Reporter September 2015 by ASHI

9.15

ASHI

REPORTER

Leade rship Confe Trainin rence Inform g ation on Pa ge 32

Inspection News & Views from the American Society of Home Inspectors, Inc.

ASHI’s Education Opportunities and Special Events Offer Something for Everyone

is for CoR 8

Veterans Create Their Future in Home Inspection After Attending The ASHI School

Ensuring Safety for Children at Home

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ASHI Reporter • September 2015

7 ASHI’s Education Opportunities and Special Events Offer Something for Everyone Michele George, Director of Education & Events

Veterans Create Their Future in Home Inspection After Attending The ASHI School

Use your GI Benefits!

Carol Dikelsky

Ensuring Safety for Children at Home

Compiled by Carol Dikelsky

The Study Guide has Arrived Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors

C is for CoR

Jim Funkhouser, Speaker, ASHI Council of Represenatives

Leadership is What Sustains ASHI Mike Conley

High-Efficiency Boilers

Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop

Departments 30

Methamphetamine

Vol. 32, #9

Features

Allergens

September 2015

ASHI Community

New Inspector Status, Chapters, Education

Your ASHI

Membership News & More

Postcards From the Field It’s Wacky Out There

On My Mind

Alden Gibson, ASHI President

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ASHI National Officers and Board of Directors A SH I M I S S I O N S TATEM ENT To set and promote standards for property inspections and to provide the educational programs needed to achieve excellence in the profession and to meet the needs of our members.

Officers Alden Gibson, President Breslau, ON, 519-648-3963 alden@inspectgib.com Randy Sipe, President-Elect Spring Hill, KS, 913-856-4515 randy@familyhomeinspections.com Howard Pegelow, Vice President Milwaukee, WI, 414-545-4186 hpegelow@yahoo.com

Directors Lisa Alajajian 2013-2015 Milford, MA, 508-634-2010 homequest1@comcast.net James Allen 2013-2015 Overland Park, KS, 913-894-5893 james@sweethomeinspections.com Bruce Barker 2015-2017 Cary, NC, 919-322-4491 bruce@dreamhomeconsultants.com Ken Harrington 2015-2017 Delaware, OH, 614-507-1061 inspectorken@rrohio.com C. Blaine Illingworth III 2015-2017 Harleysville, PA, 610-565-4181 housemechanic@hotmail.com Keven Kossler 2015-2017 Huntersville, NC, 704-875-3200 Team@CastleCheck.com Bruce Labell 2015-2017 Scottsdale, AZ, 602-765-2140 inspect@cox.net

Tim Buell, Treasurer Marysville, OH, 614-746-7485 tim.buell@gmail.com Larry Cerro, Secretary Tallahassee, FL, 850-222-4404 larrycerro@comcast.net Bill Loden, Immediate Past-President Madison, AL, 256-464-7060 insight@knology.net Scott Patterson 2013-2015 Spring Hill, TN, 615-302-1113 scott@traceinspections.com Robert Peterson 2013-2015 Carmel, IN, 317-581-0074 inspectorbobp@sbcglobal.net Tony Smith 2015-2017 Cedar Rapids, IA, 319-533-4565 inspecthathouse@netscape.net Mike Wagner 2014-2016 Westfield, IN, 317-867-7688 mwagner@ralis.com Robert Walstead 2013-2015 Colorado Springs, CO 719-495-2652 rwalstead@aol.com Kevin Westendorf 2014-2016 Mt. Pleasant, SC, 843-881-7842 kevinw@lowcountryhome inspection.com

Donald Lovering 2015-2016 Auburndale, MA, 617-698-3903 lovering@earthlink.net

American Society of Home Inspectors, Inc. 932 Lee Street, Suite 101 Des Plaines, IL 60016

ASHI Reporter • September 2015

Frank Lesh, Executive Director, 847-954-3182, frankl@ashi.org Bonnie Bruno, Executive Assistant, 847-954-3177 bonnieb@ashi.org Education, CE Approval, Smart Track, InspectionWorld

Michele George, Director of Education & Events, 847-954-3188 micheleg@ashi.org Membership, Chapter Relations, Booth Rental, Product Orders

847-299-2505 (fax) Reporter only E-mail: frankl@ashi.org Advertising: Dave Kogan Phone: 847-954-3187, E-mail: davek@ashi.org

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Russell Daniels, Assistant Executive Director, Director Membership and Chapter Relations, 847-954-3185, russelld@ashi.org

Janet George, Membership Services Supervisor, 847-954-3180 janetg@ashi.org Jen Gallegos, Membership Administrator, 847-954-3175 jeng@ashi.org

Calling all U.S. Veterans ! Use your qualified G.I. benefits at our Illinois Location. The ASHI School has been approved by the Illinois State Approving Agency for the enrollment of qualified veterans to receive G.I. Bill Educational Benefits.

Mark Lester, Membership Services Coordinator, 847-954-3176 markl@ashi.org

www.3dinspection.com *Book value of $95. Contains over 6000 comments from full time ASHI certified inspectors. Offer available while supplies last.

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ASHI REPORTER – ISSN 1076-1942 – the official publication of the American Society of Home Inspectors, Inc. (ASHI), 932 Lee St., Suite 101, Des Plaines IL 60016, is published monthly. Annual subscriptions: $44.95 to non-members. Periodical postage paid at Des Plaines, IL 60016 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ASHI Reporter, 932 Lee Street, Suite 101, Des Plaines, IL 60016-6546. Copyright© 2015, ASHI. None of the content of this publication may be reproduced, in any manner, without the prior written consent of the publisher. Inclusion of or specific mention of any proprietary product within does not imply endorsement of, nor does exclusion of any proprietary product imply non-endorsement, by the American Society of Home Inspectors, Inc. Opinions or statements of authors and advertisers are solely their own, and do not necessarily represent the opinions or positions of ASHI, its agents or editors. See above for information pertaining to submission of articles, advertising and related materials.

Main Phone: 847-759-2820, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm Mon. - Fri., CST Executive Director

Speaker, Council of Representatives: Mark Londner 2014-2016 James Funkhouser 2015-2016 Purcellville, VA, 540-668-6339 Manassas Park, VA, 703-791-2360 mark@LBIhome.com jfunkhousr@aol.com

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ASHI's Education Offerings and Special Events Offer Something for Everyone

Join ASHI and CREIA in the celebration of 40 years as a leaders in the home inspection industry.

ASHI’s annual meeting and the largest education conference and expo for professional home inspectors. > Over 45 expertly led educational sessions > Popular networking and social events > Exhibits providing the latest information on tools and technology > Earn 20 ASHI CEs, state CEs and many industry association credits Town and Country Resort, San Diego www.towncountry.com Room rate $148/night (taxes not included) WiFi included. Parking $5/day. Reservation site: https://aws.passkey.com/event/13855072/owner/27934/home

www.inspectionworld.org A special raffle will be held October 1 when five lucky registrants will receive complimentary registration to InspectionWorld San Diego.

Don’t Miss the Ninth Annual Southeastern Home Inspectors Conference

ASHI’s Education Opportunities and Special Events Offer Something for Everyone By Michele George, Director of Eduction & Events

rofessional home inspectors must retain an impressive amount of knowledge and skills to do their job well. Fortunately, ASHI members have easy access to a wide variety of educational opportunities to keep their skills sharp. Members can use the “Education” tab on the ASHI website to discover a portal of links to program offerings and ways to earn continuing education (CE) units through ASHI. Here’s an overview:

ASHI chapters will find that the Chapter Educational Resources link contains information regarding chapter educational events such as ideas for topics, contact information for potential speakers, and field trips and information about conducting peer reviews. We invite all chapter leaders to submit information about your chapter events. We are proud to promote chapter events on the Calendar of Events page of the ASHI website and in the Reporter as space allows; please submit information about chapter events at least two months in advance. Chapter leaders are encouraged to send photos and brief reports of past events as well.

The ASHI Online Learning Center houses more than 50 two-hour online learning modules. Recorded from live presentations conducted at past InspectionWorld® conferences, these modules can help ASHI members stay up to date on the latest trends and information. ASHI members can access these online modules and many of the recordings labeled “Past IW” have been approved for CE units in various states.

InspectionWorld® San Diego – January 24-27, 2016

ASHI members also have free access to the Smart Track Education Program. This online program covers the core subjects included in ASHI’s Standard of Practice: roofing, exterior, heating, electrical, interior, structure, plumbing, professional practice, cooling, wood heating and insulation.

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ASHI Reporter • September 2015

Gwinnett Convention Center Duluth, GA (Just north of Atlanta)

ASHI@HOME Training System provides a comprehensive, 10-course, distance-learning education program. Green Training USA offers discounted training to members who choose from 12 online courses that will help them add new skills and diversify their home inspection business services. The Building Performance Institute (BPI) offers special pricing on the Building Science Principles Certificate of Knowledge reference guide and exam. Earning the Building Science Principles certificate is a first step to inspecting the world of energyefficient home performance systems.

InspectionWorld® (IW) is ASHI’s annual meeting and the largest education conference and expo of the year for home inspectors. Attending IW gives you a great opportunity to greet friends and meet other home inspectors from all over the country. Last year, 800 home inspectors attended IW Philadelphia. Make plans to arrive early on Saturday, January 23, to enjoy sightseeing in San Diego or spend time relaxing at the resort. Then, don’t miss the 40th Anniversary Celebration, which kicks off at the Annual Luncheon at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 24. ASHI and the California Real Estate Inspection Association’s (CREIA) will celebrate 40 years of leadership together in the home inspection industry. We expect that IW San Diego will be an exceptional conference. San Diego is a great destination city, the Town and Country Resort is a beautiful location and we have plans for a fantastic time.

advanced technical courses, as well as introductory courses on the topics of radon, thermography, energy audits, tile roofs, solar inspections and more. Some interesting special courses this year cover environmental topics and earthquakes, water shortages and the use of drones in home inspections. The business management track will cover hot topics in methods and technology. The education program offers many ways to earn up to 20 ASHI CE units, 18 CREIA CE units, as well as CE units that can be used for other organizations. Preconference and postconference training will include comprehensive courses in thermography, California plumbing code exam certification, deck inspection certification and commercial building inspections. In addition, attendees can take a guided tour of the Quake Shake Table at the University of California, San Diego, on Thursday, January 28.

