Top Dog Inspections LLC

09/02/2024

Getting into the fall season, leaves are already starting to fall. If you don’t have them, and you have a good amount of trees in your yard, gutter guards are a really good way to keep your gutters clear and prevent excess water from pooling around your foundation. If you have leaves, sticks and other debris in your gutters, eventually all of it will collect at the downspout end, impeding the water from simply draining down the downspout and away from the foundation. It may not happen this year or next, but eventually this will cause water to back up and overflow the gutters. It may also back up and go behind the gutter and damage the fascia and/or roof sheathing. These problems can be relatively expensive, but can be prevented with a small investment in professional gutter guards or even DIY guards from a local home improvement store.

08/05/2024

Why should I hire a home inspector to inspect my brand-new home? This is a question many people unfortunately don't ask themselves. A newly built home may appear perfect, yet often builders have contractors install components like roofing or siding they may not typically install. Siding systems like the Hardy Board type have manufacturer's specs not only to maintain the warranty but also to allow the product to work properly. The HVAC contractor may have installed the air distribution system in the attic after the insulation is blown in, moved insulation for the install, leaving gaps in depth, or worse, completely void of any insulation at all. Is there an electrical circuit run a certain way because it was easier than the designed plan, making the plumber reroute the pipes, compromising floor joists? There are many instances of these issues happening, either out of carelessness or simply not knowing how to install specific components. Unfortunately, the homeowner either doesn't know they exist, can't see the issues, like in an attic, or doesn't know what they are looking for. Not all issues are out of carelessness or cutting corners, but hiring a home inspector now can save a homeowner thousands of dollars on costly repairs when a component fails or has a compromised warranty.

11/11/2022

Thank you to every veteran for paving the way for the freedoms we enjoy now.

10/03/2022

With fall right around the corner, that means leaves are coming down. If you aren’t comfortable or aren’t able to clean out your home’s gutters, hire a contractor to clean them out periodically. Often times a clogged gutter, and then water backup, is the reason there is basement water intrusion. When clogged gutters hold water, it puts unnecessary stress on them, causes back-ups, and can even cause ice damming in the colder months. All this can lead to costly repairs. Clear your gutters out or have gutter covers installed; you will save a ton of money in the long run!

05/29/2021

HVAC systems have carbon monoxide leaks; service panels have faulty wiring; electrical systems can be ungrounded or wired wrong; crawl spaces hide water intrusion and foundation problems; fireplaces have separated brick; attics and roofs leak at missing or improperly sealed areas. Did you examine these components at your showing with your realtor? Do you know what to look for?
Do you really want to risk your savings, or worse, your family’s safety because “The guy yesterday put an offer in without any inspection contingencies”? We give you the facts to understand the biggest purchase of your life. We give you piece of mind. Top Dog Home Inspections; your new home’s best friend!

03/25/2021

Spring is a good time for getting your yard looking good, but also a time to do a little “preventative maintenance”. Some things to consider: move wood away from your foundation or off your deck to keep pests like bugs and mice at bay, trim bushes and trees away from your siding and roof, and look in trees for any “widow makers”, or broken limbs that will come down in heavy winds. If you do have problem limbs or dead trees near your house, hire a qualified, insured professional arborist to address these issues before they become an insurance claim. As always, when buying a home, never forego a home inspection. Paint, a few candles or scent plug-ins and moving boxes can hide big issues that an average home buyer won’t recognize.

12/05/2020

Christmas lights, trees, plug in spinning Frosty’s, they are all great this time of year. But they all take electricity. If your home’s lights are dimming, that means that particular circuit may be overloaded. Breakers in your service panel should trip off when the circuit becomes too overloaded, telling you to take some of the electrical load off of that circuit.

10/29/2020

Halloween is the start of the outdoor decorating season. Before you know it, Christmas lights will be going up. This is a perfect time to have any outdoor receptacles (outlets) tested and/or replaced. All outdoor, garage, unfinished basement, and laundry room circuits need to be GFCI protected. Also, anywhere within 6 feet of a water source. They detect ground faults and shut off the circuit from there on down the circuit. Outdoor receptacles also need to have an approved cover to protect from water and weather damage while in use or not. Got to NFPA.org to for more information.

Learn more about NFPA LiNK ™, your custom, on-demand code knowledge tool brought to you by NFPA. Currently includes the four most recent versions of the National Electrical Code® (NEC®).

08/19/2020

Why hire Ohio licensed Top Dog Inspections as your home inspector? Purchasing a home may be the most expensive investment you make. This decision should be made having as much information about the property as possible. We will fully inspect the property, from the roof to the crawl space, give you an unbiased report of the home, explain what problems or concerns were observed, and what needs further evaluation by a professional in that specific field. We also schedule termite inspections and radon testing for you, if you choose, so you don’t have those added tasks to worry about. You are the only inspection that day, so you can rest assured 100% of our attention is on your new home. Your detailed inspection report will be emailed no later than the next morning, with accompanying pictures of any concerns or problems that we observe.
The purchase of a new home is a big investment; Top Dog Inspections will make you feel confident in that purchase, knowing you have all the facts and have chosen the right house to make your new home. Call or text 513-680-8032 or email [email protected]

06/12/2020

The vast majority of garage doors are mechanized these days, which is second nature to us. There are 2 important safety features on almost all new openers. First there are laser “eyes” that are about six inches from the garage floor on both of the doors side tracks. These shoot a beam between each other, and if something breaks the continuity, such as a child or pet, the door will automatically reverse up. The other is a safety reverse. All garage doors made on or after 1991 have this safety mechanism. If the door comes in contact with anything, be it a bike, a car, a toy, etc., it senses it and reverses. These features need to be checked periodically to endure they perform their intended functions when needed.

05/29/2020

If you have a sump pump in your basement, it is advisable to have a battery back up pump as well. As too many people realize after the fact, when the power goes out, and you are away undoubtedly, your primary pump does not function unless you have a home generator system. The backups typically do not pump as many gallons per min (gpm) as your primary pump does, but it will temporarily hold off overflow till the power is returned. Installing a battery backup sump pump system and adding some extra flood/excess water insurance will definitely ease your mind.

05/06/2020

Planting new bushes or trees while at home during the quarantine? Make sure you understand how big they will get when mature. One of the biggest mistakes homeowners AND builders do is planting too many plants too close to the foundation to make it “finished”. Trees need to be far enough from your foundation so when mature, the roots don’t grow against the foundation, the limbs don’t rub on the siding, and don’t overhang the roof. Bushes touching the house when mature can be a highway for insects and can keep your siding wet longer after rain or snow. A little homework before planting will save you from unwanted damage to your roof, siding, and foundation.