by Nick Gromicko Solar energy offers considerable advantages over conventional energy systems by nullifying flaws in those systems long considered to be unchangeable. Solar power for home energy production has its flaws, too, which are outlined in another article, but they’re dwarfed by the advantages listed below. The following are advantages of solar energy: Raw materials are … Read more
by Nick Gromicko and Kenton Shepard Adjustable steel columns, also known as screw jacks and beam jacks, are hollow steel posts designed to provide structural support. An attached threaded adjustment mechanism is used to adjust the height of the post. A few facts about adjustable steel columns: They are usually found in basements. In some parts of … Read more
by Nick Gromicko and Kate Tarasenko “Acid rain,” like “global warming,” is a phenomenon whose very existence is disputed by some. In fact, evidence of acid rain has been observed in industrialized cities around the world since the mid-1800s. “Acid rain” describes the mixture of wet and dry deposits from the atmosphere which contain high … Read more
by Nick Gromicko and Ethan Ward Mold in the Home Health concerns related to the growth of mold in the home have been featured heavily in the news. Problems ranging from itchy eyes, coughing and sneezing to serious allergic reactions, asthma attacks, and even the possibility of permanent lung damage can all be caused by … Read more
by Nick Gromicko and Kenton Shepard What are AFCIs? Arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) are special types of electrical receptacles (or outlets) and circuit breakers designed to detect and respond to potentially dangerous electrical arcs in home branch wiring. What are AFCI testers or indicators? AFCI tester indicators (sometimes called AFCI testers) are portable devices designed … Read more
by Kenton Shepard This is the exterior of a townhome I was asked to inspect. During the inspection, I ran into a neighbor who told me that the roof of another garage, identical to the one pictured above two buildings down, had collapsed the previous winter under a snow load. So, I decided to keep my eyes … Read more
by Nick Gromicko and Dennis Rose X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is an analytical method using emission spectroscopy to identify the presence of specific elements in most materials. Every element has a unique emission signature, making it possible to quantify the presence of an element by the relative strength of the emission. Instrumentation has evolved to the … Read more
By Nick Gromicko, Ben Gromicko, and Kenton Shepard Most people don’t know how easy it is to make their homes run on less energy, and here at InterNACHI, we want to change that. Drastic reductions in heating, cooling and electricity costs can be accomplished through very simple changes, most of which homeowners can do themselves. … Read more