Barry Stone
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Surge suppressor may not save your computerFeb 23, 2018 5:00 am - Q. My home was built in 1958, in the days when electric outlets were ungrounded. When I purchased the property last year, my home inspector mentioned this could pose a p...
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Insurance company rejects electrical fusesFeb 16, 2018 5:00 am - Q. The home I'm selling is very old and the main electric panel contains fuses rather than circuit breakers. The buyer's home inspector says the electrical system is not...
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Why a textured ceiling shouldn't be covered with drywallFeb 02, 2018 5:00 am - Q. When we remodeled our home, we wanted to get rid of the "cottage cheese" ceilings, but we didn't want the mess of scraping them off. Instead, we covered the ceilings ...
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The sources of window leakageJan 30, 2018 6:00 am - Q. Last winter, one of our windows leaked for the third year in a row. We tried caulking and even installed an awning over the window: all to no avail. Each time it rain...
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Buyers seek best material for home exteriorJan 19, 2018 5:00 am - Q. In the desert town where we are moving, some houses have stucco exteriors, and others have either vinyl or aluminum siding. We asked our home inspector which is best,...
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Making an electrical problem understandableJan 05, 2018 6:00 am - Q. I've got a problem that's so technical I hope I can explain it clearly. According to the home inspector who checked my house, my electric service panel is used as a "...
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Further concerns about radon gas in the homeDec 29, 2017 5:00 am - Q. We were in escrow to sell our home, but the buyers canceled the deal when their inspector reported unsafe levels of radon gas. Now we're wondering how we can sell our...
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Homeowner fears carbon monoxideDec 22, 2017 6:00 am - Q. We've seen a number of articles warning about the dangers of carbon monoxide and are wondering if we might be having that kind of problem with our forced air furnace....
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Homeowner worried about depth of foundationDec 15, 2017 5:00 am - Q. I'm worried about my house. Last week, I learned that the foundation violates the building code because it does not extend deep enough into the ground. If the buildin...
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Forced air furnaces in closets can be problematicDec 08, 2017 5:00 am - Q. We recently read about a man who changed the filter in his furnace and did not replace the cover on the filter compartment. As a result, he reportedly died of carbon ...