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InspectAPedia.com - is a free online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice - illustrated, detailed, in-depth research on finding, diagnosing, testing, correcting, & preventing building defects, energy conservation, & indoor environmental hazards.
We have no business nor financial connection with any manufacturer or service provider discussed at our website. Independently-placed advertisements & bookstore sales help support the website.
We are dedicated to making our information as accurate, complete, useful, and unbiased as possible: we very much welcome critique, questions, or content suggestions for our web articles. Contributors, even if it's just a small correction, are cited, quoted, and linked-to from the appropriate additional web pages and articles - which benefits everyone. Working together and exchanging information makes us better-informed than any individual can be working alone.
Readers should also see the InspectAPedia.com ® home page and also our InspectAPedia WEBSITE POLICIES such as accuracy in reporting, website visitor privacy, content use policy, link exchange, and advertising.
InspectAPedia.com website topic areas of building & environmental research, energy conservation, & diagnostic/repair information include these topic areas:
Links at page top and page left provide instructions for building inspection, diagnosis, and repair of nearly every building system and component.
Page Left Links - in-depth articles.Use links at the left of each page or at the bottom of each article to navigate the document or to view other topics at this website.
Search Box - at the top right and near the bottom of any InspectAPedia page searches this website
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Contact InspectAPedia.com - if you can't find information you need or to suggest content corrections/additions
Contributors and associate editors, principal. We also credit every individual contributor in the articles involved.
Critique & Contributions Invited - Critique, contributions wanted: suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution. Particular thanks are due to experts and also consumers who read these articles and suggest corrections, changes, and additions to the material.
Link Exchange - Link exchange or listing submissions are welcome from websites whose content, services, or products are appropriate for our readers. To provide your link exchange information and our link exchange policy see InspectAPedia.com - Directory Listing & Link Exchange Instructions There are no listing fees & no conflicts of interest. We reserve the right to list or not list individuals or companies and to provide notice of consumer compliments or complaints.
Information at this website is for residential & commercial property owners, home owners, home buyers, home inspectors, architects, builders, building tradesmen, engineers, environmental inspectors, & industrial hygienists. Contact Us by EMAIL to ask questions about website contents or to suggest content additions or corrections.
We conduct building failures research and develop both written material such as the articles at this website, and education course material on building failures & building & environmental inspection methodology.
More description of the contents of InspectAPedia.com can be found at WEBSITE DESCRIPTION. A summary is below.
Air Conditioning systems & heat pumps, including no-cooling diagnosis and repair, product safety notices, air conditioning and heat pump duct systems, duct defects
Electrical Systems in buildings, including wiring & electrical devices, including product safety notices, and special topics such as aluminum electrical wiring, unsafe electrical panels, defective electrical system products, including specialties such as LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEMS
Energy Conservation in buildings, including various ways to cut building energy costs and increase building heating and cooling efficiency
Environmental concerns on and around buildings including toxic mold, allergens, pathogens, gases, chemicals, and other contaminants, including discussion of the validity of various inspection and testing methods, and special topics such as OIL TANKS INSPECT LEAK TEST ABANDON REGS
Heating systems including boilers, furnaces, steam systems, heating piping, heat and air conditioning duct systems, heating system controls, no-heat diagnosis, product safety notices
Home Inspection education classes, online training, home inspection methods, home inspection standards, ethics, education and advanced techniques, including listings of qualified, certified, & licensed professional building inspectors, including specialties such as LOG HOME GUIDE and MOBILE HOME INSPECTIONS
Indoor
Environment describes how to inspect, test, detect, and correct most indoor environmental hazards.
Insulation materials & insulation systems in buildings, including types of insulation, asbestos hazards, fiberglass hazards, ventilation and moisture problem diagnosis, cure, and prevention, ice dam prevention, basement water entry, building flooding, flood damage repair, prevention, and control methods
Interiors of buildings including choices of building materials, inspection of windows, doors, walls, ceilings, floors, trim, stairs, railings, platforms, for defects, damage, stains, mold, insect damage, pet damage, environmental hazards, or other safety concerns, and special topics such as MOISTURE CONTROL in buildings and SOUND CONTROL in buildings
Plumbing Systems in buildings including water supply systems, water supply and drain piping, pumps, wells, water heaters, water softeners, water testing, water treatment, drain piping materials, methods, problem diagnosis, and septic systems including septic system design, inspection, testing, maintenance and repair, and alternative septic system designs
Roofs on buildings & Roofing systems, including how to inspect, diagnose, and repair problems in various roofing materials, roofing methods, and the inspection and repair of roof installations such as slate, asphalt roof, membrane roofs, wood shingle roofs, metal roofs
Septic Systems & Onsite Wastewater Disposal, including septic system design, septic system inspection, septic testing, septic tank maintenance, septic system repair, and alternative septic system designs
Structures of buildings, including how to inspect, diagnose, and repair foundation problems, foundation cracks and foundation movement, pre-fab foundation materials, site problems affecting building structures such as settlement and water entry.
