Yellow Hat Inspections

03/03/2026

This is a video of a sewer scope inspection that was performed on an 11-Month Warranty Inspection in Rosenberg TX. The inspector observed a blockage from a foreign object that is located in the lateral yard line going to the city. This is why it is very important to add a sewer scope inspection to your warranty inspection order. Finding defects like these will save you money because this was found before the warranty ends. Adding a sewer scope inspection for only $100 more is small compared to what it would cost to hiring a plumber to correct the builders defect after your warranty expired.

11/25/2025

The below photos are from an 11-Month Warranty Inspection in Corinth TX. One of the many things that we inspectors at Yellow Hat Inspections look for is to make sure that the exterior walls are properly sealed. This particular property had missing sealant at the counter flashing above the garage attic structure. Since it had been raining that day, the inspector was able to find moisture in the ceiling by using a thermal camera. Do more than a personal walk through of your home. Call Yellow Hat Inspections to inspect your home. We use specialized tools to back up our observations.

10/27/2025

Schedule your 11-Month Warranty Inspection today!!! These photos are taking for an 11-Month Warranty inspection in Celina TX. The primary bedroom and primary bathroom had missing insulation in the attic above. The insulation was not added during construction. The primary bedroom and primary bathroom are both located at the back part of the house. The thermal camera pictures revealed hot spots in the ceiling. Also, there are pictures of the attic showing the areas that had no insulation. This is one of the main reasons for getting an inspection. It is becoming more common to find these mistakes. The owners of this property are glad that they decided to have the inspection. It is always a good idea to have an inspection before your builders warranty expires. Even if you don't think you need one.

10/24/2025

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The Hidden Energy Thief: Why Your Attic Insulation Matters More Than You Think

Above your top floor ceiling sits a blanket that could be costing you money every year while making your family uncomfortable—your attic floor insulation. This unglamorous layer of material works around the clock to keep your heated and cooled air inside your house, but when it's inadequate, damaged, or improperly installed, it becomes an expensive problem.

Most homeowners have no idea how much insulation they have or whether it's doing its job effectively. That fluffy pink, yellow, or white material spread across your attic floor should form a continuous thermal barrier between your living space and the outdoor temperature extremes above. When this barrier fails, your expensive heated and cooled air escapes into the attic, forcing your HVAC system to work harder and run longer to maintain comfortable temperatures.

The warning signs of insulation problems show up in your comfort and your utility bills. Rooms that are consistently too hot or too cold, despite your thermostat settings, often indicate insulation deficiencies. High energy bills that seem unreasonable for your home's size frequently point to air leakage and inadequate insulation. Ice dams forming on your roof edges in winter are a classic sign that warm air is escaping through insufficient attic air sealing and insulation.

Moisture is insulation's worst enemy. Wet insulation loses most of its insulating value and creates perfect conditions for mold growth. Roof leaks, plumbing leaks, and condensation problems can saturate insulation, making it heavy, ineffective, and potentially hazardous to your family's health. Compressed or matted insulation has also lost its ability to trap air, which is how insulation actually works.

Animals and pests can destroy insulation quickly. Rodents tunnel through insulation, creating air pathways that bypass your thermal barrier. They also contaminate insulation with droppings and urine that create health hazards and odor problems. Birds and bats can scatter and compress insulation while building nests in your attic space.

Air sealing works hand-in-hand with insulation but is often overlooked. Gaps around light fixtures, plumbing penetrations, ductwork, and attic access hatches allow air to move freely between your living space and attic, making even good insulation less effective. These air leaks also carry moisture into the attic, where it can cause condensation problems.

Modern building codes require much more insulation than older homes typically have. A house built 20 or 30 years ago might have half the insulation that current efficiency standards recommend. Air sealing and adding insulation is often one of the most cost-effective home improvements you can make, with energy savings that continue for decades.

Before insulation problems cost you more money in wasted energy, have your attic evaluated by someone who understands thermal performance. A qualified home inspector can assess your current insulation levels and identify areas where improvements would provide the greatest benefit. They can inspect the insulation and provide you with an unbiased assessment of the actual condition of your home.

