Columnist and Home Inspector


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Mr. Rooney currently belongs to the American Society of Home Inspectors® (ASHI) - Baltimore Chapter (#4747) and its Mid-Atlantic Chapter. He is a Member of the National Institute of Building Sciences, Building Environment Thermal Envelope Council, and is a Licensed Maryland Home Improvement Contractor. More...

Latest Articles Index

Need to close up the house for the winter 12/17/2011
Is there a problem with ventless gas fireplaces? 12/10/2011
Are walls separating? 12/03/2011
What about a water driven sump pump? 11/26/2011
Can I heat the crawl space with dryer vent? 11/19/2011
Is our new gas furnace causing soot in the house? 11/12/2011
Taking care of the fireplace 11/5/2011
I think I need a new boiler 10/29/2011
Trying to warm the unfinished basement 10/22/2011
One toilet won't flush right 10/15/2011
Why do we need ridge vent? 10/8/2011
Is my deck safe? 10/1/2011
Moldy basement 9/24/2011
Should I get a solar generator? 9/17/2011
All the smoke alarms went off! 09/10/2011
GFCI trips 09/03/2011
Wet window well and slab jacking 08/27/2011
Preventing, controlling, mice population in home 08/20/2011
Pipes moan! 08/13/2011
Carpenter bees! 08/06/2011
I got scammed! 07/30/2011
I need to replace my heat pump. Why? 07/23/2011
Dehumidifiers for the basement 07/16/2011
Be careful about using wet vacs in the basement 07/09/2011
I need help with my crawl space 06/25/2011
Suggestions for restoring basement to its formerly dry state 06/18/2011
Found water on floor near furnace 06/11/2011
GFCI tripped stopped sump and basement flooded--why? 06/04/2011
We wait too long for hot water!! 05/28/2011
Can I put on another layer roof shingles? 05/21/2011
Basement floods at the outside stairs 05/14/2011
Want a clean deck! 05/07/2011
Dishwasher dumps water on the counter-top 04/23/2011
AC smells when it first comes on 04/16/2011
How can we vent our bath to prevent mildew? 04/09/2011
We have termites in the yard 04/02/2011
An electric breaker wouldn't trip! 03/26/2011
We need a new A/C and oil furnace 03/19/2011
Got a furnace and expansion tank question 03/12/2011
My driveway and sidewalks are crumbling 03/5/2011
Need to get rid of squirrels in the attic 02/26/2011
Water heater-- should I go tankless 02/19/2011
My old boiler uses too much oil 02/12/2011
Are compact fluorescent lights safe? 02/5/2011
Dishwasher discharges on sink 01/29/2011
Worried about dryer lint fire hazard 01/22/2011
What's the best way to winterize a house? 01/15/2011
Should and how do I clean my humidifier? 01/08/2011
Now my house is too tight 12/18/2010
Squirrels in the attic 12/11/2010
I need an ice dam fix. 12/04/2010
Roof seal deal--too good to be true? 11/27/2010
My new water heater stinks! 11/20/2010
My toilet is a fog horn! 11/13/2010
My problem involves a leak in a waste pipe 11/06/2010
Does a water heater timer make sense? 10/30/2010
Thinking about a dual-fuel heating and cooling system 10/23/2010
Need to reseal fogging windows 10/16/2010
Leaky Basement 10/09/2010
Crickets and sting bugs--Oh My! 10/02/2010
Are geothermal heat pumps reliable? 9/25/2010
Noticed what looks like water stains 9/18/2010
Are the low flow toilets any good? 09/11/2010
We have a bed bug problem 09/04/2010
How often should I drain my water heater? 08/28/2010
How can I heat and cool room over garage? 08/21/2010
Our living room smells like smoke after a rain 08/14/2010
Basement door drain clogs and leaks 08/07/2010
Replacing siding and windows 07/31/2010
Drippy Bulkhead-- Why? 07/24/2010
Roof stains again 07/17/2010
Should I install an attic fan? 05/30/2009
Vent dryer in the house? 05/23/2009
Upsize to SEER 16? 05/16/2009
Can I powerwash my roof? 05/09/2009
House has Radon-- is it OK buy? 05/02/2009
Possible ways to stop woodpecker's ruckus on gutter 04/25/2009
I want more attic storage. 04/18/2009
Squeaky Oak floors-- how to quiet 04/11/2009
New low flow toilets better than the old ones 04/04/2009
Have you heard of the Marathon Water Heater Company? 03/28/2009
Soot(?) in the house. 03/21/2009
Three dead outlets; one's a GFCI. How do I remedy this? 02/14/2009
Cold air blowing in from attic to furnace room.
Can we close it off. What's it for?
02/06/2009
Can the crawl space be dug out converted to basement? 01/31/2009
