Shaw Inspections

07/30/2026

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1476617094501820&set=a.594342202729318&type=3&mibextid=wwXIfr

Most people think they already fixed their dryer fire risk by cleaning the lint trap.

Flexible foil and plastic ducts are the real problem. Their accordion ridges snag fibers at every fold, building up lint that hot exhaust can eventually ignite. The foil itself can soften or burn through once temperatures climb high enough. This failure mode accounts for a meaningful share of the 2,900 dryer fires the US Fire Administration logs each year.

IRC (International Residential Code) Section M1502 mandates rigid or semi-rigid smooth-wall metal duct for residential dryers, capped at a maximum run of 35 feet minus 5 feet for every 90-degree bend. The short transition piece between dryer and wall must meet UL 2158A. Anything else is a code violation in new construction and a known liability in older homes. Some homeowner insurance policies specifically exclude fires caused by non-compliant ducts.

Go pull yours out right now. If you can crush it like a soda can, replace it. If it's white plastic or thin silver foil with deep accordion ridges, replace it. If it runs longer than 8 feet behind the dryer or coils into a loop, replace it. Any spot where the duct sags low between the wall and dryer is a lint trap waiting to happen.

A 4-foot length of rigid aluminum duct runs about $12. A UL 2158A-rated transition hose for the short bend behind the dryer costs around $20. Foil tape (not duct tape, which dries out and fails near heat) seals the joints. The whole swap takes 15 minutes with a screwdriver and pliers, and it pays back immediately in faster drying, lower bills, and lower fire risk. While the dryer is pulled out, check the exhaust port too. If it's caked with grey fuzz, brush it clean before reconnecting the new rigid duct. Most homes that make this switch see drying times drop 10 to 15 minutes per load right away, and that improvement holds for years instead of slowly creeping back up the way a foil duct does after just a few months.

Fifteen minutes and $32 in parts is the cheapest insurance policy your house will ever get.⠀[OLAAG]

01/07/2026

The real estate market has started off slow this year, with economic uncertainty and unchanging interest rates. That means there are a lot of homes on the market, or a lot of sellers who would like to put their home on the market, but not sure how to make their home stand out among all the current inventory.
Here is one way:
Get a pre-sale home inspection.
A pre-sale Inspection gives the sellers control, clarity, and credibility before the property hits the market. Here are the key reasons:
-Identify problems early
An inspection reveals issues (roof, plumbing, electrical, foundation, etc.) before buyers find them. This allows sellers to avoid surprises that could derail a deal later.
-Stronger pricing strategy.
Knowing the true condition of the home helps sellers price it accurately—neither overpricing and risking a stale listing nor underpricing out of uncertainty.
-Faster, smoother transactions
When fewer issues come up during the buyer’s inspection, negotiations are simpler and deals are less likely to fall apart.
-Increased buyer confidence
Providing a recent inspection report signals transparency and trust, which can attract more serious buyers and even multiple offers.
-Better negotiation position
When sellers already know the home’s condition, they’re less likely to agree to unnecessary repair requests or inflated credits.
-Less stress during escrow
Fewer surprises mean fewer delays, fewer disputes, and a more predictable closing timeline.

In short: a pre-sale inspection helps sellers sell smarter, faster, and with fewer headaches—often saving time and money in the long run.

If you are considering selling your home, give us a call to schedule your pre-sale inspection! You will be glad you did!

Shaw inspections
530–5 21–7294

06/24/2025

Shaw Inspections is excited to announce our investment in a remote control crawlspace robot! This crawler can navigate tight, inaccessible crawlspace areas, and view conditions and deficiencies not otherwise accessible. It can shoot high-quality video and photos to include in inspection reports as well!
this will be an invaluable addition to our normal Inspection tools, especially since there are so many small inaccessible crawlspace areas in DelNorte and Curry counties!
Contact us for a home inspection today!

04/07/2025

Do you have mold and mildew concerns about your home? Here is my former employer in Nashville, Barry Mankin of 4 Corners Home Inspections / Environmental interviewing the top mold remediation specialist in Nashville about mold issues in the home, what remediation is, and what I can do for your situation.

12/15/2024

Sad to see this in a brand new kitchen remodel. Flexible drain pipe like this is very prone to clogs and poor drainage. They have even attempted to make a flexible drain trap out of this corrugated material, which you can see is pinched and only a matter of time before clogs happen. Also, drain water has to travel uphill in the branch arm before reaching the drain pipe.
Best solution is to re-plumb this trap/drain system with standard smooth -wall drain pipe components.

12/12/2024

this is something you never want to see in your heating ducts!

12/11/2024

I like a nice fern garden as much as the next guy, just not on chimneys I am inspecting! Lol welcome to the Pacific Northwest!

11/13/2024

Are you selling your home? Consider having Shaw Inspections do a pre-listing inspection for you.
Pre-listing inspections give the seller peace of mind, because you already know what the buyers objections might be, and you will have had a chance to make corrections before your home even hits the market.
Some buyers may even forgo having their own inspection done when they see you have taken the trouble to do a pre-inspection and have already made repairs.
Makes for a smoother and faster home sale all around!
Contact me to schedule yours!
www.shawinspections.net
530-521-7294

11/05/2024

My view from the office this morning. I have to pinch myself when I am inspecting these oceanfront homes…