Michigan Inspections

Michigan Inspections Offering Home Inspections and many additional inspection services for the Greater Metro-Detroit area. We're your trusted MI Guy

Check out our blog for great tips for your home:
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Providing exceptional service for our clients. Professional Certified Home Inspector. Native Michigander who loves to help and educate others.

🚨 Please don’t cut your floor joists like this…These photos are from two recent inspections—one in Detroit and one in We...
03/11/2026

🚨 Please don’t cut your floor joists like this…

These photos are from two recent inspections—one in Detroit and one in West Bloomfield.

Floor joists are what support the weight of your floors, furniture, and everything inside your home. Unfortunately, sometimes people cut large sections out of them to run plumbing or wiring.

That’s exactly what happened here.

In one home, several joists had large notches cut through them to run utilities. In another, someone cut a big chunk out of a joist just to fit a bathtub drain.

The problem is that removing too much wood weakens the structure of the floor and can lead to:

⚠️ Sagging floors
⚠️ Bouncy or uneven walking surfaces
⚠️ Cracked drywall
⚠️ Structural repairs later on

There are proper ways to route plumbing and wiring through framing, but they need to follow strict limits on how much can be drilled or notched.

This is exactly why a professional home inspection matters—many of these issues are completely hidden unless you know where to look.

If you're buying a home in Metro Detroit, I’d be happy to help make sure everything underneath the surface is safe and structurally sound.

📞 Michigan Inspections – MI Guy

Ever wonder why mice move into electrical panels? 🐭⚡🔥Simple — it’s warm.Even in a cold pole barn, breaker panels give of...
03/02/2026

Ever wonder why mice move into electrical panels? 🐭⚡🔥

Simple — it’s warm.

Even in a cold pole barn, breaker panels give off a little heat. To a mouse, that’s premium real estate. Then they haul in insulation and nesting material and basically build a tiny heated Airbnb. 🏠✨

Cute? Maybe.
Safe? Not even close. 😬

All that debris packed around live electrical components can trap heat, damage wiring, and create a serious fire hazard.

Outbuildings and pole barns are common spots for this kind of issue — and most owners never see inside the panel.

Warm and cozy for mice… 🚫 not so great for your property.

🚨 Water Doesn’t Flow Uphill… 🚨Found during a recent home inspection in Livonia, Michigan.This wasn’t just a “slight slop...
02/23/2026

🚨 Water Doesn’t Flow Uphill… 🚨

Found during a recent home inspection in Livonia, Michigan.

This wasn’t just a “slight slope issue.”
The drain line actually steps UP several inches after the trap before reaching the wall connection.

That means water leaving the sink has to:
⬆️ Go up
⬆️ Fight gravity
⬆️ Sit in the pipe

That’s not how drainage systems are designed to work.

When a drain line rises after the trap like this, it can cause:
💧 Chronic slow draining
💧 Standing water in the pipe
💧 Frequent clogs
💧 Accelerated corrosion
💧 Sewer gas concerns
💧 Eventual leakage

Drain piping should continuously slope downward toward the main drain — typically ¼” per foot — with no “uphill” sections.

These are the kinds of hidden plumbing defects buyers don’t see during a showing… but they absolutely matter long-term.

If you’re buying or selling in Livonia or anywhere in Metro Detroit, make sure you’re getting a thorough inspection that looks beyond the surface.

We inspect:
✔️ Plumbing systems
✔️ Sewer lines (sewer scopes available)
✔️ Radon
✔️ Mold & air quality
✔️ Structural & safety components

Protect your investment. Know what you’re walking into.

📍 Serving Livonia, Plymouth, Canton, Novi, Farmington Hills, Westland & surrounding Metro Detroit communities.

📩 Message Michigan Inspections to schedule your home inspection today.

💧 Laundry Area Plumbing Issues That Often Go UnnoticedThis photo was taken under a laundry sink during a recent home ins...
02/07/2026

💧 Laundry Area Plumbing Issues That Often Go Unnoticed

This photo was taken under a laundry sink during a recent home inspection. What looks like a simple setup actually showed several defects and risk items that commonly get missed:

• The laundry sink is not securely fastened
• Actively leaking drain pipe
• Improper S-trap, not meet modern standards and can allow sewer gases into the home
• The washing machine drain is improperly tied into the sink drain
• Corroded shut -off valves that are facing the wall, making it difficult to use
• Water hammer arrestors were not observed at the washing machine supply lines, increasing the risk of pipe noise and long-term plumbing stress
• Washer supply lines and piping are not properly secured, allowing movement that can lead to leaks or failures over time
• A corrugated/expandable universal drain fitting is installed where a proper rigid pipe should be used, increasing the risk of leaks and clogs

These are exactly the kinds of hidden issues a thorough inspection is meant to uncover before they turn into bigger (and more expensive) problems.

