Tidewater Inspections, LLC

03/21/2023

What do these two pictures have in common? Well, it’s the same location only
From different perspectives. The debris in the valley is causing the water to back up under the shingles and is causing a leak that would have otherwise gone undetected.

03/20/2023

Here’s a few structural defects from the past week.

03/19/2023

What’s Wrong with Federal Pacific Panels?

The main reason for Federal Pacific Stab-Lok Breaker failure is their high rates of not tripping when they should.

In a 1980s court case, it was revealed that not only were the breakers failing to pass the Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) guidelines but that Federal Pacific committed fraud and a cover-up regarding their testing. They labeled the breakers as meeting the UL standards when they clearly did not.

It was discovered that many of these Stab-Lok breakers did not disconnect when overloaded. In the 1980s the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) investigated the performance of the circuit breakers. CPSC performed its own laboratory tests on samples of FPE Stab-Lok single-pole and double-pole breakers. For these samples, they found that 85% of the double-pole breakers and 39% of the single-pole breakers failed one or more of the UL test criteria.

The easiest way to tell if you have a Federal Pacific panel is to check the cover on your breaker box. You’ll see the name Federal Pacific or FPE printed or etched onto the panel cover. If there are no markings on the exterior of the cover, open it up and check to see if there is any Federal Pacific branding.

I see these pretty often in homes built between the 1950’s and 1980’s. If you have one give a reputable electrician a call.

03/19/2023

Just a few plumbing defects this week.

01/25/2023

I only give five star service. Call me today.

10/31/2022

Happy Halloween from Tidewater Inspections! Call, text, email or visit our website to schedule your home inspection.

08/24/2022

Are you aware of some of the 5 most common places for leaks in your home? 🏠

- Kitchen and Bathroom Faucets
Faucets are a very common source of leaks. While they may seem small or minor, they can definitely rack up a lengthy bill in repairs and costs.

- Shower Hose
Due to constant use, shower hoses can quickly corrode.

- Toilet Flapper Valve
Toilet valves leak frequently. Experts estimate 20 - 30% of toilets in America leak water.

- Water Tank
Without the help of a plumber, a water tank leak could turn into a rupture.

- Supply Line
Leaks can happen outside of the home. When they occur at your home, they can create puddles or worse.

08/06/2022

We are here to give you an unbiased look into your investment.

08/05/2022

Give 53 Septic Services a call for any septic installs or repairs.

07/22/2022

Need a home inspection but don’t have time to call and schedule? Visit www.tidewater-inspections.com and use our online calendar scheduler! We are licensed to perform home, septic and termite (WDIR) inspections.

Work with a top home inspector near Burgaw, NC! If you’d like to schedule an inspection, then consider calling (910) 470-4177 today.