Les Inspections Mercurio

04/07/2026

Client: “Anything concerning in the sump pit?”
Me: “Well… depends how you feel about indoor gardening.”

Turns out the house decided to start growing its own basement forest 🌳… right through the sump pit.

03/28/2026

This wire shouldn’t look like this.

That white neutral?
It’s been cooking at the connection inside the panel.

No sparks.
No breaker tripping.
Everything probably “worked fine.”

But behind the cover:
🔥 Heat buildup
🔥 Insulation starting to burn
🔥 Connection slowly getting worse over time

This usually comes down to one thing —
a bad connection creating resistance.

And resistance = heat… every time.

That’s what makes this dangerous:
👉 It doesn’t fail right away
👉 It just keeps getting hotter until it becomes a real problem

Most homeowners would never know.

This is the kind of stuff I look for every day.

Not everything dangerous is obvious.

03/27/2026

I came across this today during an inspection 👇
(A dangerous electrical setup powering a convection heater)

❌ Bare wires shoved directly into the outlet
❌ Electric convection heater plugged into a likely undersized circuit

When setups like this are present, they can cause two major problems:

❌ Electrical arcing and overheating
❌ High risk of fire — especially while occupants are sleeping

In this case, the heater is likely drawing more power than the circuit was designed to handle, combined with an unsafe connection method — something I see more often than you’d think.

💡 Good news:
This is completely avoidable with proper installation.

👉 Homeowner tip:
Never insert bare wires into an outlet
Heating appliances should be on a dedicated circuit
Avoid using adapters or extension cords for heaters
Keep heaters clear of surrounding materials

⚠️ Heating equipment + improper wiring is a dangerous combination.

If you’re not sure your setup is safe, that’s exactly the kind of thing I look for during an inspection.

—

03/26/2026

I came across this today during an inspection 👇
(A sticking backwater valve)

Just because you have a backwater valve doesn’t mean it’s actually working properly.

When these valves don’t move freely, they can cause two major problems:
❌ Slow drainage inside the home
❌ Increased risk of sewer backup

In this case, the flapper was sticking due to buildup and debris — something I see more often than you’d think.

💡 Good news:
Most of the time, this is preventable with simple maintenance.

👉 Homeowner tip:

Check your backwater valve once a year
Clean any debris and ensure the flap moves freely
If it’s damaged or warped, replace the insert

⚠️ This small device plays a BIG role in protecting your home from costly water damage.

If you’re not sure where yours is or how to check it, that’s exactly the kind of thing I look for during an inspection.

—

10/26/2025

What's wrong here?

10/22/2025

Have you seen these new waterproof buckets? You can find them in the electrical aisle.

10/21/2025

The subtle art of plumbing

10/21/2025

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Get ready to sip on some drinks while giving back to the community at Sip & Give – a fun and charitable event you won't want to miss!

09/14/2025

Sure, that'll do.

07/29/2025

The exterior siding of this property exhibits noticeable color variations. These discrepancies can arise from different production batches, exposure to sunlight causing fading over time, or an initial mismatch in color selection.