Structure Talk

Dr. Allison Bailes, author of the Energy Vanguard blog joins the show to talk about air return ducts.

They talk about heating and air conditioning systems. Allison discusses that the most affected are the bedroom and it's important to have a return air pathway to help with better airflow. He then talks about having central return and dedicated return pathways and how to set these systems up. According to him, common methods include door undercuts and transfer grills.

Allison also shares about Manual J., a protocol for doing calculations to find the heating and cooling load on the house in the summer and winter. They further talk about the proper sizing of these systems for homes.

E-mail us your comments, questions, and suggestions at [email protected].

Today’s show is about the top inspection defects that could make buyers think twice before sealing the deal.

Reuben and Tessa discuss various foundation problems which can be caused by failed water management systems. This led them to talk about soil conditions in the Minneapolis area. They tackle their inspection experiences with hidden fire or smoke damage, electrical wiring, stucco siding, roof or shingle problems, and sewer issues.

Bill shares that these defects can be inspected, found, and fixed.

Send your questions to [email protected].

People want to maximize space in the house, the bedroom included. What are the allowed appliances in the bedroom?

The trio talks about having a gas fireplace, natural gas furnaces, room and water heaters, decorative appliances, and others. Reuben establishes that gas appliances are not allowed in sleeping rooms and bathrooms unless specific requirements are met. He highlights the need for a direct vent two-pipe system.

Reuben talks about compliance with the Fuel Gas Code. They discuss the code exceptions as well as the qualifications of appliances for them to be allowed or disallowed in the sleeping rooms. For more on this topic, check out Reuben’s latest blog post on the topic, Are furnaces allowed in bedrooms?

Send your comments, corrections, and questions to [email protected]

A quality bedroom makes a house more marketable. This episode talks about qualifications, the technical and practical aspects of a bedroom.

Reuben defines what a bedroom is. Tessa talks about the qualified dimensions, floor area, ceiling height, and headroom. They also talk about the practical and technical requirements such as the heat source, safety requirements such as emergency exits, alarms, and detectors.

Bill asks about the requirements for bedrooms in the basement, the main floor, and attics. They discuss if a closet is required to have a closet.

Learn more about the required bedroom dimensions here: https://structuretech.com/floor-and-ceiling-requirements-1-5-story-homes/.

Continue to send your questions to [email protected].

Mike Twitty joins the show to talk about electrical questions that were accumulated from listener emails.

Reuben asks about surge protection devices. He mentions that Structure Tech doesn't add information in reports about surge protectors. Mike explains the types of surge protection devices, what they do, where they are installed, and which appliance or equipment they're used with. He also shares when and how surges occur in houses.

They also talk about GFCI and AFCI circuit breakers, as well as nuisance tripping.

Reuben also revisits the issue with Challenger panels. They also talk about the Bulldog, ITE, and split bus panels. They discuss why and when panels should be replaced. Mike highlights that there is a big difference between repairing and replacing panels.

Learn from Mike Twitty's blog: https://www.iaei.org/page/2020-07-surge-protection-for-smart-homes

Continue to send questions to [email protected].

Today, Reuben talks about simple air conditioning maintenance items for indoor air quality and air comfort.

Reuben shares three maintenance tips. He first discusses the importance of changing furnace filters and how it can lead to restricted or reduced airflow. He and Tessa then talk about how an oversized AC system and unchanged filters can also negatively affect the health of the house.

The second tip is to keep the condensing coil clean. Reuben mentions that the condenser machine is commonly impacted by cottonwood seeds, grass clippings, dirt, dust, and debris. Bill clarifies that rotting of the surface area can impact the cooling capacity of units. Tessa asks for tips on how homeowners can clean condensers.

The last one is about the condensate line where moisture drains down as condensate. He talks about the approved materials for the line and then highlights paying attention to where it is and where it's going. They also talk about condensation problems from AC being installed in the attic. Rueben ends by sharing a tip on how to fix a clogged condensate drain line.

Send questions via email at [email protected].

Today's show is about handyman services and its business difficulties.

Daniel Felt of Kura Home shares that they ventured into providing handyman services for more than a year. While it was booming it also encountered manpower and financial challenges. He mentioned that one of their major challenges is managing expectations with their clients. He talks about the miscommunications they had with clients and the creative ways of addressing them.

Reuben sought advice for homeowners who are looking to hire a handyman. Tessa inquires about the hourly rates of handymen and the charge for materials. Bill asks about how Daniel drew franchise agreements with local companies.

Daniel also updates about the five ancillary services in addition to Kura Homes' routine maintenance package.

Reuben and Daniel are sponsors of a radio program The All-Around Home Improvement Hour on Talk Radio AM 1130 every Saturday at noon.

Realtor Joe Schwartzbauer from the Grey Duck Properties team joins the show to talk about real estate market updates.

Joe mentions that the market is starting to get back to normal from the limitations of the pandemic. He talks about the rising interest rates and possible rate-lock, the seller's behavior and mentality, and home inspection strategies. He mentions that 42% of the latest accepted offers waived the right to have a home inspection which hinders coming up with an informed decision.

They talk about transaction coordinating companies that provide information to buyers, inspection guarantees, home warranties, and insurance claims. Joe also shares that client-facing and being with customers gives their business a boost. He highlights that getting a home inspection steers clear from expensive repairs and gives sellers and buyers peace of mind.

Get in touch with Joe via [email protected], their social media accounts, or visit greyduckhomes.com.

Today's podcast covers bad electric panels, as well as panels with bad reputations that really aren't bad.

This includes a discussion of Challenger panels, Bulldog/pushmatic panels, FPE Stab-Lok Panels, and Zinsco/Sylvania panels.

E-mail [email protected] for your questions, comments or other correspondence.

Founder of Zsako Home Inspections Inc., Istvan Zsako joins today's show to talk about sewer inspections.

Istvan is a fellow home inspector and entrepreneur from New Mexico, with over 22 years of experience in Home Building, Remodeling, and Home Maintenance. He shares how he got into sewer camera inspection and the training he underwent as well as the licensing requirements for home inspections. He highlights the necessary training required to effectively and efficiently inspect sewers.

Reuben asks about the worst stuff found during the sewer inspection. Istvan discusses the Orangeburg pipe and the use of wood pulp and tar that absorbs moisture and becomes distorted under pressure. He talks about the type of sewer pipes used in old and new homes and the common problems they see in the sewer lines. He discusses the right tools used in inspecting sewers such as the kind of camera and the length of cables. They also discuss pulling out and installing toilets when needed, changing gaskets, and caulking and sealing the toilet.

Tessa inquires about the credentials that consumers have to look for when choosing a sewer inspector. Istvan shares that certification and mentorship with people who have the knowledge and experience is an advantage.

Istvan also talks about his book The Victory Mindset. He shares that he loves inspiring other people to develop their passion and drive to go after their dreams and live the lives they always wanted to live. To join Istvan's sewer training, visit sewertraining.com.

Send your questions and podcast topic request to [email protected].