Additional Services

Investor Property Inspections

Includes Multi-Unit Housing

Investor property inspections are performed prior to purchase as well as periodically during ownership. Pre-purchase inspections are performed to identify defects prior
to taking ownership to negotiate repairs or price adjustments which reflect the condition of the property. Periodic inspections for properties currently in your portfolio would ensure the identification of needed repairs following say a long term tenant's departure.
 Long-term tenants sometimes neglect to mention repairs and/or abuse the property during their tenancy. Identifying those problems early is the key to profitable ownership.

Seller Certified Home Program (Pre-Listing Inspections)

Listing inspections are very good for the homeowner who may not be in tune with the condition of their home. A great many sales are canceled due to the buyer's shock at the "functional condition" of the home.
It may look great, but have serious technical, safety, or functional issues present without the owner's knowledge. Having the home inspected prior to placing on the market is the ideal way to identify and either repair or disclose the issue found in the Inspection Report.
Obviously, repairing the items would be the most beneficial towards completing the sale. However, there may be financial reasons where the owner can't make the repairs. Disclosing them up front and pricing the home based upon that disclosure will often times produce a higher net sales price for the owner.

Infrared Moisture Survey
Infrared thermography is a powerful non-invasive means of observing a building. Infrared cameras see "heat", our natural eyes see "light", therefore infrared cameras by definition can see what our eyes cannot see. In the application of moisture surveys, building materials
that are wet will be subjected to the process of evaporation and therefore be represented as a "cooler" image on the LCD screen. This will alert the inspector that there is a "suspect" area and it will be documented using infrared photography and natural photography in the report.
This survey can be combined with a general home inspection to include an infrared survey of the buildings walls, ceilings, and floor for moisture.

Infrared Electrical Survey                                                                   
Infrared thermography is a powerful non-invasive means of observing a building. Infrared cameras see "heat", our natural eyes see "light", therefore infrared cameras by definition can see what our eyes cannot see. In the application of electrical surveys, overheated breakers, switches, or outlets will "glow" when they are relatively warmer than the surrounding environment. This relative temperature will provide meaningful information in the observation of some critical electrical safety concerns.


Infrared Insulation and HVAC Survey

With high energy costs wall and ceiling insulation has become a hot topic. Infrared thermography is a powerful non-invasive means of observing a building. Infrared cameras see "heat", our natural eyes see "light", therefore infrared cameras by definition can see what our eyes cannot see. In the application of insulation surveys, walls and ceilings that have missing insulation will appear as a different color (representing a different temperature band). This will alert the inspector that this area is "suspect" and may require additional testing to confirm missing insulation. The HVAC survey will include observation of the air temperature at the return and supply to check that the unit is operating in its manufacturers specified range. This service will include observation of the flue/chimney as it passes through the ceiling for proper clearance. Flues and chimneys can reach temperatures of 300 F, when in close contact to drywall or framing this is a fire hazard.

Home Energy Loss Inspection

Blower Door tests are used to measure the air tightness level of building envelopes, diagnose and demonstrate air leakage problems, estimate natural infiltration rates, estimate efficiency losses from building air leakage, and certify construction integrity.

To find out how drafty your home is we use a device called a blower door . The blower door is a metal frame with a vinyl sheet and a large fan that is set up on an external doorway. Gauges and a computer are attached to the framework. Essentially, the blower door works by lowering the pressure in the home and measuring the amount of air flowing out through the fan.  

What is a blower door test?

A blower door test is a diagnostic tool used to measure and quantify the air tightness of your home. Air leakage can result in unnecessary usage of energy resources and excess wear and tear of heating/cooling systems. This results in additional costs to the homeowner of both higher utility costs and reduction of the life of the home's heating/cooling system.

How is the test performed?

The blower door test consists of a powerful calibrated fan, an adjustable door frame to seal the fan into an exterior doorway of a house, and gauges to measure fan flow and house pressures created by the fan. In a typical blower door test the fan blows air out of the house to create a slight pressure difference between the inside and outside of the house. This pressure difference forces outside air into the house through all holes, cracks, and penetrations in the building envelope.

Do I need a test?

Deciding to have a blower door test performed is a personal decision. If you are experiencing discomfort in any area of your home and/or you are paying high utility bills, we highly recommend an energy home evaluation be performed on your home. Air leakage around windows, doors, mail slots, pipe and wire feed throughways, foundation seals, wood stoves, fireplaces, old caulking, ductwork, ductwork chases, electrical receptacles and attics, make up the typical home air infiltration sites and are often the causes of the problem.

What are typical results?

National data shows that 20%-30% of a home's energy usage is lost due to air infiltration. On both existing and new homes there are typically areas where air leakage causes uncomfortable rooms except for those homes built under the Utility's Energy Programs. These homes have already had a blower door test to quantify air leakage. The sealing of air leakage is very cost effective.

Where Does Leakage Occur?

Warren Home Inspections and Leak Detection understands the factors that affect air infiltration. The following are common air leakage sites:
1. Attic Access/Baseboards and Mouldings
2. Flues/Duct chases
3.Doors/Windows
4. Dropped Ceilings
5. Wall Cavities
6.Lighting
7. Plumbing
8. Switches/Outlets
9. Rim Joists
10. Cracks/Holes

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