Water & Well Systems, including water pipes, water pumps, water wells, water supply systems, piping, wells, water testing, water treatment, drain piping materials, methods, problem diagnosis
Contributors & Lead Technical Reviewers for InspectAPedia.com
In addition to individual contributors who are listed on specific articles at InspectAPedia.com, the people listed below are prime contributors of editing and technical content at this website.
Daniel Friedman's CV - publications, classes, seminars, conference presentations
Dr. Jess Aronstein, electrical engineer, Poughkeepsie, NY, forensic engineering services, independent laboratory testing for various agencies protune@aol.com - electrical topics, aluminum wiring, FPE Stab-Lok, etc.
Steven Bliss served as editorial director and co-publisher of The Journal of Light Construction for 16 years and previously as building technology editor for Progressive Builder and Solar Age magazines. He worked in the building trades as a carpenter and design/build contractor for more than ten years and holds a masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Excerpts from his recent book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com.
Jon Bolton, an ASHI, FABI, and otherwise certified Florida home inspector is a frequent contributor on HVAC topics
Scott Bradley is Laboratory Director for Aquacheck Laboratory, Inc. PO Box 87 05151 1-800-263-9596.
A more brief version of this article appeared in Aquacheck Laboratory's Water Wisdom Tips and Newsletter, Issue # 6, 2007. www.Aquacheck-VT.com offers other water supply tips in its Water Wisdom section. The laboratory also provides water test kits and offers a free newsletter.
David Carrier, electrical engineer, 53 Henmond Blvd., Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 845-430-7527 davidwcarrier@earthlink.net
Mark Cramer Inspection Services Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, Mr. Cramer is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and is a Florida home inspector and home inspection educator. Mr. Cramer serves on the ASHI Home Inspection Standards. Contact Mark Cramer at: 727-595-4211 mark@BestTampaInspector.com 11/06
Eric Galow, Galow Homes, Lagrangeville, NY. Mr. Galow can be reached by email: ericgalow@gmail.com or by telephone: 914-474-6613. Mr. Galow specializes in residential construction including both new homes and repairs, renovations, and additions.
David Goldstein - contributor and technical reviewer. Mr. Goldstein is a principal of Ambic Home Inspection in Downingtown, PA 19335 Tel: 610-269-7365. A member of NAHI, and also of ASHI since 1986, Mr. Goldstein has served as a National Officer in ASHI and on the Board of Directors, as well as President of two different chapters, and on professional committees such as ASHI Standards. He is a New Jersey Licensed Building Inspector and Plumbing Inspector, Construction Official and Sub-Code Official and formerly licensed as a Fire Protection Inspector. He is also a state certified Pest Control Operator and Radon Measurement Technician. Mt. Goldstein also serves as course director for BICI, Building Inspector's Career Institute.
Roger Hankey is principal of Hankey and Brown home inspectors, Eden Prairie, MN. Mr. Hankey is a past chairman of the ASHI Standards Committee. Mr. Hankey has served in other ASHI professional and leadership roles. Contact Roger Hankey at: 952 829-0044 - rhankey@hankeyandbrown.com. Mr. Hankey is a frequent contributor to InspectAPedia.com.
Jay Hodgens,P.E., Hodgens Engineering Service, Newburgh, NY, james@hodgens.net, for assistance with links and references to regulations regarding underground storage tanks as well as comments on other topics.. Mr. Hodgens has been licensed as a professional engineer in eight states and has developed over 450 SPCC plans in compliance with regulations in twelve states. Mr. Hodgens can be reached at 845-496-0494. His proposed amendments to US EPA 40 CFR part 112 can be read at http://www.hodgens.net/hes/10-07comments.pdf . 1/9/2009. Mr. Hodgens is a frequent contributor to InspectAPedia.com.
Anish R. Jantrania, Mark A. Gross. Anish Jantrania, Ph.D., P.E., M.B.A., is a Consulting Engineer, in Mechanicsville VA, 804-550-0389 (2006), Advanced Onsite Wastewater Systems Technologies. Outstanding technical reference especially on alternative septic system design alternatives.
William King, US CPSC Director of Electrical Engineering (Retired).
Bob Maltempo, P.E. was a licensed professional engineer who performed building inspections and flood damage inspections in Hauppage, New York. We regret to inform readers that Mr. Maltempo passed away on 8 September 2008. Mr. Maltempo was with Cashin Associates in Hauppage Long Island in New York.
