SafeHome Inspections

I think this one will resonate with some of my inspector buds.

Example: The "dew point" for 70°F air at 60% humidity is approximately 55.5°F. That means anything cooler than 55.5℉ will begin to sweat (moisture will form on those cooler surfaces).

However, mold requires more than just damp surfaces.

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Why Does Attic Decking Mold Faster in Cincinnati Than in Mississippi? Walk into enough attics and you’ll eventually hear the same debate.

The Most Dangerous Myth in Homeownership: "Set-It & Forget-It"

As a home inspector and builder for 50+ years, I see it every day: homeowners falling for the "Set-It & Forget-It" trap. They install a high-tech system, assume it’s a permanent fixture, and then act surprised when it fails three years later.

Take Cable Railings, for example. People love the look, but they don't realize these are mechanical systems. Between the Mississippi humidity shrinking wooden posts, and the cables expanding in the heat, that "safety" barrier can sag enough to fail a 4-inch sphere test in just a few months.

If you aren’t checking your tension, you aren't "set"—you’re just waiting for a safety hazard.

List the components that FAIL the "Set-It & Forget-It" rule. Here are my first three:
1️⃣ Cable Railing Systems (Need monthly tension checks!)
2️⃣ Tankless Water Heaters (Need annual descaling!)
3️⃣ Sump Pumps (Need quarterly testing!)

What else belongs on this list? Builders, inspectors, and homeowners—drop the component you've seen fail from neglect in the comments! 👇

The flashing isn't UL-listed… but it is road-tested.

Summertime is just around the corner. It's time to tone up on Deck Construction—here's my lumber guide. Take care with pressure-treated wood—you can introduce a code violation quicker than a minnow can swim a dipper, and old decks could have been treated with an arsenic-based preservative, which is dangerous to work with.https://garynsmith.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Deck-Lumber-Grading-Guide.pdf