🔍 Inspections by Michigan Inspections
📍 Serving Metro Detroit
📆 Weekday & weekend availability

A detailed home inspection gives you the information you need so you can make informed decisions with confidence.

Message or call to schedule your inspection.

❄️ Cold weather radon reminder — straight from my own house last night ❄️I went down into my basement and noticed a fain...
01/28/2026

❄️ Cold weather radon reminder — straight from my own house last night ❄️

I went down into my basement and noticed a faint high-pitched “air leak” sound near my sump cover (where my radon system pulls from). The radon fan was still running, but the manometer showed it wasn’t pulling any meaningful vacuum — basically no suction — which usually means something is restricting airflow.

Sure enough, outside at the top of the exhaust pipe, a small mix of condensation and snow had frozen into a little cap and partially blocked the outlet. 🧊🌬️

I cleared the blockage, the system immediately went back to normal operation, and radon levels in the house started dropping again. ✅

🔍 Winter takeaway: after snowstorms or freeze/thaw cycles, take 30 seconds to check your radon exhaust pipe. A system can be running but not actually doing its job if airflow is restricted — and most homeowners would never know.

This is exactly the kind of detail I look for during inspections. Small issues can make a big difference in how a home performs.

Home Inspection TipOne item I check during every home inspection—but many homeowners aren’t familiar with—is the main wa...
01/17/2026

Home Inspection Tip

One item I check during every home inspection—but many homeowners aren’t familiar with—is the main water shutoff valve.

In an emergency like a burst pipe or leaking appliance, knowing where the shutoff is and being able to operate it quickly can prevent major water damage. I often find valves that are seized, partially closed, hidden behind false panels, or blocked by storage.

If you own a home, take a few minutes to locate your main water shutoff, make sure it turns freely, and keep it accessible. It’s a simple step that can save a lot of stress and expense later.


🚨 One Inspection Item Buyers Often OverlookWhen buying a home, most buyers focus on big-ticket items like the roof, furn...
01/07/2026

🚨 One Inspection Item Buyers Often Overlook

When buying a home, most buyers focus on big-ticket items like the roof, furnace, or air conditioning. But one of the most commonly overlooked areas during a home inspection is drainage and grading around the foundation.

Improper grading, clogged downspouts, or poor water management can lead to foundation moisture intrusion, basement leaks, and long-term structural concerns — especially in Michigan homes where freeze/thaw cycles and heavy rains are common.

During home inspections throughout Waterford, Oakland County, and the Metro Detroit area, I frequently find water-related issues that could have been addressed early with proper drainage and maintenance.

A professional home inspection looks beyond what’s visible inside the house and evaluates how water is directed away from the foundation — helping buyers avoid costly repairs and moisture problems after closing.

Understanding these overlooked details helps buyers make informed decisions and protect their investment from day one.

🔥 **Winter Fire Safety Check: Don’t Skip This Simple Step**As heating systems run more often and homes stay sealed up du...
12/13/2025

🔥 **Winter Fire Safety Check: Don’t Skip This Simple Step**

As heating systems run more often and homes stay sealed up during colder weather, **fire and carbon monoxide risks increase**. One of the simplest things homeowners can do right now is make sure their **smoke and CO detectors are working properly and up to date**.

During inspections around **Waterford, Clarkston, and Metro Detroit**, I still find many homes with:

* Old or yellowed smoke detectors past their service life
* Missing CO detectors near bedrooms
* Alarms that haven’t been tested in years

Smoke and CO detectors are your first line of defense — but only if they’re installed correctly and functioning as intended.

At **Michigan Inspections – We’re Your MI Guy**, we check detector placement, age, and operation during every home inspection to help keep families safe.

If you’re buying, selling, or just want peace of mind this winter, now’s a great time for a professional home inspection.


