True Inspection Home and Building Inspection Service

08/20/2026

Washing machine hoses are under full water pressure 24/7 — and they don’t last forever.

Most manufacturers recommend replacing inlet hoses about every 5 years, and sooner if you see cracking, bulging, corrosion or other deterioration.

A cracked $20 hose can turn into thousands of dollars in water damage very quickly.

Check your washer hoses before they become a problem.

08/16/2026

08/14/2026

Okay, maybe not the worst clogged filter, but definitely the largest chunks that I’ve ever taken out of a filter. Ducts cleaned 2 years ago!

08/14/2026

Overall, in our region, I would say that on municipal water, a conventional sacrificial anode rod should typically be replaced about every three years. The actual lifespan can vary depending on water quality and usage.

An even better option, and one that I regularly recommend to clients during home inspections, is a powered anode rod. Unlike a conventional magnesium or aluminum anode rod that is gradually consumed as it protects the tank, a powered anode provides long-term corrosion protection without routinely needing to be replaced.

At inspections, I very rarely see any indication that homeowners have ever replaced the original anode rod. If you have a newer water heater and want to get as much life out of the tank as possible, maintaining the anode is one of the most important things you can do to help protect it from internal corrosion.

The powered anode rod I often recommend is linked below:

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/corro-protec-powered-anode-rod-for-40-89-gallons-water-heaters-stops-rotten-egg-smell-corrosion-and-limescale/1001558093

08/13/2026

08/07/2026

Be careful who you hire!

Repeat offender Robert William Seager has been sentenced to 30 days in jail, fined $10,000 plus a victim surcharge, and placed on probation by the Ontario Court of Justice after being found guilty of fuel safety violations.

Seager was convicted after working on more than 300 gas appliances in Durham Region without the proper TSSA certifications. An investigation found unsafe, incomplete, and deficient installations—including improper work that contributed to property damage.

He was also operating as an unregistered fuel heating contractor and was previously convicted in 2022 for a similar offence.

For more information: https://shorturl.at/NpG0i

08/07/2026

Sometimes helping wildlife can be as simple as planting a hedge.

I planted this hedge years ago, and today it has become home to many birds. Every year there are multiple nests tucked inside, providing a protected place for birds to raise their young and shelter from predators and bad weather.

With many bird populations facing increasing pressure from habitat loss and development, the trees, shrubs and hedges we plant around our homes can make a real difference. Dense vegetation provides nesting sites, shelter and, depending on the plants, insects, berries and seeds for food.

Not every part of a property needs to be perfectly manicured. Leaving some shrubs, hedges and natural areas can create valuable habitat right in our own backyards.

It’s pretty amazing how much life can be supported by something as simple as a hedge.

I’m sure you will be back to enjoy this video in the middle of February 🥶

08/04/2026

It just amazes me that a builder would put their name on something and be willing to turn this over to the purchaser with siding that looks this horrible. 

This is a brand new home in the $800,000 range. 

I would be ashamed. 

05/08/2026

One of the things that drives home inspectors crazy is trying to figure out what happened here?

After looking through the laundry room and crawlspace, I’m 99% sure this dryer vent was installed long before the air conditioner condenser was added. Yet the condenser was still installed less than a foot away from the dryer exhaust.

Now, maybe the homeowner planned on relocating the vent later. Maybe the HVAC installer was told to install it there anyway. Or maybe nobody thought about it at the time.

That’s the frustrating part of inspections — you often see the end result, but not the decisions that led to it. Sometimes I wish I had a time machine for this job. 😂