Prepare for Hurricane Sandy

Long Island should cast a cautious eye towards Hurricane Sandy and we can’t say it enough do not wait till the last-minute to prepare your family and your house for a Hurricane. If you do wait until the last-minute you will find yourself with all the other people who waited to prepare themselves for the storm as well. Frightened and disorganized people are not nice to be around. Do you really want to get into a fight over the last pack of batteries or sheet of plywood?

Here are some suggestions on how to better prepare yourself for the hurricane.

1) Have cash on hand If the power goes out so will the ATM machines

2) Board up windows and doors with 5/8 inch plywood

3)  Secure outside lawn furniture and children’s toys if they can be picked up by the wind

4) Clean the gutters of leaves and debris to prevent leaks inside your home

5) Turn your refrigerator to the coldest setting possible in case the power goes off this will keep the food fresher longer.

6) Fill large pots and your bathtub with water in case city water is affected from the storm

7) Put a full tank of gas in your car

8) Plan an evacuation route with your family and learn alternate routes to safety

9) The location of the nearest shelter if you have pets make sure the shelter you are going to is pet friendly

10) If you’re ordered to evacuate please leave immediately stick to marked evacuation routes if possible.

11) Store your important documents like passports, social security card, birth certificates, and deeds in a watertight container

Here is a list of supplies you should have on hand before the  storm

1) At least a three day water supply one gallon per person per day

2) Three days worth of food. Some items include canned meats, canned or dried fruits, canned vegetables, canned juice, peanut butter, jelly, salt free crackers, energy or protein bars, trail mix, and dry cereal

3) A manual can opener

4) Flashlights

5) A battery-powered radio preferably a weather radio

6) Extra batteries

7) A first aid kit including latex gloves, sterile dressings, a cleaning agent, antibiotic ointment, burn ointment, Band-Aids in small medium and large sizes, eye wash, a thermometer, aspirin pain reliever, antacids, and any other prescribed medication.

8) Cell phones and chargers

9) Contact information for your family and friends

10) Baby supplies

11) Pet supplies

It’s important not to panic during the preparation of a hurricane but keep in mind that a hurricane should not be taken lightly either.

http://www.MyLongIslandHomeInspection.com

Queens Home Inspection

It's not just a good idea to be present at your home inspection it should be your first priority on the day of the home inspection. While there are some situations when you cannot attend it is simply the best way to get the most comprehensive information about the home you are about to purchase and see first-hand any issues that might be a concern to you or your home inspector.

We recommend that all clients of Solid City Home Inspection attend their home inspection and accompany their home inspector throughout the  duration of the home inspection. The only areas we ask that you do not accompany the home inspector is on the roof and in the attic. Obviously, these are areas of high potential for injury and only the home inspector should inspect.

Here are some more ways to get the most out of your home inspection:

Make sure you are there. The number one way to get the most out of your home inspection, is to make sure you are there and ask a bunch of questions. In addition to inspecting the home your home inspector will teach you about the house you are about to buy so we encourage your questions. We will show you the locations of major systems and components (i.e. important shut off valves like the gas and water,etc.) It is  important for you to know all the major systems of the home to cover any questions you might have. 

Make Sure You Have The Time. Expect your  home inspection to take some time, usually between 2 and 3 hours depending on the size of the house. Don’t schedule your home inspection when you have to rush to another appointment or when you are otherwise distracted.

Make Sure The Home Is Accessible. If the property is vacant or a foreclosure this will usually not be a problem. If the house is occupied make sure to meet with your real estate agent and the home owners to make sure all areas of the home will be accessible to your home inspector on the day of the inspection and ALL utilities will be on.

Limit Family and Friends. There are many reasons why you may want to bring others along for your home inspection—for an extra set of eyes, or to help you ask questions or understand the home inspection information. But limit any guests that might distract you or the home inspector from the home inspection process or tempt you to discuss aesthetic topics that are better left for later.

Get all the inspections or testing done at once. Getting the most out of your home inspection may mean getting some additional inspections or tests done at the same time. Consider mold testing, thermal imaging or a termite inspections, and get everything needed to go to closing. 

http://www.MyLongIslandHomeInspection.com

Queens Home Inspection with thermal imaging

A Certified home inspection company that is equipped with thermal imaging cameras and properly trained and certified home inspectors can find problems with a home that a normal home inspection company can not .  Some of these problems are

- Moisture penetration through the homes exterior covering, whether the home has brick, stucco or vinyl siding this can be a major issue.

- Improperly installed or deteriorated insulation.

- Water leaks and air leaks around windows and doors that could lead to mold or high utility bills.

