Midland & Associates Home Inspections LLC.

10/09/2026

🚨 31 GAS LEAKS DISCOVERED IN MY LAST 5 HOME INSPECTIONS!

Yes, you read that correctly. During my last five residential home inspections, I identified a total of 31 gas leaks involving gas supply piping, connections, valves, and/or appliances.

Why should gas leaks concern you?

Natural gas is highly flammable. When it escapes from piping, fittings, or appliances, it can accumulate and create a potentially dangerous situation. If an ignition source is present, the consequences can be devastating.

One of the most concerning aspects is that a gas leak does not have to be obvious to be dangerous.

Homeowners often assume that if they don't smell gas, there isn't a problem. Unfortunately, that assumption is not always correct.

Small leaks can go undetected, and existing leaks can worsen over time.

31 leaks in just five inspections should serve as an important reminder: Just because your gas appliances are operating doesn't mean your gas supply system is free of leaks.

If you have natural gas appliances in your home, consider having the gas supply piping, connections, and appliances evaluated by a qualified professional.

⚠️ IMPORTANT SAFETY REMINDER: If you smell gas or suspect a gas leak, leave the home immediately. Do not operate electrical switches, appliances, or anything that could create a spark. Once safely outside, contact your gas utility company or emergency services for further assistance.

When it comes to your family's safety, don't assume everything is safe simply because everything appears to be working.

Midland & Associates Home Inspections, LLC
Serving Decatur and surrounding Central Illinois communities
Illinois Licensed Home Inspectors #450.010725 & #450.010750
InterNACHI

🚨 DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU SMELL GAS TO FIND OUT THERE'S A PROBLEM!

10/08/2026

⚠️ HOMEOWNERS: WAS YOUR CRAWLSPACE REALLY ENCAPSULATED CORRECTLY?

After more than 15 years of inspecting residential and commercial properties, I have a serious concern about the quality of crawlspace encapsulation work being performed throughout Central Illinois.

During my years as a professional home inspector, I have inspected countless crawlspaces, including many that homeowners paid contractors to encapsulate. Unfortunately, I can count on one hand the number of encapsulation systems I have encountered that appeared to be properly and completely installed.

Today, I inspected yet another property with an incomplete crawlspace encapsulation system.

The most concerning deficiency? There was absolutely NO apparent provision for controlling or removing excess humidity from the crawlspace.

A crawlspace encapsulation system is supposed to do more than cover the ground with plastic and seal the foundation vents.

A properly designed system must address several important factors:

✅ Groundwater Management — Water intrusion and drainage problems must be identified and corrected.

✅ Ground V***r Control — A properly installed and sealed v***r barrier must prevent ground moisture from entering the crawlspace.

✅ Air Sealing — Foundation vents, openings, and penetrations must be appropriately sealed as part of an unvented crawlspace design.

✅ Insulation — Insulation must be properly installed in accordance with the intended system design and applicable requirements.

✅ HUMIDITY CONTROL — There MUST BE an appropriate means of managing moisture and humidity within the enclosed crawlspace, consistent with applicable building requirements.

This last item is one of the most important—and one I frequently find overlooked.

Simply sealing a crawlspace does not automatically eliminate moisture or control humidity. Without an appropriate moisture-management strategy, elevated humidity can contribute to condensation, microbial growth, wood deterioration, and damage to building materials.

My concern is not simply that these installations are incomplete. It is that homeowners are paying for systems they believe will protect their homes, without realizing they may not be receiving a complete, properly functioning system. These deficiencies can ultimately lead to significant moisture-related problems, structural deterioration, and costly repairs in the future.

If you have paid to have your crawlspace encapsulated, I encourage you to ask a few questions:

How is humidity being controlled inside the crawlspace?

Were existing water intrusion problems corrected?

Was the v***r barrier properly sealed?

Does the system meet applicable building requirements?

Has anyone independently evaluated the completed installation?

A crawlspace that looks clean and is covered in white plastic is not necessarily a properly encapsulated crawlspace.

At Midland & Associates Home Inspections, LLC, I provide independent evaluations of crawlspace conditions. We do not sell encapsulation or repair services, so our inspections are focused on identifying and documenting visible conditions—not selling corrective work.

If you have concerns about an existing encapsulation system or would like an independent evaluation of work that has already been performed, contact me to discuss an inspection.

Midland & Associates Home Inspections, LLC
Serving Decatur and surrounding Central Illinois communities
Illinois Licensed Home Inspector #450.010725
InterNACHI

Just because the work was completed doesn't necessarily mean it was completed correctly.

Call now to connect with business.

07/18/2026

🔥 Could your home have an undetected gas leak?

Midland & Associates Home Inspections, LLC now offers Combustible-Gas Leak Screenings for homeowners throughout Central Illinois.

Using an electronic combustible-gas detector, we screen readily accessible:
• Gas appliance connections
• Shutoff valves and fittings
• Exposed natural-gas and propane supply piping
• Furnaces, water heaters, ranges, fireplaces and other gas-fired appliances.

Gas leaks may develop at loose connections, aging valves, damaged piping or appliance components—and a small leak may not always produce an obvious odor.

This is an independent visual and electronic screening.

We are Illinois State Licensed Home Inspectors and do not sell gas-line or appliance repairs, so our only job is to provide an unbiased assessment of the visible and accessible components.

Contact Midland & Associates Home Inspections, LLC for a free quote or to schedule your Home Gas-Safety Checkup.

📞 (217) 454-5538
📧 [email protected]
🌐 inspectedbymidland.com

Call now to connect with business.

07/18/2026

🏠 Did your home receive crawlspace insulation, air-sealing, encapsulation or other energy-efficiency upgrades?

These improvements can make your home more comfortable and reduce energy costs—but a crawlspace must also properly manage ground moisture, drainage, humidity, ventilation and mechanical components.

During inspections throughout Central Illinois, I have found upgraded crawlspaces with incomplete v***r barriers, insulation gaps, conflicting ventilation methods and moisture conditions that were not visible from the access opening.

Midland & Associates Home Inspections, LLC now offers an independent Crawlspace Energy-Upgrade Checkup. You will receive photographs and a written summary of the visible and accessible conditions observed.

We do not sell insulation, encapsulation or repair services. Our only job is to provide you with an independent, unbiased assessment.

If your crawlspace was upgraded but was never independently inspected afterward, contact us for a free quote or to schedule your checkup.

Best regards,
Zach Richards

📞 (217)454-5538
📧 [email protected]
🌐 inspectedbymidland.com

Call now to connect with business.

06/13/2026

06/13/2026

Always worth the extra key strokes to mention the vegetation in and around the home. Glad everyone was ok.