Certinspectors Blog
4 Steps to Clean Your Chimney at Home
Over time the chimney lining will develop a buildup of creosote, a byproduct of wood burning in your fireplace. Creosote is flammable and poses a fire risk. The material should be removed to protect your family and keep your home safe. Here are four steps you'll take...
Ways to Repel Mosquitos from Your Home
Summertime is the best time to spend late nights outside enjoying the nice weather, but when mosquitos decide to show up, it ruins the fun. They can be annoying and are known to carry diseases. Here are some ways to repel mosquitos from your home. Repelling Mosquitos...
5 Ways to Reduce Utility Bills
Energy and water conservation are essential for various reasons. You’ll save money, boost property value, and protect the environment. Below are five ways to help you reduce utility bills at home. Reduce Utility Bills: Switch to Smart Bulbs An easy and inexpensive way...
5 Ways Rising Gas Prices Affect Homeowners
Rising gas prices are affecting everything from summer road trip plans to what goes in the shopping cart at the grocery store. Even those working from home or driving electric or hybrid cars will still pay a premium for many products and services impacted by the...
5 Issues Found in Home Inspections
Home inspections are a critical part of homeownership. Whether you’re in the market for a new home or want to sell one, you’ll want to understand the most common issues found in home inspections. While a home inspector won’t give a pass or fail grade, they’ll help...
4 Ideas to Incorporate Modern Technology in Your Home
As technology evolves, manufacturers continuously develop innovative devices and features that change how we manage and secure our households. Technology in the home is designed to assist homeowners and make life easier. If you’re planning updates to your property,...
10 Cleaning Tips for Pet Owners
Living with a pet can include a few challenges, one of which is keeping the house clean. Removing fur, sweeping up spilled food, scrubbing stains, and washing muddy paws are essential to maintaining neat, odor-free living spaces. To help you manage these chores, here...
6 Ways You Can Prevent Pests in Your Home
One of the most frustrating situations for any homeowner is a pest infestation. Whether it's ants, mice, cockroaches, or any other insect or rodent invading your home, pests are always a nuisance. The best way to deal with these annoying critters is to prevent pests...
4 Ways to Get Your Home Ready to Sell
Things to do Before Listing Your Home When you are ready to buy your next home, it's exciting to reap the rewards of all the time and effort you've put into your current home when you sell. Before you do that, however, take time to get your home ready to sell so...
9 Ways to Prepare Your Plumbing for Winter
Keeping Your Plumbing Safe During Winter Frigid conditions take a toll on your plumbing system. If you don’t winterize plumbing pipes, they may freeze burst, which will damage your pipes and your property. Water and plumbing damage is expensive to repair. Here’s how...
5 Tips to Declutter Your Home
Decluttering can be a time-consuming task, but it is worth the effort. Clutter-free living spaces will save time and money, create more physical space, and reduce stress. Here are five tips to help you declutter your home. 1. Set Aside Time to Declutter Your Home It...
5 Fall Lawn Maintenance Tips
Fall may not seem like the best time to think about caring for your lawn, considering winter is coming. However, it is important to carry out lawn maintenance during fall in preparation for winter and spring. The more moderate cool weather helps nurture the grassroots...
12 Tips for New Homeowners
Buying a house can feel like a whirlwind. One day the home is in escrow and the next thing you know, you're ready to make the move into a new place. This is an exciting but overwhelming time. We’ve outlined a few tips for new homeowners that will help create a...
4 Tips for Smoke Detector Placement in the Home
When it comes to fire safety, smoke detectors are our first line of defense. If a house fire breaks out, every second matters, so it’s necessary to alert the occupants as soon as possible. Since smoke detectors have become common in American homes since the 1970s,...
5 Summer Home Upgrades to Get Started On
Summer is a busy time with vacations, kids’ summer camps, and gathering with friends. However, it’s smart to take some time to make home improvements to keep your house looking its best. Here are some of the best summer home upgrades to make at this time of year....
Tips and Tricks for Babyproofing Your Home
Babyproofing your home is essential for your kids' safety and your peace of mind. For expectant parents, it may be overwhelming trying to prepare the house before the new baby arrives. Here are a few tips to make your living spaces safer for small children. What Do I...