The conference provides the opportunity to enjoy days of swapping stories with other home inspectors, learning from industry leaders and gaining information on the latest in tools and technology— all at one time and in one place. The IW experience leaves attendees feeling energized to move forward in their business. Look for all the details on the ASHI website. Registration for InspectionWorld® San Diego begins September 1. See the ad on Page 6 for details. H

Attendees will select from a wide variety of educational topics. We have secured 15 new speakers who will offer presentations alongside veteran presenters. The educational program offers basic through

7September 2015

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Veterans Create Their Future in Home Inspection After Attending The ASHI School by Carol Dikelsky

n 2013, The ASHI School (TAS), a subsidiary of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), was approved by the Illinois State Approving Agency for the enrollment of qualified veterans and/or eligible persons to receive GI Bill Educational Benefits. As a result, veterans using this chapter at our Illinois location, or Chapter 31, Vocational Rehab and Employment, in all locations, have launched careers in home inspection. The home inspection course combines 40 hours of pre-class study and 80 hours of classroom and field experience. After completing the program, veterans earn college credits that they can apply to their existing career or use to start a new career path. TAS also offers graduates one year of ASHI membership, reporting software and a website to advertise their home inspection business. Emphasizing the importance of real-world experience in home inspection training, the curriculum centers on fieldwork and provides opportunities for students to perform home inspections on real homes with real home inspectors. If you are or know a veteran interested in becoming a home inspector, visit www. theashischool.com. Read on to hear how three veterans got started in their careers by attending TAS.

ASHI Reporter • September 2015

Terry Krebs Tactical Inspections, Woodbridge, VA e-mail tacticalinspections@gmail.com www.tacticalinspections.com 571-393-7470

( “I like to help people feel

good about the purchase of a home. ASHI gave me the confidence to go out on my own.”

In 2014, Terry Krebs spent Veterans Day attending TAS. Terry said, “I’d been thinking about becoming a home inspector for many years. Some of my interest probably came from having moved so many times over the years and relying on home inspectors to tell me about each home.” Having served in the Air Force as a criminal investigator, Terry had to evaluate systems, look for clues and pay attention to details. “My training matched up well with the skills needed to be a good home inspector,” said Terry. “Plus, I like the bonus of using cool tools and gadgets on the job.” About two years ago, Terry started looking for home inspection courses but only found online training that didn’t appeal to him. He said, “I was used to on-the-job, military-style training. I’m a visual learner and like to learn by doing. So when I heard about ASHI’s in-residence training program, I checked it out.” TAS offered what he wanted, but the required time and cost stood in his way. Several months

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As for what it’s like to be doing the job he’d considered for so long, Terry said, “I like to help people feel good about the purchase of a home. ASHI gave me the confidence to go out on my own. You might think that the VA system is difficult to maneuver, but people at ASHI have figured it out for you, and they’ll help you understand what you need to do. My advice is to make a commitment to go to the best program—The ASHI School—and they will guide you as you do the rest.”

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later, however, he knew it was time to act when he noticed that TAS’s in-residence program would accept students using GI benefits. “I had never used my GI benefits,” he explained, “but having about 80% of my hotel fees covered as well as all of the course tuition made attending TAS very affordable. I loved the two weeks of training. The instructors used many of the same teaching strategies that are common in the military.” “After completing the training, I became certified, attended InspectionWorld® Philadelphia and joined my regional ASHI chapter. The ASHI membership core includes so many helpful people, and some I’ve found have a similar military background.” For example, Terry’s mentor is a retired fighter pilot. Also, Terry has two sons who are interested in taking up a career in home inspection as well, and one of them might follow the same path of using his GI benefits to be trained at TAS after his time in the Army is complete. Terry hopes that someday all three will work together as a home inspection team.

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9September 2015

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Stephen Rager Champion Home Inspection Newburgh, IN e-mail championhi1@gmail.com http://championhi.org/ 812-629-3096

( “Everybody wins when

you’re doing your job competently, and The ASHI School teaches you to do that.”

Stephen Rager joined ASHI in January and attended TAS in April 2015 in Des Plaines, IL. After serving in the Army from 2002 to 2009, including two deployments in Iraq, Stephen wanted to make a career change and he’d always been passionate about homes. One day, while browsing ASHI’s online education forum, Stephen saw a posting about using VA benefits to attend TAS. He sent an email inquiry and quickly received guidance and encouragement to navigate the process that led to attending the course. “With help from ASHI staff, I found that it wasn’t difficult for me to get VA approval for the course. I earned my license when I passed the exam this year, and so far, all is going well. Although I’m just getting started, attending The ASHI School gave me the confidence to pursue this career. My instructors were excellent—some also were presenters at InspectionWorld® Philadelphia.” “I did reconnaissance in the Army, so home inspection fits well with observing and reporting what I see as part of my background. I did a lot of research about the industry before choosing to pursue it as a career. I found that competent home inspectors have good job security, and now I know that having the ‘ASHI brand’ of certification helps solidify my standing among other home inspectors; at least where I live, real estate agents prefer working with

Veterans Create Their Future in Home Inspection After Attending the ASHI School

ASHI Reporter • September 2015

ASHI certified inspectors who they know have a high level of competence on the job. Everybody wins when you’re doing your job competently, and The ASHI School teaches you to do that.” As a home inspector, Stephen also draws on his education in accounting and his skills in home maintenance. And he says, “Home inspection pays more than doing handyman work. When I worked as a handyman, I had to compete with people being paid under the table. I wanted a job that was transparent and aboveboard. I realized that home inspection involves several technical skills and is a growing industry. For example, when people in our parents’ generation were purchasing homes, the most complicated system may have been the water heater. But now, homes have more complex systems that are based in technology. The sheer number of appliances that a typical home has now is also much higher than in the past. As a result, good home inspectors have an in-demand skill.” “I’ve stayed in touch with some of the students and instructors from my class. We had great camaraderie, and everyone was dedicated to doing a great job. I encourage other veterans to use their military benefits to attend TAS. It is an excellent tool to gain experience and knowledge, and the instructors want their students to succeed.” William Carter III, Vine Grove, KY American Dream Home Inspection e-mail trey37076@yahoo.com 270-272-3147

( “I was fortunate to attend a class with people with great overall construction knowledge.”

William Carter III, currently stationed at Fort Knox, with the Army, is preparing to transition to civilian life over the next few months. At age 33, William noticed that

working hard-labor jobs since he was 16 years old has taken a toll on his body, and he wanted to find a career that would allow him to use his knowledge and experience. He has discovered that home inspection is enjoyable and a good fit with his background in military training. William said, “It can be really competitive to try to become a home inspector in an established area.” He did some research and found that there was a need for more home inspectors where he lives. William’s wife is a realtor, which has helped him make some connections. And with the added encouragement brought about by the VA paying for the majority of the course and housing fees, William took the opportunity to attend TAS. “It was very easy to use my VA benefits for The ASHI School. I just went on the VA website and signed up, and then the school requested some paperwork.” In April, William attended the class in Des Plaines, IL, and in August, he took the exam to become certified. Now he is ready to start his home inspection business. At TAS, William had excellent instructors and a group of about 12 fellow students with a range of experiences. He said, “The group included construction workers, home builders, electricians like me, HVAC specialists, plumbers and more.” Hearing people in the class share their experiences added to what was already a curriculum designed to provide in-depth knowledge. “I would recommend that students bring a camera and a laptop. Having those tools on hand is important to keep momentum going at the end of the session when you start learning about the reporting software.” William’s advice for other veterans is to do research in your region. “If there’s too much competition, it might be hard to break in,” he said. “I didn’t want to waste time and money, so I researched the need for home

Veterans Create Their Future in Home Inspection After Attending the ASHI School

inspectors in the area. Now I’m feeling encouraged to get started once my transition out of the military is complete.” “ I was fortunate to attend a class with people with great overall construction knowledge. We all learned from each other’s skills and input with each topic we covered. I learned what customers are looking for, and I will use all the ideas I learned as I get my business under way.” H TAS Instructors: Gary Monfeli, Tim Buell, and Ken Harrington with their students in Cincinnati, OH.

The ASHI School Advantage Excellence in education Going strong into its sixth year, The ASHI School (TAS) staff understands that home inspectors have many choices when selecting home inspection training programs. The advantage of choosing TAS among other organizations’ training programs is the ongoing commitment of TAS to achieve excellence in education. Our goal is not simply to enroll a large number of students; instead, we strive to educate and train our students so well that they will hit the ground running in their careers as home inspectors. Going forward, TAS hopes to deliver “one-stop” education offerings by providing pre-licensing preparation as well as ancillary courses on special topics.

Expert instructors TAS instructors are incredible assets to students. Because we keep our class sizes relatively small, the instructors can get to know each student during training. By doing so, instructors can ensure that each TAS student is confident in their skills and well prepared to pursue certification through ASHI. TAS instructors continue to be accessible resources for their students long after formal training

ends. Experienced home inspectors themselves, TAS instructors want their students to rise to the highest level of success in their careers.

requires guidance or assistance as they go forward in any specific or general area of the home inspection business. Graduate and instructor reunions Reunions for TAS graduates and instructors are great opportunities to strengthen communication and support among mentors, colleagues and friends. The reunions that have already been held in Tennessee and Pennsylvania have brought graduates and instructors together to share stories from the field. Another reunion is planned and will be held at InspectionWorld® San Diego in January 2016, so be sure to make your plans to attend.

Empowered graduates TAS strives to see graduates achieve success. To meet this goal, graduates receive a year of ASHI membership as well as ongoing support to continue their training. For example, TAS graduates can retake the entire training course or sessions on specific components of home inspection they feel they need to brush up on, free of charge. Each year, many students take advantage of this perk by attending a home inspection class that will help them review components of home inspection skills.

