiling fans can be used in place of air conditioners, which require a large amount of energy. 
• Periodically replace air filters in air conditioners and heaters. 
• Set thermostats to an appropriate temperature. Specifically, they should be turned down at night and when no one is home. In most homes, about 2% of the heating bill will be saved for each degree that the thermostat is lowered for at least eight hours each day. Turning down the thermostat from 75° F to 70° F, for example, saves about 10% on heating costs. 
• Install a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat saves money by allowing heating and cooling appliances to be automatically turned down during times that no one is home and at night. Programmable thermostats contain no mercury and, in some climate zones, can save up to $150 per year in energy costs. 
• Install a wood stove or a pellet stove. These are more efficient sources of heat than furnaces. 
• At night, curtains drawn over windows will better insulate the room.

Easy Ways to Save Energy!

Most people don’t know how easy it is to make their homes run on less energy, and here at House CSI, we want to change that. Drastic reductions in heating, cooling and electricity costs can be accomplished through very simple changes, most of which homeowners can do themselves. Of course, for homeowners who want to take advantage of the most up-to-date knowledge and systems in home energy efficiency, InterNACHI energy auditors can perform in-depth testing to find the best energy solutions for your particular home.

Why make your home more energy efficient? Here are a few good reasons:

• Government, utility and local jurisdictions' financial incentives, such as tax breaks, are very advantageous for homeowners in most parts of the country. 
• It saves money. It costs less to power a home that has been converted to be more energy-efficient. 
• It increases the comfort level indoors. 
• It reduces our impact on climate change. Many scientists now believe that excessive energy consumption contributes significantly to global warming. 
• It reduces pollution. Conventional power production introduces pollutants that find their way into the air, soil and water supplies.

Over the next few weeks I will continue to post easy ways home owners can save on their energy cost....Stay tuned!

Home Maintenance!

There are so many home maintenance and repair items that are important; it can be confusing trying to establish which are the most critical. To simplify things, we have compiled a short list of our favorites. These are by no means all-inclusive, nor do they replace any of the information in a home inspection report. They should, however, help you get started on the right foot. Remember, any items marked as priority or safety issues on your home inspection report need immediate attention.

One-Time Tasks:

•  Install smoke detectors as necessary (usually one on each floor of the home, near any sleeping areas). Install carbon monoxide detectors, according to manufacturer’s recommendations. 
• Make any electrical improvements recommended in the home inspection report. 
• Remove and wood/soil contact to prevent rot and insect damage. 
• Change the locks on all doors. Use a dead bolt for better security and to minimize insurance costs.
• Correct trip hazards such as broker or uneven walks and driveways, loose or torn carpet or uneven flooring. 
• Correct unsafe stairways and landings. (Railings missing, loose, too low, etc.) 
• Have all chimneys inspected before operating any of the chimney exhausting appliances. 
• Locate and mark the shut offs for the heating, electrical and plumbing systems. 
• Label the circuits on the electrical panel. 
• If there is a septic system, have the tank pumped and inspected. If the house is on a private water supply, set up a regular testing procedure for checking water quality. 

Regular Maintenance Items:

• Clean the gutters in the spring and fall. 
• Check for damaged roofing and flashing materials twice a year. 
• Cut back trees and shrubs for the house walls, roof and air conditioning system as needed. 
• Clean the tracks on horizontal siding windows annually, and ensure the drain holes are clear. 
• Test ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI), carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors using the test button, monthly. 
• Service the furnace or boiler yearly. 
• Check furnace filters, humidifiers, and electronic air cleaners monthly. 
• Check the bathtub and shower caulking monthly and improve promptly if necessary. 
• Shut off outdoor water faucets in the fall to prevent freezing over the winter. 
• Check garage door safety mechanisms monthly. 
• Check attics for evidence of leaks and condensation twice a year. 
• Check attic vents. Make sure vents are not obstructed. 

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