pruss1958's blog

NH septic inspection

Submitted by pruss1958 on Fri, 02/10/2012 - 06:55

Here is another example of a New Hampshire dry well, unfortunately a bad example.

Beginning of an ice dam

Submitted by pruss1958 on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 06:24

The beginning of an ice dam.

Notice the snow has melted on this entire roof except the eaves. This is a great example of how ice dams start. Due to heat loss through the attic all the snow melts off the roof. The remaining snow is over the colder eaves. As winter progresses and we get more snow this will intensify. as snow melts off the roof it will re-freeze over the eaves and the ice dam increases in thickness eventually backing up into the home.

New Hampshire septic inspection

Submitted by pruss1958 on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 05:01

Here's a typical New Hampshire drywell that is still functioning. This system was installed in the late 1960s just before traditional stone and pipe systems were developed. The state of New Hampshire will no longer allow these systems to be repaired so once the go into failure a new system must be designed, approved by the state and installed by licensed contractors. A typical system can start at 10K, making it probably the most expensive single component to a home.

Ice Dams

Submitted by pruss1958 on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 16:36

Now that the heating season is here I thought it would be good to write about ice dams.

Infrared Thermal Imaging

Submitted by pruss1958 on Thu, 08/25/2011 - 04:54

I have heard many comments about thermal imaging and home inspections. Some are negative but most are positive. Recently I did a home inspection and there where multiple ceilings that where stained. My client was worried the roof may need replacement. I had inspected the roof and the shingles looked good, after getting the infrared camera out I confirmed the ceilings were dry. This was a vacant home and we later found out there was some ice damming over the winter which resulted in a small amount of back up. Everything in the attic was dry too, no mold, just a minor incident.

Site Assessments

Submitted by pruss1958 on Tue, 08/09/2011 - 03:54

Recently I had an inspection where the home was located on a river. State law in New Hampshire requires all waterfront properties who's boundaries are within 200 feet of the high water mark and are on a septic system have a site assessment completed. This assessment has to be provided by the seller and completed by a licensed designer. It also must be included as part of the purchase and sales agreement.

Please mow the lawn!

Submitted by pruss1958 on Tue, 07/26/2011 - 02:58

Septic systems

Submitted by pruss1958 on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 07:51

Proper septic inspection method:

For more information, please call Russell Inspection Services
at (603) 740-4062 or email: prinspects@yahoo.com

Also serving the communities of, Portsmouth, Dover, Rochester, Manchester, Concord, Laconia and the North Conway area. Southern Maine and Eastern Vermont.