Kendra Eiermann

Steve Reilly

Kim McGraw

Helpful staff TAS staff coordinates many administrative details with and for students so the experience of attending TAS is positive. TAS staff strives to meet the needs of any home inspector who

11September 2015

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Ensuring Safety for Children at Home

Ensuring Safety for Children at Home Compiled by Carol Dikelsky

y tapping into the media, consumers can receive daily advice about how to enhance safety for children at home; however, the sheer volume of information, as well as the questionable reliability of some sources, can be daunting. There’s no doubt that people want to keep kids safe from having accidents with dangerous products or home furnishings and experiencing other hazards that can occur throughout a typical home, but how does a home inspector know what to report? Government and public health sources, as well as nonprofit organizations, provide some valuable resources. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC, www.cpsc.gov) outlines federal safety rules and regulations that apply to consumer products, including those designed for children. CSPC “is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction…[and] is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard.” CPSC’s website offers research reports, statistics and news as well as information on regulations, laws and standards. Searching the site using terms like “safety gates,” “window blinds” and “magnetic locks” reveals links to news about recalls, legal cases against manufacturers and more. Many pediatricians and state governments offer information intended to help foster children’s safety. Check with your medical care provider or visit your state government’s website. 12

ASHI Reporter • September 2015

The Child Safety page of MedlinePlus (www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childsafety.html), a resource of the National Institutes of Health produced by the National Library of Medicine, provides readable and up-to-date information about how to keep kids safe from harm at home. ASHI President-Elect Randy Sipe, along with the Great Plains Chapter of ASHI, are some of the many supporters of Charlie’s House: The Home Safety Site (www.charlieshouse.org/). Located in Kansas City, MO, Charlie’s House is a nonprofit organization named in memory of Charlie Horn, a boy whose life tragically ended at the age of 2 when he attempted to climb a 30-in. dresser in his home and the dresser fell on top of him. In 2007, the supporters of Charlie’s House began their mission to prevent injuries from happening to children in and around the home. The organization’s core beliefs are that home safety is attainable for everyone regardless of where you live or what type of home you have and that maintaining a safe home is a continuous process. Charlie’s House website states, “Home safety requires frequent evaluation to look for new hazards and new ways to improve.”

ne of the long-term goals of Charlie’s House is to open a safety demonstration home and training facility in Kansas City in which people can experience firsthand how to avoid preventable accidents from occurring in their homes. John McCarthy, executive director of Charlie’s House, noted that home inspectors can benefit from reviewing the

important suggestions and resources listed at http://charlieshouse.org/safety/. The In-Home Safety Checklist, for example, includes the following suggestions: •S ecure dressers (even short ones), bookcases and other tip-prone furniture to the wall with furniture straps; in addition, secure televisions to the wall with television straps • I nstall safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs •U se plug covers or caps in electrical outlets •S horten cords on appliances that could be pulled down •L ock or latch cabinets that children should not get into •U se doorknob covers •T est smoke alarms and change batteries every six months •S et hot water heater to below 120 degrees F •M ove baby’s crib away from any windows • I nstall window coverings that are safe for children (see details in the following section on window blind safety) •A pply stove and burner covers and use back burners first when cooking •K eep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen •P lace knives and matches out of children’s reach •S tore and lock separately unloaded firearms and ammunition Parents for Window Blind Safety (PFWBS, www.pfwbs.org) was founded by Linda Kaiser and her husband after their 12-month-old daughter died in 2002 from a tragic strangulation accident caused by the child getting tangled in a window blind’s interior cords. Linda had followed the window treatment manufacturer’s safety guidelines to the letter—wrapping and placing the ends of the cords out of the way; however, hazardous cords remained inside the window treatment. After enduring the ordeal of losing her daughter, Linda found strength by educating herself on this type of accident and standing up to leaders of the window covering industry and the CPSC to demand recalls of products and press for the elimination of the stranguASHI Ad.indd 6

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lation danger on all products that will help ensure that other children and families do not face the same tragedy she did. Linda asserts that only cordless window coverings are safe for use in any room where children might sleep and play. Earlier this year, ASHI member Skip Walker viewed a recording of a CPSC hearing (www.cpsc.gov/en/Newsroom/ Multimedia/?vid=73806) during which a colleague of his had testified about ionization smoke alarms. Before his friend’s presentation began, Skip listened to Linda’s riveting testimony about window treatments and their hazardous cords. Inspired by Linda’s campaign to require safer window covering designs, he contacted Linda and began a dialogue about communicating window covering safety issues to home inspectors. Skip noted that home inspectors’ No. 1 job is ensuring safety, and that ensuring the safety of children is especially critical. He expressed that PFWBS has raised the level of awareness about what the window covering industry is not telling consumers about safety, and suggested that home inspectors should be aware of her campaign for pointing out the life-threatening flaws in design.

ome inspectors can help by reporting the hazards of having window coverings with cords of any kind in the home, especially in rooms where children will be. Here is an excerpt of Linda Kaiser’s story that points to why describing the safety issues concerning window coverings should be on every home inspector’s checklist for discussion with their clients: Surely every parent has heard about some of the warnings on window coverings. Tie up your pull cords out of the child’s reach; make sure there is no loop in the pull cord as is usually listed in most childproofing checklists. I followed the checklist and went through it. I placed my twins in their cribs and kissed them both good night. I could hear them playing and laughing, those little stinkers. I went in to check on them and found my 12-month-old baby girl hanging from part of the cord on a window blind in their bedroom. I grabbed her and called 911. I knew, I just knew by the lukewarm feeling

Ensuring Safety for Children at Home

ASHI Reporter • September 2015

of her body she was gone. …I did not understand how she could have died because I had the pull cords tied up, way out of her reach. …How could she get tangled on the other side? The problem is that the industry keeps telling the public to buy safety kits and to keep the cords out of the child’s reach. A quote from the Window Covering Safety Council, which promotes and gives out free “safety kits”: “Because cord-safety features are now built into window coverings, we believe parents will feel more confident about their child's safety if they replace their older window coverings with the products now available.” Parents are doing what they are told by the safety council; however, what they are not told is that children are getting objects, placing them under the window coverings, reaching the cords that are tied up and strangling to death on them. Please visit www.pfwbs.org, get educated and take down the corded window treatments in your home. There is no way to make a corded window blind, shade, roman shade, magic blind or roller shade 100% safe. There is no reason to feel more “confident” in any product with a cord attached to it. We list safer alternatives on our website, along with in-depth information about corded window coverings.

How to look for hazardous window covering products and what to say to clients if you find them. Linda Kaiser offers the following how-to guide of questions and checklist items for home inspectors to use as they assess the safety of window coverings: Are there any cords hanging that can be reached? • A child can reach any cord by climbing onto the windowsill. • Any short cord can become longer once the window covering is opened. • Any cord longer than 8 inches, or an average male wrist, can strangle a child. How old are the window coverings? Any product older than 10 years is no longer compliant with the national safety standard. Check the back shades for hidden exposed cords that run upward.

Check for loose or broken tension devices attached to the wall—most devices don’t outlast the product. Warn clients that products have been recalled if there are loops in the pull cords, exposed cords on roman shades, if tension devices are loose, or if the product is older than 10 years. See http://windowcoveringtesting.org/ safe-products/ for examples of cost-effective products starting as low as $7. This sampling of resources about keeping children safe at home provides a glimpse at the extensive volume of information that is available. By reading the stories of Charlie’s House and Parents for Window Blind Safety, home inspectors can understand how critical it can be to report their observations related to commonly used safety products around the home. A home inspector’s thoughtful warning about safety issues has the potential to save a child and a family from experiencing tragedy. H

Continued on next page... Continued from previous page... • Some safety gates installed at the top and bottom of staircases can become trip hazards. –Charlie Rice, ACI • Even when the gate is open at the top of a staircase, it can be a hazard to anyone wearing a toolbelt or carrying a ladder while trying to pass through the gate. Also, the gate itself is not the easiest item to remove from the wall. –Matthew Steger, ACI • Many “child safety latches” on kitchen cabinets are sometimes rather difficult to open—even for an adult. –Matthew Steger, ACI • I’ve inspected homes where all the countertop electrical receptacles in the kitchen have plastic covers, but all the receptacles in the baby’s room are left

open. Or a similar type of problem—some bedroom doorknobs have been turned around so the door only locks from the outside. Doesn’t seem very safe to me. – Bruce Ramsey, ACI • I’ve seen more eye-and-hook devices on bedroom doors than reversed doorknobs. I’m concerned and surprised whenever I see them. They even show up on the doors of rooms where older parents live. –Fred Comb, ACI • I like the challenge of figuring out some of the childproof cabinet latches, especially when it’s a new design and I don't know how it opens—it becomes a puzzle that I can't walk away from. Recently it took me at least 5 minutes to figure out one latch. –Fred Comb, ACI • A house I recently inspected had keyed locks on all the bedroom doors. The home

was only six years old so it was obvious to me that the seller had replaced the builder-installed bedroom doorknobs. Of course, I recommended replacing these doorknobs and locks with proper interior door hardware. –Matthew Steger, ACI • Personally, I always recommend that all receptacles and outlets in a home be changed out to the new style with the built-in, integral child-safety feature. Add-on caps are only effective when they are plugged in. If you have a lamp plugged in, the plug can be easily removed by a child and then you have a conventional outlet that is unprotected. Outlets with integral protection are always protected, regardless of what is or is not plugged into them. –Skip Walker, ACI

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Home inspectors weigh in on managing child safety devices on the job Although childproofing devices can keep kids safe, home inspectors often find that expending the energy needed to maneuver around these devices in a home can be challenging. When we posted a question about your experiences with childproofing devices on the ASHI forum board, we received these responses. Do any ring true for you?