Tips for Septic Tank Maintenance
The septic tank is the primary sewage treatment option in areas where a city’s sewer system does not reach. The septic system’s primary job is to break down sewage. For the system to function correctly, it needs periodic cleaning and proper maintenance. Being...
Tips for Dealing with Mold in the Home
In its natural environment, mold contributes to the decomposition of organic materials. Indoors, mold causes stains and damage to your property. It also affects the condition of the indoor air and, without timely and proper removal, mold can lead to an unsafe living...
5 Ways to Promote Wellness at Home
Over the past year, there has been a focus on health in the midst of a global pandemic with most of us spending more time at home than ever before. There are ways that you can actively make your home a healthier place to live. Here are 5 ways to promote wellness at...
5 Home Water Filters That Make Your Drinking Water Safer
Clean drinking water is essential for the health and well-being of you and your loved ones. Choosing a water filtration system that's perfect for your home ensures that you'll get a safe glass of drinking water every time you turn on the tap. Here's a list of five...
5 Ways to Warm Up Your Outdoor Living Space
It’s nice to be able to enjoy your outdoor living spaces, even when the weather is cold. There are methods to warm up your deck, porch, or patio that can increase your time spent outside in winter. Which of these methods will work best to warm up your outdoor living...
6 Easy Tips to Be a Better Homeowner
Owning a home is a significant investment of time and money. You no longer have to deal with leases, landlords, and paying rent, and you can decide how to update the space or renovate your home. A home is also a big responsibility. Here are some tips that will help...
Tips for Safety During the Holidays
The holidays are favorite times of the year for many of us. There is an abundance of food and time away from the office, often spent with family and friends. Make sure your events are enjoyable and safe this season, even though things may look different due to the...
6 Ways to Keep A Fireplace Safe
There are many benefits to having a fireplace. In the cold winter months, they add warmth and ambiance to a room. Sitting in front of the fire is relaxing, but having a fireplace comes with some responsibilities. Without proper maintenance, a fireplace can be a risk...
5 Ways to Prepare for a Home Inspection
When your home is under contract, the buyers will likely be conducting a home inspection in the near future. A successful home inspection makes it less likely the buyers will withdraw from the contract and will help close the deal more quickly. Here are five ways to...
How to Organize Your Home Office
With more people working at home, keeping a neat and clean office is important for productivity and peace of mind. Balancing chores with office hours can be a challenge. To avoid spending more time than necessary in the office, here are some tips to help you organize...
5 Ways to Upgrade Your Outdoor Living Spaces
In warmer weather, people spend more time outside, especially when you have comfortable and spacious outdoor areas. Look around at the outdoor areas of your home and use some of these ideas to upgrade your outdoor living spaces this summer. Extend Your Deck to Upgrade...
Summertime Home Maintenance Tasks
With warmer weather, you may be inspired to get outside and work on some projects around the house. This summertime home maintenance list offers a few chores to get started on this season. Summertime Home Maintenance: Clean the Gutters Clogged gutters trap leaves,...
Grilling Safety Tips to Protect Your Family, Pets, and Property
Each July, home grilling accidents reach their peak. Around 64% of homeowners in the U.S. own a grill. Going into summer, it’s important to follow these grilling safety tips at your next cookout. Family Grilling Safety Tips It’s reported that grill fires cause 37...
The Most Overlooked Areas to Spring Clean
It’s that time of year. The weather is warming and you’re feeling inspired to get to work on your annual spring cleaning. Even if you have a well-established cleaning routine, there are places you may overlook. So you won’t neglect them, here is a list of often...
Lifespans of Appliances in Your Home
If your appliances came with your house, you may not be sure of their age. Knowing the lifespans of appliances in your home will help you budget for new ones. Furthermore, newer models are more efficient, so they will lower the cost of utilities. Read more to learn...
The Connection Between Radon and Lung Cancer
The connection between radon and lung cancer is important to know about. Still, not enough people get their homes tested for this dangerous gas. Read on to learn everything you need to know about radon and how to protect your family. What is Radon Gas and Where Does...
4 Renovations That Add Value to Your Home
When you are planning to sell your home, you want to present the property in the best possible light to get a good return on your investment. The following projects are among the most impactful home renovations that a homeowner can invest in, prior to listing a home...