- Plumbing leaks inside the home, including leaking pipes, improperly installed toilets, leaking shower pans, and bathtubs

-  Uninsulated HVAC ducting that may have not been properly sealed. This can cause condensation dripping in attics and crawlspaces.

- Improperly installed or insufficient insulation in ceilings and walls.

- Leaking roofs, skylights, roof vent piping and roof vents.

With Thermal Imaging Technology Solid City Home Inspection will help protect you against hidden problems or damage. Solid City Home Inspections is able to provide our clients with a more thorough home inspection when buying a home or selling your home. We are also able to save you money by identifying the source of any underlying issues and eliminating any destructive work to find the source. We are also able to determine any areas that could be more energy efficient within your home.

No matter if you’re the seller or the buyer contact Solid City Home Inspections to schedule your home inspection today. http://www.MyLongIslandHomeInspection.com

Here is some examples of thermal imaging in use.

A Plumbing leak in garage ceiling- not visible during typical inspection process.	Plumbing leak indicated by infrared scan (dark blue area).
Interior hallway in a newly constructed home appears to be insulated.	Infrared Scan Indicates Missing Insulation.
Air conditioning duct work during regular visual inspection.	Infrared scan indicates that cold air is leaking from duct work into attic (dark blue area).
Electrical panel during normal inspection process appears to be functioning properly.	Infrared scan of the panel indicates overheated electrical breaker & wire. This is a fire hazard that would have been overlooked during a typical visual inspection.
Plumbing leak at shower liner is not noted during typical visual inspection.	Infrared scan indicates that water is leaking from shower under vinyl flooring.
Insulated windows appear to be functioning properly.	Infrared scan indicates that heat is escaping through failed thermal seal (noted at lower right side window).

Queens Home Inspection Fall Maintenance Checklist 

Long Island Home Inspection - Queens Home Inspection Provided By Solid City Home Inspection 

Fall maintenance checklist for Long Island home owners and Home Buyers.

Fall is officially here on Long Island and Queens. It’s time to get to work on your maintenance chores. It’s much better working on these maintenance issues while it’s still nice outside so don’t put these projects off until the winter.

This fall maintenance checklist was completed by Solid City Home inspection providing Home Inspections throughout Long Island and New York City.

Water 

1. Disconnect any garden hoses to prevent damage to them from the water freezing inside.
2. If your exterior faucets are not frost free turn the water supply off to them and drain the water out
3. If you have a lawn sprinkler system it needs to be drained and blown out with a compressor. The water supply also needs to be turned off to the lawn sprinklers to prevent damage from freezing.

Air

1) Clean the central air unit. Remove leaves and debris and cover for the wintertime. Solid City Home Inspection recommends a HVAC technician come and service the central air unit at least once a year.

2) Clean the clothes dryer duct. The damper on the outside of the home should move freely and close easily. Excessive amounts of dryer lint have been known to cause house fires. 

3) Check the bathroom and kitchen exhaust vents for wasp nest or other debris that might be clogging them. 

Roof

1) Clean the soffit vents. They can get clogged with lint, leaves, paint, and other debris. The soffit vents are located under the roof overhang. 

2) Check the roof and the vents for any birds nest.

3) Check and clean all the gutters after all the leaves have fallen off the trees. 

General Exterior

1. Seal any holes around the house. Also check for loose or dried calking around vent pipes, exterior faucets, Central air lines etc. 
2. Replace or repair any damage caulking or weather stripping around windows and doors. 

Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

1) Smoke Detectors should be installed in every bedroom and in every common area on every level of the house. 

2) CO Detectors should be located 10 feet from every bedroom 

1. Check the ages of your detectors. Smoke detectors are good for up to 7 years and CO detectors up to 5 years. Make sure the batteries are fresh and do not need replacing. 

Furnace

1. Have a professional inspect and tune up your furnace.
2. Replace the batteries in your thermostats. If your thermostats fail while you are away you may come home to burst pipes and massive property damage. 
3. Replace your furnace filter this should be done every two to three months depending on the filter you use. The arrow on the filter should be pointed toward the furnace. 

Fireplaces and Wood burning Stoves

1) Have the flues and chimneys professionally cleaned every year to prevent any chimney fires. 

2) Do not burn any woods that are not hard woods (Oak, Maple, etc.) Burning woods such as pine can cause a chimney fire. 

3) Clean the dust and debris out of the bottom of any gas or wood fireplace inserts. 

Call 516-350-9200 or Visit http://www.MyLongIslandHomeInspection to schedule your Long Island Home Inspection or Queens Home Inspection