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• Th ere are so many brands and designs of tamperproof or childproof receptacles for outlets; I wish everyone would use the basic little plastic plug-ins. –Dale McNutt, ACI • I learned that after dealing with so many hidden magnetic locks on cabinet doors with no magnet in sight, it’s best to just carry my own. –Ken Goewey, ACI

Ensuring Safety for Children at Home

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The Study Guide has Arrived

Getting Started The genesis of this project started several years ago with a market analysis. After taking a hard look at the current offerings we determined, while several were well written, none were as comprehensive as we felt necessary. We then decided to create an affordable, comprehensive study guide geared to preparing users to take the exam. As we began to outline the study guide, it was decided the best arrangement of the materials would be by technical and nontechnical components. The goal was to base the technical components off of the same outline we use for populating the exam. This outline is derived by the latest Role Delineation Study (RDS). The RDS is performed approximately every five years by surveying thousands of inspectors regarding the components they inspect in a home and their business offerings. Our first major decision was to find qualified, available

ASHI Reporter • September 2015

technical writers who would do justice to the technical component of the guide. The Best Author The author we found was Bruce Barker, one of the best technical writers in our profession. Bruce is author of the very successful Everybody’s Building Code and is a current member of the ASHI Board of Directors and a long-time contributor to the Reporter. We also had editing assistance from Tom Lauhon of the EBPHI Board of Directors, and Michael Casey, former ASHI President. It's What's Inside That Counts The guide began as a single book, but quickly developed into two volumes: the NHIE Study Guide and the NHIE Home Inspection Manual. The Study Guide contains non-technical components including administrative procedures and exam-taking tips. To assist the candidate in preparing for the exam, there are 200 sample questions. These questions were analyzed and vetted much in the same way as the active questions in the test bank. Since EBPHI performs an RDS every five years, we are committed to updating the volumes after each study to ensure the content reflects our current exam. The NHIE Home Inspection Manual is move than 650 pages of detailed technical

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information about the components we inspect, along with common defects and code references. The end result is that this is more like a textbook than just a study guide for it can be used by those candidates taking the NHIE while being an excellent reference for the experienced home inspector.

Serving the Profession One of the advantages of being a nonprofit corporation is that EBPHI doesn’t need to make a big profit on our development investment. This enabled us to keep the pricing of these two volumes very low, as our goal is simply to serve the profession, not our bank account. We are proud we have been able to address this unfulfilled need by offering this comprehensive guide and reference that will serve both the new and veteran home inspector. Go to: www.homeinspectionexam.org for more information. H

Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors

The National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE) is developed and maintained by the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors (EBPHI). This board has received many requests over the years for a study guide to assist those taking the NHIE. This study guide, and the associated NHIE Home Inspection Manual, were developed to address this need. The NHIE Home Inspection Manual addresses the technical aspects of the NHIE. This NHIE Study Guide addresses the non-technical aspects. Many come to the home inspection profession as a second or a third career, and may not have taken a professional entrance exam for many years, if ever. This study guide helps to familiarize the candidate with the examination itself, and with the associated administrative procedures. It also includes helpful insights into the types of questions the exam contains, and techniques for success.

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ne of the frequent questions we’ve received over the years at the Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors (EBPHI) is: “Where can I get a study guide for your exam?” The exam, of course, is the National Home Inspection Exam (NHIE), which is an integral part of ASHI’s NCCA certification program and a requirement for full ASHI membership certification. We are proud to announce we now have a complete and comprehensive study guide available.

NHIE Study Guide

This NHIE Home Inspection Manual is based on the most recent Role Delineation Study (RDS). This study surveys thousands of home inspectors in order to determine the services they provide, and the components they inspect. The questions in the NHIE are derived directly from this survey, and constitute the knowledge base for an entry level home inspector. This manual is the ﬁrst of its kind to follow this format. It also informs the candidate about the knowledge base behind the current examination questions, and proExam Administration vides a technical reference for the experienced home inspector. Exam Content$98.50Outline ISBN 978-0-9964518-0-2

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C is for CoR

C is for CoR By Jim Funkhouser, Speaker, ASHI Council of Representatives JIM

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ASHI Reporter • September 2015

aving graduated from George Mason University (Go Patriots!) with a BA in Speech Communications, naturally I was destined for a career under people’s houses and “hugging” their toilets. Go figure. How I ended up in this profession is a story for another day, but my educational background has given me a valuable perspective. Without going into details about Marshall McLuhan’s “hot” versus “cool” media or the political economy theory of communications, I will say that there is a not-so complicated concept for making one’s thoughts known that few of you take advantage of…the ASHI Council of Representatives. Are you sitting comfortably? Then we’ll begin.

MRKT-18994

As a result, the governance of ASHI was altered to create the Council of Representatives (CoR). The Council’s mission was to provide input from each chapter into the governance of ASHI so the number of the Directors could be reduced and elected at-large from within the membership.

According to the ASHI Bylaws, the Council was created “to provide members with a vehicle to participate in the governance of the Society and to communicate with its leadership.” Today, the Council consists of a Speaker, an Alternate Speaker, 10 Group Leaders and 69 Chapter Representatives, for a total of 81 members. Most importantly, the Council is the primary preparer of ASHI’s future leaders. Although the Council has experienced some bumps in the road over the years, it has stood the test of time and remains a powerful tool for the membership. How the Council works The CoR operates as a “bottom-up” communications link. Representatives in the CoR attend your chapter’s meeting and events to hear your concerns and ideas and bring those to the Council. The Council also operates as a “top-down” communications link by providing a way for the ASHI staff and the Board of Directors to convey information directly to your chapters.

or example, Tony from the Great State of Iowa (a completely madeup, fictitious ASHI member characterization bearing no resemblance to any person, living or dread…um dead) has this really great idea. He contacts his chapter’s representative to the CoR and tells the rep his idea. The rep says, “Great idea, Fictitious Tony! I’m going to share this with my Group Leader!” Pay attention now, it’s starting to get interesting…

CoR Group Leaders meet monthly with the Speaker and the Alternate Speaker to discuss news from ASHI, ideas, proposed actions and communications from their Chapter Representatives. In this case, the Group Leaders decide that Fictitious Tony’s idea of having an ASHI-wide “Hot Dog Thursday” is a fun, but impractical, idea. They decide, however, that hot dogs are a great American food and, since we are part of the American Society of Home Inspectors, it might be appropriate to see if we could offer hot dogs at the Leadership Training Conference in October. So, the Speaker reaches out to the Chapter Relations Committee. Now, this has been a completely ridiculous (but delicious) scenario that serves to describe the way you can get your ideas to the CoR and shows that the CoR will consider every communication it receives and will act on ideas whenever it can. Positions in the CoR The Speaker: The position of Speaker is a two-year term and is an ex-officio (nonvoting) member of the Board of Directors. During Board meetings, the Speaker can bring up ideas from the Council and chapters, as well as report back to the Council about the workings of the ASHI Board. The Speaker is required to attend the quarterly Board meetings, to set the agenda for the Council for the upcoming year, and to write and submit the budget requests for the Council. The Speaker also holds the monthly meetings for the Group Leaders, Continued on Page 22 19September 2015

• www.ASHIReporter.org

20 Represenative John Knudsen Richard Kirkman Tony Hecht Bryck Guibor Marcus Richter, ACI Gary Poirier Scott Swickard John Fryer Skip Walker Chad Parra Daniel Noteboom Brian Murphy Jed Walker Richard Hall Michael Conley Robert Huntley Tom Rinicker Richard Hart Shannon Cory Craig Chmelicek Dean Cushing Rudy Schlosser Eric Barker Geof Greer Dana Strumpher Danny Maynard Thomas Lauhon Miki Mertz Michael Burroughs Donald Bissex Michael Atwell Volney Ford Mark Mustola Ricky Vernon Frank Copanas Ricky Michalicek John Wessling, ACI Joe Pangborn

James Hollifield John Guy Gary Gentry, ACI Norman Halladay Stephen Marten Bob MacDonald Jason Mitchell Stanley Yansick Bret Kaufmann Kevin Vargo Jerry Santangini Blaine Swan, NCH Robert Davis Allan Cooper Steven Baranello Frank Libero John Cordell George Basista Janni Juhasz Jerry Vander Eyken Bruce McClurer Jon Nichols Dan Howard Jules Falcone Brendan Ryan Abbas Rahbari Kerry Staudt Vince Tecce Jim Dickey Kurt Salomon Doug Miller Hollis Brown Anthony Toth James Funkhouser Kenny Hart Darrell Marsolais Darrell Hay Michael Von Gunten Dave Haught Craig Haas Reuben Saltzman Jerry Spiva Roger Williamson Robert Cornish

ASHI-South Arkansas Arizona Arizona Arizona British Columbia (CAHPI-BC) Orange County Golden Gate Silicon Valley San Diego Southern Colorado Rocky Mountain Coastal Connecticut Southern New England Southwest Florida ASHI Piedmont ASHI Florida Wiregrass ASHI-Georgia ASHI-Georgia Iowa ASHI Chapter Northern Illinois Northern Illinois Great Lakes Northern Illinois Central Illinois Indiana Chapter of ASHI Great Plains Great Plains Louisiana ASHI New England New England Greater Baltimore ASHI Great Lakes Great Lakes St. Louis St. Louis St. Louis Mid-Missouri ASHI

Northern Rockies North Carolina North Carolina South Carolina Greater Omaha ASHI Northern New England Garden State Southern New Jersey Garden State Garden State ASHI Southern New Jersey CAHPI Atlantic Capitol Region (NY) Central New York Long Island ASHI NY Metro Ohio Ohio Great Lakes Ontario (CAHPI-ON) Ontario (CAHPI-ON) Oregon PRO-ASHI (Pittsburgh) Tri-State PRO-ASHI (Pittsburgh) ASHI Central PA Keystone, PA Tri-State Lone Star ASHI Utah Chapter of ASHI Central Virginia ASHI MAC-ASHI NOVA-ASHI NOVA ASHI Hampton Rhodes ASHI ASHI Western Washington ASHI Western Washington Great Lakes Ohio ASHI North Central Ohio Heartland Mid-Tennessee ASHI East Tennessee ASHI OAHI (CAHPI)

