Researchers have traditionally thought termites Home Inspector move randomly in the soil. This was because it was virtually impossible to see how these insects actually travel in the soil. But recent studies have shown that termites move in very predictable ways. It has been discovered that their movement is more efficient then being purely random. As termites travel away from the colony they construct branching tunnels in a radial pattern similar to the spokes in a bicycle tire.

This pattern divides and then subdivides the search areas so the termites cover it as completely as possible. Termites probably don’t detect wood from great distances because the soil environment doesn’t allow chemical cues to travel very far. It is believed that termites find food basically by running into it during their foraging and searching activity.

Termites respond to environmental cues like temperature and moisture. During the winter they move down into the soil because they cannot cross the frost barrier. During dry periods termites move deeper into the soil or

Mold has become a very hot topic lately for home buyers. Mold can cause negative health effects in people and cause damage to interior finishes. The job of mold in nature is to break down organic materials. More and more insurance companies will not cover mold related damage. Some will not write policies if there is mold present in the home.

Why Testing for Mold Is Important:

Although not all mold is toxic, some types are. Toxic mold produces hazardous byproducts called mycotoxins. Individuals with asthma and other respiratory problems may have reactions to many types of mold, but mycotoxins may trigger health problems even in healthy individuals. Floating particles of mold are invisible to the naked eye, so it’s impossible to see where they might have settled until they begin to grow. Loose mold particles that accumulate on household items are easily inhaled and can be a constant irritation to the people and pets who live there.

LookSmart’s Mold Testing Services

It is becoming increasingly important to test for mold in New Jersey homes. Continue Reading

If GFCI electrical receptacles were installed in every American household 70% of all the electrical shock injuries and deaths could be prevented. An unintentional electrical path between a source of current and a grounded surface is referred to as a ground fault. Ground faults occur when current is leaking somewhere. If people provide a path to ground for this leakage, they can be seriously injured. Ground faults are often the result of damaged cords or appliances, poorly installed wires, or mishandling such as dropping an appliance in water.

GFCIs are products designed to prevent injury or death from electrical shock by detecting ground faults at very low levels. If a GFCI senses even minimal current leakage in an electrical device, it assumes a ground fault is taking place. It then interrupts the power fast enough to prevent injury in normal health.

To comply with the National Electrical Code, many homes built since 1973 have some type of GFCI protection. However the US Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that as many as 70% of all existing dwellings have no such protection.

The nations leading electrical safety organizations enc

There are several issues that we will look for when performing home inspections in Union county NJ and all areas of the state. We will look for kinks in the plumbing connections and fittings to the clothes washer. Make sure that all natural gas and LPG lines are protected and kept free from impact. One of the most important things in the laundry area is to make sure that the gas dryer vents to the exterior of the home. All dryer vents that go through walls or ceilings must be rigid pipes and not the flexible pipes that we see all the time while performing home inspections in Union County NJ and all other areas of the state.

Clothes dryer vents present a different problems then other venting system because the air that they carry is high in moisture and has lint. The dryer vent pipe must discharge to the exterior and must not vent to the attic or crawlspace. The wood structure can be negatively effected by the high moisture content. Wood rot and mold growth can easily develop.

The length of a clothes dryer exhaust ensures that the dryer exhaust blower will be abl