Good insulation isn't just about saving money—it's about creating a comfortable, healthy home that performs efficiently year-round.

Call for an inspection and we'd be happy to help you!

08/10/2025

One of the biggest advantages of getting your home inspected by Yellow Hat Inspections is that we will scan your home to look for possible leaks and missing insulation in the walls and ceilings. The pictures below indicated that the toilets in both bathrooms upstairs had leaks at the toilets. This is an indication that toilet flanges were either not installed properly, or the wax rings are missing. This was found on an 11-MONTH WARRANTY INSPECTION in Mesquite TX. We can't express enough on how important it is to get the 11-month warranty inspection. IF YOUR WARRANTY INSPECTION IS COMING UP, THEN SCHEDULE WITH YELLOW HAT INSPECTIONS. THIS WILL BE YOUR LAST OPPORTUNITY TO FIND DEFECTS LIKE THIS!

12/11/2024

We at Yellow Hat Inspections cannot stress enough on how important it is to add a sewer scope inspection. Especially for New Construction Inspections and 11-Month home warranty inspections. This video is for a sewer scope inspection on a Final New Construction home. The sewer scope revealed that the yard line going into the city sewer system was not connected. As you can see, the camera will exit into surrounding dirt. It should be going into the city sewer line, which is a green color pipe. This is becoming more common to see these days. It appears that the sewer line may have been damaged by heavy machinery.

11/03/2024

This is a sewer scope video performed on an 11-Month Home Warranty inspection in Royse City. It is becoming more common these days for us to find defects like this where the sewer lines are not properly connected going into the city sewer lines. As you can see in the picture, there is mud and grass roots visible. There is also a belly in that area. This is where water collects, which will eventually cause some major blockage later. It is very important to add a sewer scope inspection you your order. Finding defects like these will push the plumbing repairs onto the builder and not on you. Know what's below before your warranty ends.

10/29/2024

This is a video inspection for a Draw Request inspection. There were two things that were noted during this walk through that needed corrections. First the gas piping to the water heater has a sediment trap pipe that was installed upside down and the second was the gas flex line running through the metal cabinet of the furnace. This is a safety hazard. The flex line within the cabinet needs to be replaced with a six inch black pipe that will extend through the side of the cabinet. Then attach the flex line to the black pipe. This will prevent a gas leak in the flex line. Mistakes like these are the reason you should hire a professional real estate inspector.

10/05/2024

There are many benefits to having a temp drop survey of your HVAC system. We are able to determine which room is not cooling or heating properly. Bedroom 4 upstairs was not cooling enough. The thermal scan of the ceilings in the room next to the bedroom revealed a cold spot, which indicates that an HVAC duct was disconnected. This is most likely the reason that the bedroom was not cooling properly. (The homeowner was happy that this was found).

09/18/2024

This is a sewer scope video performed on a home built in 2002. The sewer scope revealed an offset (disconnect) in the sewer yard lines at the clean out just before the city sewer line. (Fast forward video at 3:09) to see mud and roots. It's smart to have a sewer scope inspection on an older home that has large trees in the front yard. This buyer is very thankful that he added the sewer scope inspection to his order.

09/15/2024

Have you heard of the phrase "Hidden in Plain Site"? Finding the source of a roof leak can be a complicated task. However, if you do not know what to look for, then you will never find it. Our inspectors at Yellow Hat Inspections work hard to troubleshoot the problem and will do our best to find the source of the leak. This is an 11-month warranty inspection. The homeowner noticed a stain in the ceiling in the office and decided to contact the builder. The roof company that installed the roof covering could not locate the source of the leak. Most if not all leaks are from roof penetrations such as flashing. The first photo shows that the counter flashing is not sealed at the lower end of the flashing. Most likely the whole flashing from top to bottom is not sealed. At Yellow Hat Inspections, we inspect to make sure that the exterior walls are waterproofed with sealant. If your home is not protected on the outside from moisture, then your home is not fully protected.