ASHI Reporter • September 2015

South Mid-West Group Leader and Alternate Speaker

South Atlantic Group Leader

Gulf States Group Leader

Region

prairiehminspect@gmail.com john@guyhi.com gary@qriquality.com skiphalladay@embarqmail.com inspectorsteve@cox.net omnispect@gmail.com homespect@verizon.net homeinspectecinc@comcast.net Bretkaufmann@optonline.net kpvargo@comcast.net New York, New Jersey, Delaware Group Leader jsantangini@comcast.net goodeyeinspections@gmail.com rdavis@home-inspection.com al@lakecountryhomeinspections.com inspect-me@att.net franklibero@optonline.net inspectionplus.john@gmail.com GeorgeBasista@yahoo.com Janni.J@HomtecInspections.com jerry.chi@bell.net bruce@brucemcclurerhi.com housedetective@hotmail.com Dan@SeniorHomeSafetyNetwork.com julesfalcone@me.com brendan@csahomeinspection.com advancedhomeinspection@verizon.netWest kerry.staudt@gmail.com bioainsp@aol.com jim@jjdickey.com kurt@inspectutah.com Mountain Group Leader npi.inspector@comcast.net Hollis@thorospec.com Mid-Atlantic Group Leader tony_toth@msn.com Speaker@ashi.org Speaker Kenny@theplumbingandhvacguy.com sales@psihomeinspect.com darrellhay@aol.com Pacific Group Leader mike@lahigroup.com Midwest Group Leader inspector@wvchi.com North Central Group Leader markshomeinspect@sbcglobal.net reuben@structuretech1.com jmspiva@comcast.net homeproinspection@ebpfi.com robc@homexam.ca

jgknudsen111@elmore.rr.com homeinspectionplus@conwaycorp.net tony@tonyhecht.com bryck@msn.com marc@handsonhomeinspection.com gary@walkaboutinspections.com scott@inspectoc.com johnfryer@gmail.com homeinspection@sanbrunocable.com chadparra@hotmail.com Dan@KeyInspectionServices.net brian@murphyinspection.com wis1@outlook.com rhall@usinspect.com flinspector@outlook.com rwhuntley@cox.net tom@inspectorhelp.com ashi1@comcast.net shannon1943@comcast.net elitehomeandradon@gmail.com Dean@203k.us Rudy@AceintheHome.net ebarker@morainewoods.com ggreer@bpgwi.com homeinspector1@comcast.net danny@inspectinc.net tom@inspect4you.us mikimertz@aol.com mburroughs2@comcast.net donald@MysticHomeInspection.com mike@jmhi.com volneyford@comcast.net InspectorMustola@aol.com AskRick@centurytel.net acropolis-inspection@live.com ricktheinspector@live.com john@wesslinginspections.com Joe@PangbornInspections.com

SPECIAL PULL OUT AND SAVE SECTION: 1. Please close these two pages. 2. Then hold both pages in your right hand. 3. Place your left hand on page 18 on a table and GENTLY pull the pages away from the staples.

406-683-4114 336-848-0766 919-848-4833 864-715-8907 402-571-7735 603-944-3507 732-636-1188 609-835-0101 973-377-4747 732 271 1887 856-232-6607 902-890-0710 518-885-7949 585-727-7119 516-775-5084 800-638-9744 513-617-4511 330-565-5409 419-269-4663 519-577-8001 1-519-894-0388 503-680-3371 724-295-9703 610-637-5850 724-898-1414 610-430-1414 610.780.9098 215-527-5710 972-907-0202 801-523-6060 804-920-4674 703-856-7567 703-926-6213 571-214-4039 800-643-6683 206-478-1427 206-226-3205 262-945-2446 304-417-1247 216-691-1208 612-205-5600 615-451-0011 423-421-4913 613-858-5000

334-221-0876 501-327-9794 480-507-0837 520-419-1313 520-271-8582 604-220-0305 949-454-1389 510-682-4908 650-873-4224 619-281-2000 719-332-9660 303-791-7824 203-778-6543 888-874-6773 941-778-2385 352-354-2287 813-300-5027 770-827-2200 770-461-3408 319-389-7379 847-712-7874 847-571-7967 847-408-7238 708-912-4940 217-529-5354 800-369-7025 913-680-1757 913-268-0222 318-324-0661 781-475-8980 617-630-5629 410-458-5704 810-750-0000 616 875 3025 314-456-0783 314-238-6639 314-520-1103 573-228-4509

Phone

C is for CoR

Chapter

Council of Representatives Directory 2015 - 2016

> >

21September 2015

C is for CoR

• www.ASHIReporter.org

C is for CoR

Continued from Page 19 prepares the meeting agendas, selects the Director and Officer Nominating Committee chairs, prepares quarterly reports to the Board and oversees any other projects that come before the Council. The Alternate Speaker: The Alternate Speaker is responsible for all of the Speaker’s duties that he or she is unable to perform and special assignments as assigned by the Speaker. The position of Alternate Speaker is a two-year term. The Group Leaders: Each year at the annual meeting, Group Leaders are selected by the members of the CoR according to their geographical groups. They are charged with maintaining contact with their Council Reps and with being the conduit between the Rep and the Speaker. They also are responsible for all duties of the Council Reps. There are 10 Group Leaders, one for each of the following groups: Pacific, Midwest, New York/New Jersey/Delaware, Mountain, Gulf, New England, North Central, South Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic and South Midwest. The Council Representatives: Council Representatives are selected by your Chapter President or by a vote of your chapter’s membership. The position carries

a two-year term. The Council Representative is responsible for reporting news from ASHI as well as news from the CoR at chapter meetings, and for reporting the ideas and information they receive from their chapter members to the CoR Group Leaders. They are responsible for attending the annual CoR meeting at IW and are encouraged to attend the Leadership Training Conference. They are responsible for voting for new Directors. The number of Council Reps that each chapter may have is determined by the number of voting members in the chapter. For example, if a chapter has 10 to 35 voting members, that chapter has one Rep in the CoR. If a chapter has 36 to 70 members, the chapter has two Reps in the CoR. For each additional 35 voting members in a chapter, the chapter has an additional Rep for the CoR, up to a maximum of five Reps per chapter. Finally, Council Representatives help select the recipient of the John Cox Award, which is an honor presented annually to an ASHI member who has made exemplary contributions to his or her chapter. What you should expect from your Representative

our chapter’s Rep is of great importance to you and your chapter’s leadership. When you have

a gripe or an idea, let your Rep know it! In the middle of the Reporter, you will find a list of all of the current Council Representatives. USE IT! When you contact your Chapter’s Rep, you should expect a timely reply and that your message will make it to the Group Leaders. Don’t be bashful; we work for YOU! What the CoR expects from you

he ASHI Council of Representatives expects to hear all of your ideas and concerns. We expect you to hold us accountable for conveying your ideas and concerns to the appropriate people within ASHI. We expect you to tell us your thoughts— by phone, via e-mail or by using the CCG Forum Board on the ASHI website. We expect you to use the list of your Council Reps on Pages 20 and 21. (The center four pages of the magazine are a pullout section. Pull gently.) We expect you to contact the appropriate Group Leader or the Speaker if you do not get a timely response from your Rep. Finally, we expect you to find ASHI membership increasingly beneficial as a result of you using the Council of Representatives. H

Alternate Speaker: John Wessling St. Louis, MO 314-520-1103 John@wesslinginspections. com Secretary: Brendan Ryan 724-898-1414 brendan@csahomeinspection.com

ASHI Reporter • September 2015

Group Leaders

New England/Canada Mike Atwell 617-630-5629 mike@jmhi.com

New York/New Jersey Kevin Vargo 732 271 1887 kpvargo@comcast.net

Mid-Atlantic Hollis Brown 703-856-7567 Hollis@thorospec.com

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Midwest

South Midwest

Pacific

Michael J. Von Gunten 262-945-2446 mike@lahigroup.com

John Wessling 314-520-1103 john@wesslinginspections. com

Darrell Hay 206-226-3205 darrellhay@aol.com

North Central

Please see the complete CoR listing on pages 20 and 21.

South Atlantic Richard Hart 770-827-2200 ashi1@comcast.net

Gulf John Knudsen 334-221-0876 jgknudsen111@elmore. rr.com

Dave Haught 304-417-1247 inspector@wvchi.com

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Mountain Kurt Salomon 801-523-6060 kurt@inspectutah.com 15-11021

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Leadership is What Sustains ASHI

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hat is leadership and how do we prepare for it? If we are so inclined, some of us pick up leadership skills as part of life’s experience. For others, leadership is inherent; it comes naturally. For some, being a leader is learned and reluctantly applied to a situation. Without leadership within ASHI, what are we? A bunch of people who are loosely associated with a national organization or a state chapter for the benefit of getting together once in awhile. ASHI is and should be more than that. It is an influencer of standards, a guider of policy, a representative of our profession and a visionary for the future. How is any of this relevant? Without having anyone in the lead looking ahead, our paths are unmarked and we move forward helter-skelter with no real vision of what’s to come. Business opportunities are missed or go unrecognized. We become adrift in a sea of uncertainty, and our fate is determined by those who have no connection with our profession and those who have a skewed concept of what a home inspector is. However, with unity and same-mindedness, we have a voice and can determine our destiny as we (as collective members of an industry) see it. That voice comes with experience and dedication of purpose—a love of what we do and the desire to better our profession for future inspectors. Leadership starts with volunteering on a local level—perhaps with a local chapter or any organization that needs direction and guidance. Maybe you are participating with a chapter of ASHI, moving up 24

ASHI Reporter • September 2015

the ranks and taking charge, improving the profession and the membership. Not only does offering this type of leadership contribute to your profession, but it also changes and focuses you. I have never come across anyone who volunteered or held office (whether reluctantly or not) who was not enriched by the experience. I have met many people who volunteered or held office for “one time only” and who, at the end of that time, wanted to go another term. Some of these “reluctees” either volunteered again or moved into an officer position. I’ve seen this happen at the chapter level and the national level.

you have to do is get yourself to Chicago, October 22-23 and attend. ASHI offers a stipend to a chapter representative who attends to help the chapter offset the costs of travel and hotel. If no one steps up in your chapter, you could be that representative. If you’re really ambitious, plan to stay an extra day (October 24) and attend ASHI’s national Board of Directors meeting.

