Don't let a night sitting in front of your fireplace turn into a 911 call to the Fire Department! As the temperature drops, winter begins to settle in, and the daylight fades earlier and earlier, many of us enjoy sitting by a nice roaring fire in the fireplace. It is a great way to relax and enjoy the season, IF your chimney is in good shape and has been recently inspected. Many people who use their fireplaces regularly don't give it a second thought when winter comes, and start up a fresh new fire.  The reality is that chimney's and fireplaces NEED to be regularly inspected. And while you might think it is less than  i ronic that the home inspector is recommending a recurring inspection, this is not an inspection we as a company offer.  These are inspections that should be done by a chimney sweep who is certified by CSIA, the Chimney Safety Institute of America. No matter how meticulous you are with maintaining your fireplace,  it  do es  r...

With the 4th of July upon us, fireworks and fire safety should be at the front of our minds.  Were you aware that fire extinguishers expire?? Even with proper care and storage, fire extinguishers should be replaced at least every 12 years, EVEN IF THE GAUGE STILL READS GREEN!!! As a home inspector I look at dates when fire extinguishers expire on a daily basis, but as a home owner, it is REALLY easy to forget. Case in point are the 5 fire extinguishers pictured below. These are the extinguishers I keep in my own home, and after checking them today in preparation for this blog, I noted that 3 of them expired over 3 years ago, and the remaining 2 expire this year. What To Do: Look for the manufacture date on the fire extinguisher. the date should either be printed on the label itself, or some manufactures stamp the year in the bottom of the canister. If the date is beyond 12 years, the fire extinguisher should be disposed of and replaced immediately. ...