Scott C. LeMarr is a contributor on HVAC topics and provided his file of keys to decode Furnace and Water Heater Age from the data provided on the manufacturer's equipment labels. Mr. LeMarr is a professional home inspector, Certified Professional Inspector/President, MASTER Indoor Environmental Specialist (MIES). Vice President of Wisconsin NACHI. He and his company, Honest Home Inspections, LLC. can be reached at 262-424-5587 or by email to scott@honesthomeinspections.com
Mary Margaret Minnis, Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, Bennette D. Burks, Hogarth House 1994 - one of the best septic system books around, suffering a bit from small fonts and a weak index. While it contains some material more technical than needed by homeowners, Burks/Minnis book on onsite wastewater treatment systems a very useful reference for both property owners and septic system designers.
Mark Morsching, Everflashing, 1715 Howard St. N., Saint Paul, MN 55109, 800-550-1667 , Email: everflashing@gmail.com. The Everflashing product comes in G-185 and Stainless Steel and is intended for use with treated lumber with copper in it. Everflashing produces a variety of specialty flashing products including flashings for use with decks at deck ledgers and deck perimeters. Mr. Morsching advises on deck and porch construction and use of PVC, synthetic, and composite building products. E.g.: Deck Flashing at Building.
Arlene Puentes, an ASHI member and a licensed home inspector in Kingston, NY, and has served on ASHI national committees (Bylaws, Standards), as well as HVASHI Chapter President. Ms. Puentes can be contacted at ap@octoberhome.com
James P. Simmons: 3/4/2006, 2/19/2008. Photographs contributed to this website by Jim P. Simmons, Mr. Electric, Licensed Master Electrician, 1320 Dayton Street SE, Olympia, WA 98501, 360-705-4225, Fax 360-705-0130 or by email to mrelectricoly@msn.com. Mr. Simmons is a technical contributor to InspectAPedia.com.
Eric Van De Ven, Coconut Creek, Fl 33066 - (954) 340 6615, a South Florida home inspector, former ASHI and NACHI member, current IHINA (Independent Home Inspectors of North America). ev@magnuminspections.com
Herman Vogel, aerospace engineer, discusses combustion of fossil fuels and the details as well as the significance (to non-engineers) of Stoichiometric Combustion
Dave Wickersheimer, P.E. R.A. - IL, professor, school of structures division, UIUC - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Architecture. Professor Wickersheimer specializes in structural failure investigation and repair for wood and masonry construction. Mr. Wickersheimer's engineering consulting service can be contacted at HDC Wickersheimer Engineering Services.
InspectAPedia.com Article Peer Review & Public Comment Policy
Every article published at InspectAPedia.com contains the following statement
Critique, contributions wanted: Contact Us to suggest corrections or additions to articles at this website, and if you wish, to receive online listing and credit as a contributor. Particular thanks are due to the many experts and also consumers who read and critique technical articles at InspectAPedia.com.
The concept of a more narrowly defined peer review process is a long-established method by which scholarly journals attempt to improve the accuracy and content of their published materials.
The concept of a widely-defined public posting of online content with the invitation to comment, critique, or make suggestions is more current, and has been also widely discussed, such as in the New York Times in August 2010.
The advantage of a wide public exposure/peer review is the ability to solicit rapid and very broadly-based comment that can and sometimes does substantially improve the technical accuracy and quality of published information, provided that the publisher includes professional editing of the comments and suggestions themselves to review those for accuracy and absence of bias.
The disadvantage of relying on a public-exposure peer review procedure for online technical material is that readers are not always assured that every article has been uniformly reviewed, vetted, and quality-assured. Our policy is to edit and review all contributions to InspectAPedia.com for accuracy and absence of bias, as well as to review with great care public and expert comments and suggestions that we receive.
In addition to frequent contribution and editing by the experts listed just above, the identity and where permitted, contact information and credentials of reviewers of or commentators on individual articles found here is posted at the end of each of our articles where you will also find technical citations, article reference sources, and related materials.
Critique, contributions wanted: Contact Us to suggest corrections or additions to articles at this website, and if you wish, to receive online listing and credit as a contributor. Particular thanks are due to the many experts and also consumers who read and critique technical articles at InspectAPedia.com.
Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.
Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.
"Scholars Test Web Alternative to the Venerable Peer Review", Patricia Cohen, The New York Times, p. 1, 24 August, 2010. Web Search 08/24/2010.
This article reports on an experiment by the peer-review journal, Shakespeare Quarterly, published by Johns Hopkins University Press, to include an internet-hosted, public comment and peer review procedure in the journal's procedure for review and acceptance of articles for final publication. Quoting from the Journal's description at Project Muse: Founded in 1950 by the Shakespeare Association of America, Shakespeare Quarterly is a refereed journal committed to publishing articles in the vanguard of Shakespeare studies. As of 19 April 2010, submissions are double blinded.
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 2010, $69.00 U.S., is available from Carson Dunlop, and from the InspectAPedia bookstore. The 2010 edition of the Home Reference Book is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. InspectAPedia.com ® author/editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.
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