🔥 Why I Upgraded My Smoke DetectorsA friend of mine recently had a lithium battery ignite inside his home while he was a...
12/06/2025

🔥 Why I Upgraded My Smoke Detectors

A friend of mine recently had a lithium battery ignite inside his home while he was away. The fire itself damaged part of the structure, but because it burned unnoticed for hours, smoke spread throughout the entire house, ruining most of the interior and many of his belongings.
He’ll now be out of the home for a long time while everything is rebuilt.

He was fortunate — he had no pets inside at the time.

But this situation made something very clear:
A traditional smoke detector only helps if someone is home to hear it.

If he had a WiFi-connected smoke detector, he would have received a phone alert the moment the alarm activated. He could have contacted the fire department immediately, limiting the damage to a much smaller area.

And for anyone with pets, a WiFi-enabled alarm can be a lifesaver.
You can notify the fire department right away and let them know animals are inside — giving them a chance to rescue them before smoke overtakes the home.

That’s why I upgraded my own home to a WiFi-enabled smoke and CO detector that integrates with my existing interconnected alarms. If any detector goes off, I get an instant alert no matter where I am.

Why WiFi-connected detectors matter:

📱 Instant phone notifications for smoke or CO

🔥 Faster emergency response = less fire and smoke damage

🐾 Allows you to alert first responders about pets inside

🏠 Compatible with many interconnected systems (with the right model)

🔧 Modern sensors + improved reliability

✔️ A simple upgrade that adds protection standard alarms can’t

Seeing how quickly smoke can destroy a home — even without a massive structural fire — was a wake-up call.

A WiFi-enabled detector provides peace of mind, protects your home, and could save your pets’ lives.

❄️ Cold weather exposes what summer hides…Attic leaks, missing insulation, moisture buildup, and even early ice-dam risk...
12/02/2025

❄️ Cold weather exposes what summer hides…
Attic leaks, missing insulation, moisture buildup, and even early ice-dam risks often show up only when temperatures drop.

That’s why a Winter Home Inspection can save you major money in repairs.

🔥 With thermal imaging, we can spot:
• Heat loss & cold drafts
• Hidden moisture
• Poor ventilation
• Insulation gaps
• Potential ice-dam trouble

Fix issues early → stay safe, warm, and efficient all winter.
Don’t wait for a problem to grow.

📅 Schedule your Winter Home Inspection today!

📍 Waterford • Clarkston • Troy • Metro Detroit
🔗 michigan-inspections.com

❄️ Winter Is Here — Is Your Home Ready?With temperatures dropping across Waterford, Clarkston, and the Metro Detroit are...
11/25/2025

❄️ Winter Is Here — Is Your Home Ready?

With temperatures dropping across Waterford, Clarkston, and the Metro Detroit area, now is the perfect time to knock out a few important winter safety checks around your home.

Here are the Top 5 Winter Home Safety Checks every homeowner should complete:

✔️ Replace your furnace filter to improve airflow and efficiency
✔️ Test smoke & CO detectors and replace old/yellowed units
✔️ Clear exterior vents (dryer, furnace, bath fan) to prevent blockages
✔️ Check attic insulation to reduce heat loss and prevent ice dams
✔️ Inspect your sump pump to avoid basement water issues during freeze/thaw cycles

During every inspection, Michigan Inspections – We’re Your MI Guy looks at these critical areas to help keep your home safe, efficient, and ready for winter.

Need a home inspection or radon test this season?
📞 Visit www.Michigan-Inspections.com

☢️ You Can’t See or Smell It — But It Could Be in Your HomeWe recently tested a home in South Lyon that came back with a...
11/18/2025

☢️ You Can’t See or Smell It — But It Could Be in Your Home

We recently tested a home in South Lyon that came back with a radon level of 24.1 pCi/L — that’s about six times the EPA limit. 😳

As the weather gets colder and windows stay closed, radon levels often climb because fresh air isn’t circulating. And since we’re all spending more time inside this time of year, it’s even more important to know your home’s levels.

Radon is invisible and odorless — the only way to detect it is through testing.
✅ Professional continuous monitoring
✅ Accurate 48–72 hr results
✅ Peace of mind for your family

Visit www.Michigan-Inspections.com or call (248)742-5557
to schedule your radon test today.

Address

Waterford Township, MI
48329

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