Here we answer questions about getting a home inspection, give tips on home maintenance, and share our knowledge about common home issues. We are here to help you. If you can’t find an answer to your questions here, you can always contact us via our contact page.
If you walk into a house and the AC kicks on — and suddenly it smells like a locker room — that’s not imagination and it’s not “new system smell.” That’s what’s commonly called Dirty Sock Syndrome, and once you’ve smelled it, you never forget it. What Dirty Sock Syndrome
Attics hide some of the most dangerous inspection issues because no one goes up there unless they have to. When I see a metal B-vent running through an attic, I’m immediately checking one thing first: clearance. Because heat plus combustible materials is a bad equation every single time. What B-Vent
Boiler systems don’t scare me — neglected boiler systems do. In older Memphis neighborhoods, especially Midtown and East Memphis, boilers are still quietly doing their job decades after installation. They’re simple, durable, and when maintained, incredibly reliable. But when they’re ignored, modified poorly, or misunderstood, they become expensive and potentially
Gas lines are one of those systems that don’t forgive assumptions. They don’t squeak when they’re loose. They don’t drip when they’re wrong. And when they fail, the consequences are immediate and serious. That’s why I slow way down any time I’m inspecting gas piping — especially when I see
In the Mid-South, temperature is only half the battle. I’ve walked into plenty of homes that were technically “cool” — and still miserable. Sticky air. Heavy feeling. That clammy sensation that makes 72 degrees feel like 80. That’s a humidity problem, not an HVAC problem. And most systems weren’t designed
When buyers ask me, “How long do you think this AC will last?” I never give them a number without context. A 15-year-old condenser might have two seasons left — or it might be one heat wave away from failure. Age alone doesn’t decide that. Condition does. Why Age Is
Before I open panels, before I pull out meters, before I start talking about compressors or heat exchangers, I check the furnace filter. Every time. Not because it’s exciting — but because that one cheap, forgotten component causes more downstream damage than almost anything else in an HVAC system. The
If I see electric heat strips tied into a heat pump system, I slow way down — because this is one of the easiest ways homeowners get absolutely wrecked on their power bill without realizing why. Emergency heat sounds harmless. Necessary, even. In reality, it’s one of the most expensive
Smart thermostats are one of the most common “upgrades” I see — and one of the most common sources of HVAC damage. The box makes it look easy. The YouTube video makes it look foolproof. The system doesn’t complain right away. Then I open the panel. Why Smart Thermostats Get
If I hear gurgling, clicking, or a faint buzzing coming from a mechanical room, I already know where I’m headed. Condensate pumps are small, cheap, and easy to ignore — until they fail and dump water where it doesn’t belong. What a Condensate Pump Actually Does Anytime an air handler
There are plenty of inspection findings that fall into a gray area. A cracked heat exchanger isn’t one of them. When I find one, the conversation changes immediately. This stops being about comfort or efficiency and becomes a life-safety issue. What a Heat Exchanger Actually Does The heat exchanger separates
Most homeowners don’t even know their HVAC system has a secondary drain pan — until it fails and ruins a ceiling. I pay close attention to them because I’ve seen exactly how fast a small oversight turns into a major repair. Why Secondary Drain Pans Matter Any attic-mounted air handler