So, what’s my point? Every year, ASHI offers a Leadership Training Conference (LTC). It’s designed to train those who attend to bring that leadership experience and information back to their chapters so they can use it and continue to improve their chapter. LTC allows for continuity and creates a pool of leaders who are better informed and better prepared to lead their chapters.

No one person or leader knows everything. We can all benefit from being exposed to other points of view and others’ experiences. Just socializing with the other attendees is an experience in itself. We can learn from each other and from the top-notch speakers that ASHI brings to the party. I urge any and all interested ASHI members and associates to come and see what’s going on. It’s open to anyone and everyone, not just people associated with the Council of Representatives or chapter officers. The event and food are free, so all

So, you say you’re too busy to take time out for this event. Well, we’re all busy, so that’s no excuse. Take this opportunity to contribute to the profession. Let’s give something back to a profession that has served us well. e should, as an industry, aspire to better and brighter things for ourselves and for the future of the profession. To do that takes leadership. Come on up to Chicago and feel the surge of energy. Many will be there…will you? H

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25September 2015

• www.ASHIReporter.org

High–Efficiency Boilers By Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop, www.carsondunlop.com

e’ve talked a lot about high-efficiency furnaces, but there are high-efficiency gas boilers as well. High-efficiency boilers are not as common as high-efficiency furnaces, however. High-efficiency boilers can cost twice the price of regular boilers, whereas high-efficiency furnaces cost only 30% to 40% more than lower-efficiency systems. There are fewer manufacturers of high-efficiency boiler equipment. Let’s look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of high-efficiency hot water heating.

Direct Vent High-efficiency boilers are typically directvent systems. Not only do the exhaust gases go straight through the wall, but combustion air is piped in from outside and the combustion chamber is sealed from the house air. Low Operating Costs The operating costs of high-efficiency boilers are considerably lower than conventional boilers. Seasonal efficiencies in the range of 85% to 95% are possible. The seasonal efficiency of conventional boilers may be 55% to 65%.

we deal with condensation. In a highefficiency boiler, just like a high-efficiency furnace, corrosion may occur because it produces an acidic condensate. High Maintenance Costs and Poor Reliability Maintenance costs for high-efficiency boilers are typically much higher than for conventional equipment. Just like highefficiency furnaces, high-efficiency boilers are complex and full of high-tech components. So far, the reliability of highefficiency boilers has not been great. The exhaust gas path through the heat exchanger is longer and more restricted than with conventional heat exchangers. We expect problems with clogged heat exchangers. Mismatch with Distribution System Another common difficulty with high-efficiency boilers is the incompatibility of the boiler with the existing distribution system. You’ll remember that high-efficiency furnaces use the latent heat of vaporization to grab heat from the exhaust gases to achieve their high-efficiency ratings. The combustion products of natural gas condense when the flue gas temperature drops to roughly 125°F. If the flue gases are hotter than that temperature, the boiler will not condense and efficiency diminishes.

ADVANTAGES

No chimney needed High-efficiency equipment needs no traditional chimneys. The combustion products are vented out through the house wall, typically through a plastic or metal vent. 26

ASHI Reporter • September 2015

DISADVANTAGES Costly High-efficiency boilers come with a high cost for installation. Condensation High-efficiency boilers are associated with the corrosion issue that comes up any time

Radiators Designed for Hot Water Many radiator systems are designed to be supplied with water leaving the boiler at 150°F to 200°F. The temperature drop as the water goes through the system may be 20°F to 30°F. This is a typical temperature rise across a boiler as well. Return Water too Hot to Cause Exhaust Gases to Condense The return water temperature in many piping systems may well be higher than 125°F. Obviously, it’s tough to cool the 27September 2015

• www.ASHIReporter.org

High-Efficiency Boiler

than the dew point. Sometimes we get condensation at startup, but none when the system heats up to a steady state.

Cupro-Nickel Heat Exchangers Heat exchanger materials also can vary. Stainless steel is a common heat exchanger material for both boilers and furnaces, but some boilers also are made from coppernickel alloys (for example, cupro-nickel). These alloys are more corrosion-resistant than stainless steel and have good thermal conducting properties.

Small-Volume Boilers Another difficulty encountered with highefficiency boilers is the small heat exchanger volumes. Traditional boilers hold several gallons of water, but in most high-efficiency boilers, the volume is much smaller. This can cause problems. The rate of water flow through the boiler is critical on highefficiency systems. The boiler may overheat if the water flow rate is not adequate.

Pulse Systems We’ve talked about the Lennox Pulse highefficiency furnace. Pulse combustion is used on the Hydrotherm HydroPulse or MultiPulse boiler, a high-efficiency hot water system. This boiler uses the same combustion process as the Lennox Pulse furnace. There is no burner, no pilot, no vent connector and no chimney.

Different Pumps Typically, the water flow requirements of high-efficiency boilers are considerably higher than conventional boilers. As the water must move through the pipes faster, increasing the friction losses in the piping, the pump capacity of the new boiler may have to be considerably larger than the old pump. This needs to be sized for the existing distribution system.

Direct-Vent The direct-vent system pictured here uses PVC pipe (or aluminum dryer vent or galvanized steel in some areas) to bring combustion air from the outside into the sealed combustion chamber. Exhaust is sidewallvented through CPVC pipe, typically 1½ to 3 inches in diameter. The pipe size depends on the boiler capacity and the length of the vent. Both intake and vent pipes should slope down toward the boiler at ¼ inch per foot of length on the horizontal runs. Piping should be supported every 5 feet (in Canada, every 3 feet).

Short Cycling It’s not easy for the boiler manufacturer to determine what pump is needed for all systems. If the boiler overheats because the water flow is too slow, the boiler will “short cycle.” This means that the burner will go off and on several times before the thermostat is satisfied. This shortens the life of the heat exchanger and wears out the mechanical components in the system faster.

Condensing The HydroPulse is a condensing boiler and uses condensate drain piping.

Similarities to High-efficiency Furnaces High-efficiency boilers use many of the same components that high-efficiency furnaces do. There is often a second heat exchanger, as well as some form of intermittent ignition and a low-temperature venting system. Because the ignition systems are the same, the safety controls are also similar. Forced-Draft rather Than Induced-Draft Boilers tend to differ from furnaces in that there are some forced-draft, high-efficiency boilers. So far, forced-draft technology has not been widely used in high-efficiency furnaces. 28

ASHI Reporter • September 2015

High-Efficiency Boiler

Adapted from LENNOX illustration

Noise HydroPulse boilers, like Pulse furnaces, can be noisy. Vibration damping connectors on the distribution piping often are used to minimize the noise and vibration throughout the house. Mufflers can be used on the exterior of the house to reduce the outdoor noise. Efficiency Condensing boilers have efficiency ratings of over 90%. Non-condensing or partially condensing boilers have efficiencies in the 80% to 88% range. H

Direct-vent system using PVC pipe.

Direct-vent using galvanized steel.

A quick list of conditions or problems associated with high-efficiency boilers. • Cabinet problems • Fuel supply and burner problems • Combustion air and venting problems • Ignition problems • Heat exchanger problems • Safety and operating control problems • Induced-draft and forced-draft fan problems • Condensate handling problems • Distribution system problems (for example, expansion tanks, pumps, piping, radiators, convectors and baseboards) • Inadequate water flow rate through the boiler (This problem is unique to highefficiency boilers. You won’t be able to recognize it during a home inspection.) • Noise (Noisy operation is easy to detect. This is most common on pulse systems. This can be an issue inside and outside of the home.) This boiler has a plastic intake and a steel exhaust–the condensate line on this one is not properly attached.

29September 2015

• www.ASHIReporter.org

To submit your materials for moving up, please contact Janet George at 847-954-3180 or janetg@ashi.org

New ASHI Associates

New ASHI Inspectors

New ASHI Certified Home Inspectors

As of July 1, 2015

As of August 1, 2015

To have your chapter seminar listed in this section: Email all information about your chapter seminar to micheleg@ashi.org.

