Blog | Ferguson Home Inspections

Does Your Roof Chimney Need a Cricket?

Exterior, Home Improvement, Home Inspection, Home Maintenance

What is a cricket? A cricket is a double triangle structure located on a roof behind the chimney. Below is a typical cricket. What does a cricket do? A cricket continues the slope (and thus flow of water) of the roof down. It prevents…

Deck Joist Hangers

Exterior, Home Improvement, Home Maintenance

Building or Updating Your Deck? Whether you are planning on tackling that deck project yourself or hiring someone, make certain correct construction practices are being used. You don't want to find out the hard way that substandard building…

Fireplace Maintenace and Safety

Home Maintenance, Seasonal Inspection

Fireplaces and Wood Stoves It's late October here in Arkansas and getting to be that time of year homeowners want to get that cozy fire going in the fireplace or wood stove. Before you do, make certain you are knowledgeable about your fireplace…

Whole House Attic Fans

Uncategorized

What do you need to know about whole house attic fans? Many older homes featured whole house attic fans as an efficient means of cooling the home on cool evenings. In addition, they provided the home with fresh air. These fans can still…

Septic Systems: Homebuyer’s Guide

Home Inspection, Home Maintenance

What is a Septic System One in every five homes feature a septic system, and if you are buying a home in a rural area there's a good chance that home has a septic system. If the home is not connected to a local sewer system, then it will…

AC Air Filters

Uncategorized

One of the most important components of your home's HVAC system is the AC air filter. Make sure you know where these are located in your home. There may be only one, or there may be more depending on how large your system is, or if you have…

Spa Tub Maintenance

Home Maintenance

Spa tubs are not maintenance free and are often the source of issues home inspectors find. Hopefully, your spa tub is equipped with a panel (like the one in the photo) to access the whirlpool pump and plumbing. Often, these panels are located…

Dishwasher High Loop

Plumbing

What is a dishwasher high loop? Above you can see the high loop in the photo on the right. In the left photo, there is no high loop. The line in both photos is the drain line from the dishwasher. It typically connects to the sink plumbing…

Unprotected Doors

Exterior, Home Improvement

Does your home have exterior doors that are unprotected? Many homes have a flat, unprotected exterior wall with a door. This is common for both front and back doors and was a particularly popular design for the front of homes built in the 1980s. The problem with this style is the exposure the exterior doors often receive. Ultraviolet rays from the sun will damage basically any surface over time, especially if that surface is not maintained correctly. The most significant (and costly) damage is usually from rain.

Rodents!

Pest Control, Seasonal Inspection

If you're like most homeowners you probably don't give a lot of thought to the unfinished spaces of your home. These spaces are often uninviting and may be difficult to access. For these same reasons, rodents find these areas very appealing. Attics and crawlspaces are the ideal living spaces for rodents. They are dark, there is very little human presence, and there is at least some protection from weather. In addition, these spaces often offer other luxuries for rodents such as insulation for nesting and wires for chewing.