8 Fire Safety Tips for the Home
Thousands of house fires happen every year. Common causes are cooking, heating the home, and faulty wiring. Follow these fire safety tips to help protect your family and your belongings. 1. Installing Smoke Alarms is the Most Important Fire Safety Tip With smoke...
How to Heat Your Home Efficiently
During the colder months, people spend time indoors where it’s warm. Running space heaters or using the HVAC both use a significant amount of energy and increase your power bill in the winter. If you want to reduce your carbon footprint and save money on your utility...
5 Simple Ideas for Safe Halloween Decorating
Halloween decor sets a festive mood for your home, but the process of decorating can be dangerous. Each year, people experience accidents and house fires when decorating for holidays. It’s important to know the basics of safe Halloween decorating. Safe Halloween...
5 of the Most Rewarding Fall Home Improvement Projects
Fall Home Improvement Projects That Make a Difference Fall is the perfect time to complete home improvement projects. You'll be rewarded with a more comfortable home for cold weather and a lower energy bill. Here are 5 fall home improvement projects recommended to...
7 Home Safety Essentials Every Household Should Have
When it comes to your family's well-being, it is better to be safe than sorry. Precautions are key to protect your household if disaster strikes. Stock your home with these seven home safety essentials so you're prepared to respond to emergencies. 1. Put Smoke Alarms...
5 Home Maintenance Costs That Surprise First-Time Home Buyers
First-time homebuyers may not know to plan for home maintenance costs. When buying your first house, budget for your mortgage and the additional expenses that go along with homeownership. Here are some of the home maintenance items that often surprise first-time home...
Ways to Save Water at Home
During the summer, households tend to use more water than in cooler months. Water bills may increase from watering the lawn and plants, kids playing in the sprinkler, washing your car, or taking more frequent showers. Making efforts to save water at home helps your...
3 Reasons to Order a Pre-Listing Home Inspection
Home sellers can choose to order a home inspection before placing a residential property on the market and gain some important advantages. In this article, we explore the benefits of a pre-listing home inspection. Benefits of a Pre-Listing Home Inspection The reasons...
Tips to Maintain Safe and Healthy Living Spaces
Keeping your home clean is essential for your family's wellness. Consider these easy ways to improve and maintain safe and healthy living spaces. For Safe Living Spaces Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors Install smoke detectors on each level of your home and...
Improve Your Home’s Air Quality With These 6 Tips
One aspect of healthy living that people rarely think about is the quality of the air in the home. Poor air quality can harm your health. Fortunately, there are many ways to improve your home's air quality. Here are six changes you can make to get you started. Ways To...
3 Ways to Prevent Mold from Growing in Your Home
While mold has its purpose in nature, it does no good growing in your home and is tough to eliminate once it spreads. Mold can grow anywhere there is moisture, even in areas where you can’t see it like behind your home’s drywall. Along with mold being an expensive...
Four Benefits of Thermal Imaging in Home Inspections
If you are preparing to order a home inspection soon, look for an inspector who offers thermal imaging services. At first glance, this type of advanced technology may seem unnecessary. After all, a general property inspection will help you to identify many types of...
Certinspectors is turning everything PINK for 2019!
Certinspectors is turning everything PINK for 2019!One morning this past October, I was getting my morning cup of coffee, and I had a choice of the regular white cup or the pink cup. I chose pink. I then saw pink everywhere. October is National Breast...
5 Tips for Home Security During the Holiday Season
Are you traveling over the holidays? Have a plan in place for home security during the holiday season so that you can have peace of mind while you're away. The holidays can be stressful enough, so protect your home against a break-in while you’re gone. Best Practices...
5 Ways to Minimize the Dangers of Radon In Your Home
Radon results from the natural breakdown of radioactive elements like uranium, radium, and thorium in the soil and rocks. There are health hazards that result from exposure to radon gas. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Surgeon General's offices...
Easy Projects for Home Energy Efficiency Improvements
Making energy efficiency improvements to your home isn’t a seasonal project, but fall is a perfect time to do it. Attics are more comfortable to work in than in summer, caulk cures faster than in winter, and it will get your home ready for the cooler weather ahead....