H Denotes graduate of The ASHI School Daniel Halsey

Kevin Power

*Carsten Franck II

Blake Fridley

Craig Singley

Cornerstone Home Inc. Wasilla, AK

Coastal Home Inspection Mystic, CT

Arlington Heights, IL

St. Charles, MO

Connor Burke

Eric Sims

Robert Jirsa

Phil Howard

CS Inspections, LLC Atlanta, GA

Minooka, IL

Value Home Inspection, LLC Huntsville, AL

Capital Inspection Services Washington, DC

Pillar to Post St. Louis, MO

Justin Robinson

John Micali

Auburn, AL

Allied Building Inspection Services, Inc. Miami, FL

Christopher Cook American Construction Specialists Litchfield Park, AZ

Cumming, GA

Robert Garfinkel

Dolly Brennan

Top Flight Home Inspections Peoria, AZ

Savannah, GA

Berry Griffin Northern Arizona Home Inspections Prescott, AZ

Craig Rhyne Pro View Property Inspection LLC Anthem, AZ

Travis Weddle TRW Inspections Benson, AZ

H Dave Block Borrego Springs, CA

H Sean McGee

Jeremy Dillard Residential Inspector of America Canton, GA

Amos Lovett A-One Home Inspection Fairburn, GA

Richard Whitmer Your New Home Inspection LLC Norcross, GA

Christopher Ikeda Grey Owl Inspections Honolulu, HI

Kevin Lyons

STM Property Inspections Alameda, CA

Architech Inspection Systems Kailua, HI

HMarshall Michael

Bryan Thomas

Rancho Dominguez, CA

Honokaa, HI

Dunsing Chicago, IL

Robert Cari Giovanni Inspections, Inc. Indianapolis, IN

H William Marcum Marcum Construction, LLC Flat Rock, IN

Tyler Scott 7 Oaks Home Inspection Warrenton, MO

James St. Vrain BPG St. Louis, MO

Natalie Unkefer Pillar to Post St. Louis, MO

Tom Miner

Gianina Kuykendall

Chrysalis Home Inspections Greenwood, IN

Old Country Home Inspections Belgrade, MT

Kevin Collins

Jean Deshaies

Collins Home Inspections Olathe, KS

Timeline Home Inspections LLC Merrimack, NH

Chris Pruitt Integrity Home Inspection, LLC Wichita, KS

Brian Mahoney Pillar to Post Concord, MA

Brandon Badgley ProTec Inspection Services Poolesville, MD

Tim Brietenback AllSafe Inspection Services, LLC Monkton, MD

Robert Chang Bluehill Home Inspection LLC Carteret, NJ

Jamilla Cano All Inclusive Appraisal & Inspections Albuquerque, NM

Steve Richey Richey Home Inspection, LLC Utica, OH

Gary Sommers Greystone Inspections Ravenna, OH

HJoseph Powers

Duane Wong

Cary Cooper

Sacramento, CA

Architech Home Inspection Kailua, HI

Cary Cooper Home Inspections Columbia, MD

Gordon Campbell

John Meyers

Professional Home Solutions, LLC Grimes, IA

John Meyers Inspections Kalamazoo, MI

Paul Campbell

James Town Construction LLC Macomb, MI

Stephen Bartek

Matthew Brown

Louis Werner

HomeSight Inspections, Inc. Inver Grove Heights, MN

Precision Home Inspections, Knoxville Knoxville, TN

Mark Berra

Thomas Ball

Berra Home Inspections St. Louis, MO

Enlighten Home Inspections, LLC Annandale, VA

Matthew Sainsbury Sainsbury Home Inspection Morro Bay, CA

Daniel Seng Stackhouse Builders Walnut Creek, CA

James Sones True View Home Inspections Auburn, CA

Mark Gaboda Peak 2 Peak Inspection Plc Fort Collins, CO

HCurt Grant Parker, CO

HAlan Daigle Palladian Home Inspections LLC Southbury, CT

Garry Barnette

Ben Schatz

Professional Home Solutions, LLC Grimes, IA

Derek Tidball Full Trust Home Inspections Des Moines, IA

Mark Uecker Pillar to Post Boise, ID

David Brauer Whole Property Services Aurora, IL

ASHI Reporter • September 2015

James Sesto

Dan Burke White Wolf Construction & Home Inspection Columbia, MO

Daniel Kriegh Everyday Home Inspection Tulsa, OK

Adrian Schauer Forest Grove, OR BRIX Brentwood, TN

Nash Strudwick All Point Inspections, LLC INSPECTOR Nantucket, MA

Ryan Castillo

John Reiss

Scott Broussard

Bart Hamilton

Bill's Home Inspection Services Green Valley, AZ

SURECHEK Home Inspection Services Woodridge, IL

ProTec Inspection Services Poolesville, MD

Pillar To Post Cleveland, TN

James Duncan

Patrick Brennan

Casey Arnold

Rudy Schlosser

Structure Tech Home Inspections Monticello, MN

Arnold Home Inspections LLC Alexandria, VA

John Hamel

Charles Branch

JC Hamel Inspections, LLC Carmel, NY

Pillar to Post Richmond, VA

Greg Newman

Timothy Gabay

iSPEC Home Inspection Carmel, CA

Erich Faulstich

Bryan Poe

House to Home Inspections, LLC Fenton,MO

Ace in the Home Inspection Services Glenview, IL

Accurate Inspection Services, Inc. Thousand Oaks, CA

J. David Riddle

Pyramid Home Inspectors St. Louis, MO

Randy Hooser

Jeff Broussard

Alex Gingles

Michael Lovell

Bruce Albach

Superior, CO

MKC Associates LLC Salem, MA ProTec Inspection Services Poolesville, MD

Pillar to Post Norwalk, CT

Gingles Inspections Belton, MO

Be sure to include all information: when, where, CEUs & a link for more information or contact information.

Capitol Home Inspections Richmond, VA

Pillar to Post Nazareth, PA

Scott Hoch Allied Inspection Services Bethlehem, PA

Information also will be picked up from CE applications.

Mark Conner Home Inspection Matters, LLC Greenville, SC

Robert Twaddle WIN Home Inspection Woodinville Edmonds, WA

Michael Marzion Five One Home Inspections Wauwatosa, WI

Joe Kelly

August 28, 1957 - August 10, 2015

Joe Kelly, long time ASHI member passed away suddenly 8/11/15. As owner of Advanced Home Inspections, Joe was always a voice of the profession whether it was on the job, teaching Realtor CE classes or on his TV show Ask The Home Inspector. He was a founding member of Keystone ASHI and continued to serve ASHI as a Director and on several committees including Legislative, Chapter Relations and Certification. In his home state of Pennsylvania he was a founding member of the PHIC, keeping eye over attempts at licensing. Joe testified at State House and Senate hearings and was involved in authoring State Laws regarding home inspection. As true champion of ASHI and the profession, his efforts are appreciated. To those who knew him, his friendship will be missed even more. Our sincere gratitude and condolences to his wife Wanda and family.

ASHI Chapter Education Southeastern Inspectors Conference When: September 9-13, 2015 Where: Gwinnett Center, Duluth, GA CEUs: Earn 20 ASHI CEs Radon Certification: 16 ASHI CEs Thermal Imaging: 16 ASHI CEs Mold Sampling and Protocols for Inspectors: 8 ASHI CEs 7 Surprisingly Simple Ways to get More Business: 8 ASHI CEs Contact: Shannon Cory, shannon1943@comcast.net www.sehomeinspector conference.com

ASHI New England 266 CMR 6.00 Standard of Practice When: September 14-15, 2015 CEUs: 4 ASHI CEs Contact: rmulloy@verizon.net

Great Plains Chapter Annual Fall Seminar When: September 18-19, 2015 Where: Great Wolf Lodge 10401 Cabela Dr. Kansas City, KS 66111 CEUs: Earn 16 ASHI CEs Contact: www.ashikc.com

New York Metro Annual Seminar 2015

North Central Ohio/Ohio ASHI Fall Seminar 2015

When: September 11-12, 2015 Where: DoubleTree Hotel 455 South Broadway Tarrytown, NY 10591 CEUs: 16 ASHI CEs Contact: Vic Faggella vjf@centurion-inspections.com www.nyashi.com

When: Saturday September 19 2015 (with optional Friday, September 18 Radon continuing education course) Where: Holiday Inn Akron West, 4073 Medina Rd. Akron OH, 44333 conitinues in next column

conitinued from second column What: Don MacBride: The international fuel gas code for safe installation of piping and equipment. Dave Tamny: Breaking into Commercial Inspections ICAA representative: Insulation and the home inspection. CEUs: 8 ASHI CEs

ASHI Great Lakes Chapter Fall Conference When: September 25-26 Where: Holiday Inn 17201 Northline Road Southgate, MI Speakers: Kenny Hart; Plumbing & Boiler Presentation Craig Ceccarelli; Foundations, Failures & Repairs Contact: carol@greatinspectors.com 734-283-4400

Tri-State ASHI Conference When: October 9, 2015 Where: Temple University Ambler Campus Learning Center 580 Meetinghouse Road Ambler, PA 19002 CEUs: 8 ASHI CEs Contact: www.tristateashi.org

Keystone ASHI Inspection Seminar When: October 30-31, 2015 Where: Crowne Plaza Reading 1741 Papermill Road Reading, PA 19601 CEUs: 16 ASHI CEs Contact: dave@thehomeinspecto rinc.com

Mid-Missouri ASHI Chapter Educational Seminar When: November 6, 2015 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Where: Columbia Board of Realtors Office Columbia, MO CEUs: 8 ASHI CEs Contact: www.midmoashi.com

NOVA ASHI Chapter NADRA Deck Evaluation Certification Course When: November 7, 2015 7:30 am – 5:00 pm Where: Best Western Fairfax City, VA CEUs: 8 ASHI CEs Contact: Fred Heppner at fred.heppner@gmail.com

31September 2015 •

www.ASHIReporter.org

Chapters Invited to Send Representatives to ASHI’s Leadership Training Conference 2015

CURRENT ASHI MEMBERSHIP

“Back to the Basics”

Inspectors/Logo: 105 skills

ASHI Certified Inspectors: 3,377

The invitations have gone out. Each chapter has been invited to send a representative to the 2015 Leadership Training Conference to prepare them to fill leadership roles in the chapter. This conference is going to be power-packed with a Fred Pryor speaker who will be giving presentations on mentoring, communication and more. Chapters will realize the greatest value if they send their up and coming leaders.

Associates: 2,010 Retired Members: 92 Affiliates: 75 TOTAL: 5,659 Members as of 8/7/2015

learn

INSPECT

member

homes

Friday, October 23, 2015 Breakfast & Lunch included Conference ends 4:00 pm

ASHI Service Program BuildFax Tricia Julian, 877-600-BFAX x161 TJulian@BuildFax.com www.buildfax.com http://go.buildfax.com/ASHI

> Organizing successful chapter events > Thoughts of being successful

Chapters that send at least one member to the conference will receive $300 to help defray the cost of attending. Contact the Radisson Hotel at 847-296-8866 to book a room (King room with breakfast buffet) at $104.00/night (tax not included). The group room rate deadline is October 5th.

IW Raffle to be held at LTC: Each Leadership Training Conference attendee will receive one chance to win the following: > I W 2015 package: includes one full conference registration and three nights at the Town & Country Resort in San Diego (Sunday, January 24 to Wednesday, January 27, 2016. > An iPad Mini

To win, the attendee must be registered as an LTC representative of an ASHI Chapter and have paid their ASHI membership dues for 2015-2016. The winner must be present to win. The drawing will take place and the winner announced at the LTC on Friday, October 24. Questions? Contact Russell K. Daniels at 847-954-3185 or by email at russelld@ashi.org.

