A Glossary Of Home Inspection Terms

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Every industry has its own language and terms. These words and phrases can be confusing to anyone who is not part of the daily operations of a specific industry, and the home inspection business is no exception.

To help you understand the terms, acronyms, and phrases regularly used during a home inspection, Lizotte Inspection Services has created this handy reference guide. Here you’ll find valuable information allowing you to comprehend and communicate your inspection needs effectively. This guide will also help you understand the home inspection report better.

GFCI
Ground-fault circuit interrupter or GFCI is a special device that is intended for the protection of people by de-energizing a circuit. It is capable of opening the circuit when even a small amount of current is flowing through the grounding system. This means the GFCI will shut the power off before you get electrocuted.

HRV
Heat Recovery Ventilation or HRV uses a heat exchanger that employs a counter-flow between the inbound and outbound airflow. HRV provides fresh air and improved climate control, while also saving energy by reducing heating and cooling requirements.

Representative number
It is a sufficient number to serve as a typical or characteristic example of the items inspected. An example would be a moisture reading of the same level of moisture that would indicate that it is the overall level in a particular area.

Foundation
It is the base upon which the structure of walls rests. It is usually masonry, concrete, stone, or wood and is generally partially underground.

Determine
Determine means to arrive at an opinion or conclusion pursuant to examination.

Crawlspace
It is the area within the confines of the foundation. It is between the ground and the underside of the lowest floor.

Accessible
An accessible area is one that can be approached or entered by the inspector safely, without difficulty, fear, or danger.

Standards of practice
It certifies what inspectors are allowed or not allowed to do. It is included in every report.

Concealed
It refers to items that are hidden from view and are not inspected. An inspector can not make holes in the wall to see what is behind it. So rooms that are full of storage or large furniture will hide what is in the room. 

Technician
A technician is a person who is specially trained in a specific trade. An inspector may recommend that a heating technician do a further inspection of the furnace because they found that it may be an issue.

If you’re looking for a certified home inspector in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, reach out to Lizotte Inspection Services. We perform thorough home assessments and outline our findings in a detailed report. This is done to help you make a more informed decision about your purchase. Our inspection services include appliance recall checks, home inspections, mold inspections or quality air testing, moisture testing or thermal imaging, and ozonation. We deliver our services to clients across Saskatoon, Allan, Dalmeny, Warman, Vanscoy, Clavet, Martensville, Osler, Saskatchewan, and the surrounding areas, including Bradwell, Hague, Colonsay, and Biggar.

View our full list of services here, browse through our inspection gallery here, or get in touch with us here

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