National Property Inspections of Rochester, NY Blog

Home owners are attracted to the idea that they can

help the earth by making smarter purchases and

lifestyle decisions. Here are a few products you may

not be familiar with:

Chemical-free lighting. LED (light emitting diodes)

may just be a beacon for the future of residential

lighting. They contain no hazardous chemicals like other

lighting does. In addition, a LED fixture uses 80 percent

less energy than a traditional incandescent light bulb and

has the ability to last up to 20 years.

Green toilets. You may have heard of the low-flow

toilet, but here are a few you may be less familiar with.

A dual-flush toilet has two buttons giving a home owner

the option of flushing with a half or full tank. A pressure-

assist toilet reduces water by using compressed air to

assist with the flushing of the toilet, all without additional

pumps or power.

Nontoxic paint. Some consumers are using paints

that don’t contain toxic VOCs (Volatile Organic

Components) to keep indoor air clean and cut down on

landfill pollutants. These paints are offered in a variety

of colors and finishes.

When you look outside on a sunny day, you’re

seeing the visible part of the light spectrum.

The rest of the light is invisible and it could be

making your bill higher than it needs to be.

Low-e coatings are microscopically thin layers

of metallic oxide bonded to the surface of the

glass in windows. The coatings prevent heat and ultra-

violet (UV) rays from passing through glass. It works

like an invisible mirror reflecting select portions of the light

spectrum back in or out of the windows. Soft, hard, and Heat

Mirror are three major types of coatings on the market. Soft

coat is not durable enough to be exposed to the elements, so

it is applied to the inner surfaces of windows. Hard coat is

resilient enough to be used on exterior surfaces but it is not

quite as energy efficient as soft coat. Hard coat is found

primarily on storm windows and removable energy panels.

Heat Mirror is applied to a thin polyester sheet suspended

between the two panes of a dual pane window. The coating

reflects radiant heat while the sheet decreases heat loss by

splitting the air space in two.

The plumbing in your home is an essential

and often overlooked system that provides

clean water and proper collection and

transport of waste water. The plumbing

systems we take for granted today have

ties to systems dating back several thousand years.

Those ancient plumbing systems relied on gravity to

supply water through pipes or channels made of clay,

lead or stone.

Today, water-supply systems utilize a network of

high-pressure pumps and pipes made of copper,

brass, plastic, steel, or other nontoxic material.

Due to the complexity of these systems it is a

good idea to have them inspected for problems

before you buy a home. A National Property

Inspections professional will provide a visual

inspection of any bathtubs, showers, pipes,

toilets, sinks, etc.

The inspector will make certain all fixtures are

installed properly and show no signs of leakage.

Additionally, they will look for missing calking

and any drainage problems they might be able

to see. If problems are identified, the inspector

will explain what repairs are needed and what

actions should be taken.

For more information on plumbing inspections,

contact National Property Inspections.