Thirty-Five Years Robert J. Golden

Thirty Years Dexter Varnell

Twenty-Five Years Jamison Brown David Drewry Thomas Greenwaldt Clawson Jernigan

ASHI Reporter • September 2015

Twenty Years Jeffery Prior John Osterberg John Kerrigan

Jan Thompson Jerry Santangini Raymond Comey Bryan Tubbs

Fifteen Years

Ten Years

Carl Fowler Nick Iellamo David Glick Thomas Balai Don Grenier Russ Hume Robert Gould John Losquadro

Steve Castaneda David Block Michael Emery Stephen Butzer Bruce LaBell Susan Walker Robert Cook Troy Harrison

ASHI’s E&O Insurance Program: Business Risk Partners (BRP) www.inspectorinsurance.com 866-268-1327 ASHI Personal Lines Insurance Program: Liberty Mutual www.libertymutual.com/ashi

The program theme will be “Back to the Basics.” Here’s what will be covered:

ber Septem ies rsar Annive

January 24-27, 2016 InspectionWorld® and ASHI Board Meetings San Diego, CA

ASHI-ENDORSED MEMBERSHIP BENEFIT PROGRAMS inspect

> Team-Building, Mentoring & Coaching Skills > Social Media for Chapters > How to handle legal issues in your chapter

October 22-24, 2015 LTC and ASHI Board Meetings Des Plaines, IL

learn

1450 E. Touhy Avenue, Des Plaines, IL 60018 Program begins 1:00 pm Cocktail Reception & Dinner follows

learn

Radisson Hotel & Fountain Blue Conference Center Thursday, October 22, 2015

ASHI Event Calendar

James Ragland Jim Javier Thomas Cline Ron Snedden Bob Clark Peter Weber Jory Lannes Steven Rosenbaum Ray Thoroman Morgan Cohen Ron Ladd Stephen Handback

Five Years

Terry Dennison Rass Williams Bill Incorvia David Boulter Chris Duphily

ASHI Customer Appreciation Program: Moverthankyou.com Brent Skidmore, 864-386-2763 www.moverthankyou.com Brent@POWRsoft.com HomeAdvisor.com Brett Symes, 913-529-2683 www.homeadvisor.com ashi@homeadvisor.com LegalShield Joan Buckner, 505-821-3971 buckner.legalshieldassociate.com buckner@legalshieldassociate.com InspectionContracts.com Dave Goldstein, 800-882-6242 www.inspectioncontracts.com david@inspectoreducation.com OneSource Solutions 877-274-8632 http://www.osconnects.com/ashi/ Porch.com Eliab Sisay, 206-218-3920 www.porch.com Eliab@porch.com

ASHI Rebate Program Quill.com Dana Fishman, 800-634-0320 x1417 www.quill.com/ashi dana.fishman@quill.com Platinum Provider Millionaire Inspector Community Mike Crow www.mikecrow.com dreamtime@mikecrow.com Mention that you are an ASHI member ASHI-ENDORSED Exams ASHI Standard and Ethics Education Module Go to www.homeinspector.org, click on Education and Training, then click on the link for the ASHI Standard of Practice Education Module. NHIE Exam: 847-298-7750 www.homeinspectionexam.org ASHI-Endorsed Training Programs ASHI@Home Training System 800-268-7070 education@carsondunlop.com The ASHI School Kendra Eiermann, 888-884-0440 kendra@theashischool.com www.TheASHISchool.com

The Results are in! The bylaw vote to reduce the size of the ASHI board was approved: 1,009 - in favor 56 - opposed Currently, the board has 15 Directors. Beginning in the next election cycle, the membership will elect one less Director over the next three years until the board consists of 12 Directors. Curently, the Immediate PastPresident is a voting member of the Board. Beginning in 2016, the Immediate Past-President will no longer have a vote. Larry Cerro ASHI Secretary WE ARE COLLECTING PHOTOS FROM ASHI'S 40-YEAR HISTORY FOR A PHOTO AND MUSIC PRESENTATION AT INSPECTIONWORLD®. TO HAVE YOUR PHOTO CONSIDERED EMAIL IT TO ARLENEZ@ASHI.ORG.

33September 2015

• www.ASHIReporter.org

NEW POSTCARDS EMAIL!! Please send your name, city, state, photos, headings & captions to: postcards@ashi.org

444 Preparing for an IRS Audit

Must-Read Baby-Proofing Article on Page 12!

The Water Pressure Isn't What it Used to be Antiquated OOOOMPH.

This is a baby's room with a 1500-watt portable heater hanging at a 45-degree angle over the baby's sleeping and changing area. What were they thinking!

Don Fischer Extra Eyez Inspections Woodstock, IL

Bill Jacques American Inspection Svc. Inc. Ravenel, SC

Well, at Least They get Points for Symmetry....

Probably Should Have Serviced the HVAC Unit

Brian Snowberg Heartland Inspections Mahtomedi, MN

Plenty of Light in the Attic

Slow Going What is the R value of the insulation in this attic?

Dan Prescott Buyers Protection Group Saint Louis, MO

ASHI Reporter • September 2015

Jeremy Provan Pro Vantage Columbia, MD

Sink was draining very slowly…no wonder! Couldn't see where the two 3/4-inch copper lines terminated. Jeremy Provan Pro Vantage Columbia, MD

35September 2015

• www.ASHIReporter.org

Cable TV Conduit

Strike, You're Out! Tired of seeing cables? Just run them through the DWV pipe.

Just to clarify, jamb and strike are terms related to doors.

Jerry Kelly Southern Home Inspection LLC Birmingham, AL

Ken Meyer Portico Home Inspection LLC Portland, OR

Up Periscopes

Ken Meyer Portico Home Inspection LLC Portland, OR

This Must be the Latest in Wireless Technology.

Ken Meyer Portico Home Inspection LLC Portland, OR

ASHI Reporter • September 2015

Throw the book at ’em! Homeowners will refer often to How to Operate Your Home – and see your contact information each time. This high-quality book, packed with helpful information and clear illustrations, makes you look great. And educating your customer reduces liability. The most comprehensive trade-oriented manual on the market, it retails for $18.95, yet you pay as little as $4 apiece when purchasing in quantity.

160 pages, 350+ illustrations, helpful index Guides to seasonal maintenance Hot and cold climate information Explains the operation of all systems in a home Custom cover printing available Contact us about huge discounts for custom printing and large orders. Email Tom@misterfixit.com for a free copy. 20% off first order for new customers.

Buzzzzz…zaaaaap! Just in case the house is under water.

Help Your Customers and Boost Your Business

There are a lot of dead bees in your breaker panel.

htoyh.com

800-201-3829

Matthew Steger WIN Home Inspection Elizabethtown, PA

Here’s a Street NameJoke That Only a Home Inspector Would Appreciate.

Michael Chambers The BrickKicker of St. Louis St. Louis, MO

37September 2015

• www.ASHIReporter.org

By ASHI President, Alden Gibson

Why Radon Testing Makes Good Sense I

n April, I attended the conference of the Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (CARST) in Vancouver, British Columbia. The presence of radon in Canada had not been addressed as a concern until late 2007 when the Canadian government lowered the tolerances in Canada from 800 Bq/m3 (21.6 pCi/L) to 200 Bq/m3 (5.4 pCi/L). At that time, I became a member of the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) and a Residential Measurement Provider through the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP). I obtained equipment to perform short-term tests for radon in residential homes. I know many of my colleagues in the United States perform radon testing along with home inspections and have been doing so for more than 20 years. Radon testing fits in naturally with the home inspection.

For anyone unfamiliar with radon, radon is a gas formed by the breakdown of uranium, a natural radioactive material found in all soil and rock. Long-term exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking and is the leading cause of lung cancer in people who have never smoked. In short, the radiation produced by radon causes damage to our DNA. Our DNA is packaged carefully, wrapped around packaging proteins to form chromatin, which keeps DNA generally stable and amenable for use by the cells. When we breathe in radon, we also breathe in two radon byproducts—polonium 218 and polonium 214—that are produced from decay and are especially troublesome. These two particles release a high-energy particle called an alpha particle. When alpha particles come into contact with our lung tissue at a certain time, their decomposition can cause damage to our lungs. Ultraviolet (UV) light, metabolism, inflammation, air pollution, smoking and ionizing radiation can damage DNA. When DNA is damaged, our cells usually repair it correctly. However, errors may occur that can cause genetic mutations, which, in turn, can result in cancer. Any exposure to radiation can be harmful to our health. Being exposed to high amounts of radiation can result in mutation or death. Increased exposure to radon can increase a person’s chances of getting lung cancer. Radon is everywhere, and we breathe it in and out of our lungs. 38

ASHI Reporter • September 2015

Currently, the only recognized hazard from breathing in the decaying products of radon (polonium 218 and polonium 214) is an increased potential of developing lung cancer. No other health effects have been traced directly to radon.

As home inspectors, we can offer a simple, short-term test to determine the amount of radon in the house at that particular time. If the levels are higher than the recommended minimum government standards, the home inspector can recommend either that a long-term test be done to obtain a more accurate reading or that remediation be performed. If you currently test homes for radon or if you plan on doing radon testing in the future, I recommend that you become certified for the use of passive measurement devices through NEHA if you live in the United States, or certified through the Canadian–National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP) as a Residential Measurement Provider if you live in Canada. In addition, being a member of either of these organizations can only enhance your credibility and protect your reputation when you perform the radon testing according to the proper inspection protocols. To find out more about radon, visit the websites of the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (AARST, www. aarst.org) and the Canadian–National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP, www.c-nrpp.ca). To become a qualified Residential Measurement Provider in the United States, visit www.nrpp.info, or if you live in Canada, visit www.carst.ca. Currently, home inspectors routinely check homes for smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Testing the level of radon in homes makes sense as well. H 39September 2015 •

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ASHI Reporter â&#x20AC;˘ September 2015