The Home Inspector’s Notebook
After 21 years of operating my home inspection company in the Lancaster, PA area, I have retired as of February 2024. Over the past 2+ decades, I have written over 85 helpful articles about home maintenance, home safety, and home inspections for homeowners, home buyers (especially 1st time home buyers!), and Realtors®. This content provides guidance about how home systems are designed, how they operate and are inspected, as well as how they should be maintained. This information can also help keep your home safe for your family. Should you have an topic suggestion for a potential future article, please let me know. I also offer expert witness testimony/consulting services for attorneys, homeowners, etc.
Articles
Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs)
Arcing: An Electrical Shock Or Fire Hazard
Attic Insulation – Lower Your Bills And Raise Your Comfort
Attic Ventilation – What Every Homeowner Should Know
Carbon Monoxide: The Silent Killer
Chimney and Fireplace Maintenance
Christmas Lighting Safety Tips
Clothes Dryer Vents: The Proper and the Improper
Deck Inspections – When Did You Last Inspect Yours?
Double-Keyed Bolt Locks and Potential Safety Concerns
Electrical Inspections Of Older Homes
Emergency Egress: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You
Energy Audits – Increase Efficiency and Save Money
Energy Saving Air Conditioning Tips
Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Breaker Panels
Garage Door Safety – How To Test And Inspect Yours
Garage Pulldown Ladders: The Hidden Hazard
Getting Your Home Ready For A Home Inspection
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs)
Guard Railings And Hand Railings
Heat Pumps – The Science And The Benefits
Heating Energy Cost Comparisons
Home Inspections In A Sellers Market
Improper Notching And Boring Of Joists
Improper Stone Veneer Installation Practices
Improperly Installed Dishwasher Drains: A Very Common Defect
Infrared (IR) Thermography – A Great Tool For Finding The Unknown
Keeping Water Out Of Your Home
Keeping Wood Destroying Insects Out Of Your Home
Knob And Tube Wiring (K&T): A Potential Fire Hazard
Life Expectancy Of Major Home Systems
Listing A Vacant Home In The Winter
Missing Anti-Tip Brackets – A Real Kitchen Hazard
Missing Kickout Flashing – A Common Issue
Modular vs. Manufactured vs. Stick Built Homes
Most Common Issues Found During A Home Inspection
New Realtor Home Inspection Primer
PA DEP Radon Testing Protocols
PA Switch Programs Can Save You Money Monthly
Permanent vs. Temporary Support Posts – There Is A Real Difference
Polybutylene (PB) Plumbing – What Homeowners Need To Know
Pre-Listing Home Inspections – A Great Idea For Sellers
Saving Energy And Lowering Your Utility Costs
Should The Buyer Attend Their Home Inspection?
Smoke Detectors: What All Homeowners Should Know
Sump Pumps – Your Basement’s Best Friend
Supply Plumbing In Older Homes
Tankless Water Heaters: A Great Way To Save Money
The Dangers Of Solid Conductor Aluminum Wiring
The End Of Freon (R-22)…And Soon, Puron (R-410A)
The Home Inspection Report: Who Does It Belong To?
The Potential Danger Of Waiving The Home Inspection
The Pros And Cons Of Smart Homes
Top 10 Home Inspection Myths – Time To Set The Record Straight
Top 10 Common Electrical Issues
Top 10 Seller Tips For A Smooth Buyers Inspection
Unsecured Thermal Expansion Tanks: A Basement Flood Waiting To Happen
Water Heater Temperature And Pressure Relief Valves
Water Quality Testing – A Reference For Homeowners
What Is Non-Invasive? What Can’t Home Inspectors Do?
Why Does My Bathroom Fan Continually Run?
Winter Home Maintenance Checklist
Wood Destroying Insects (WDIs)
Zinsco Breaker Panels – The Often Overlooked Hazard
Each of the above articles was authored by and is copyrighted by Matthew Steger. No article, or portion thereof, may be reproduced, reprinted, reposted, or copied in any form without prior written consent of Matthew Steger. No artificial intelligence (AI) was used to write any of these articles.
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