Have ridge vents but no soffit venting 01/24/2009
Is the foul oder coming from my old water heater? 01/17/2009
Getting bids for a major remodel 12/27/2008
Our windows are fogging up--why? 12/13/2008
Does it matter that my outside holiday lights are on a GFCI? 12/06/2008
I heard an ad on the radio for a whole house humidifier.
Is this a good idea?
11/29/2008
Will a progammable thermostat work on a heat pump? 11/22/2008
Can I put insulation on top of insulation? 11/15/2008
Crickets invade every fall! 11/08/2008
Should I close up and insulate my crawl? 11/01/2008
Can use my deck to make a shed roof? 10/25/2008
What does SEER mean? 10/18/2008
What causes those black stains that appear to streak down asphalt ? 10/11/2008
Need storage in truss attic 10/04/2008
When should I seal my driveway? 09/27/2008
Flashing ACQ lumber, framing mistakes and
foundation wall crack
09/13/2008
Quiet noisy oak floor 09/06/2008
What about a water driven sump pump? 08/30/2008
Smelly fireplace and bath--why? 08/23/2008
One toilet wont flush 08/16/2008
Odor from air ducts 08/09/2008
Radon in granite countertops, roof stains and buzzards 08/02/2008
Squirrels are eating my car! 07/26/2008
Ceramic tile subfloor and insulating cpvc pipe in the crawl 07/19/2008
Upgrading attic insulation and sizing CFLs 07/12/2008
How can I get my crawl space dry? 07/05/2008
Trying to find a contractor 06/28/2008
What about a garbage disposal on a septic system? 06/21/2008
Operate and maintain ceiling fans 06/14/2008
Basement insulation-- snakes & mice! 06/07/2008
hot water had a bad odor to it 05/31/2008
Wiring Replacement 05/24/2008
get ready for rain! 05/17/2008
Covering wood decking and well water odor 05/10/2008
Can you tell me which source of heating water is
the most efficient?
05/03/2008
What are the facts about thermal pane windows? 04/26/2008
Want roof to reduce carbon footprint 04/19/2008
I am thinking about buying a house
that has been repossessed
04/12/2008
Is a whole house fan not recommended
for a house with a radon problem?
04/05/2008
Termites were in my tree! 03/29/2008
Birds are bothering us 03/22/2008
Pinhole leaks--Any ideas as to why these
pipes are failing?
03/15/2008
Can I put insulation on top of
insulation?
03/08/2008
I am interested in a geothermal heat
pump...
03/01/2008
Carbon Monoxide detector locations and cracked concrete
wall
02/23/2008
I have a crack in an interior
wall that is drywall
02/16/2008
Our electric bill last month was $580!
Help!
02/09/2008
I want to buy a furnace humidifier
and I don't know what type is
best.
02/02/2008
We could get only luke warm water
for our showers. Any suggestions?
01/26/2008
Believe GFCI when they trip! 01/19/2008
Basement door drain clogged 01/12/2008
How do I stop water hammer and
what is it?
12/22/2007
Hot water has a "rotten egg" smell 12/15/2007
How can I replace my fireplace damper? 12/08/2007
Should I put a programmable thermostat on
the heat pump?
12/01/2007
Water from my new water heater is
cloudy-- why?
11/24/2007
Should I replace my electric baseboard heaters
with new ones?
11/17/2007
Do I need my chimney relined from
my gas furnace?
11/10/2007
Oil heat service contracts and freezers in
the garage
11/03/2007
Do I need to install a pressure-reducing
valve in the water pipe coming into
my house?
10/27/2007
What about Carbon Monoxide detectors? 10/20/2007
look out for bad water heater turn
back device wiring
10/13/2007
Can I paint over wallpaper? 10/06/2007
stamped concrete and non-skid shower floors 09/29/2007
My electrical usage went way up...why? 09/22/2007
Cricket control 09/15/2007
We have to run the hot water
a long time before it warms up
09/08/2007
What is the best method to repair
drywall nail pops?
09/01/2007
Should I install a radiant barrier? 08/25/2007
Got a waste line leaking. Help! 08/18/2007
My electric bill is out of control! 08/11/2007
We have had a problem with mosquitoes 08/04/2007
Should I add an attic fan? 07/28/2007
What is your opinion on the tankless
systems that seem to be common now?
07/21/2007
Smoke odors and retrofitted A/C 07/14/2007
a solution to a problem of creaking
floors
07/07/2007
Federal Pacific breaker didn't trip 06/30/2007
The deck has green moss on it
which we plan to power wash and
seal
06/23/2007
Vertical cracks in outside drywall corners 06/16/2007
We noticed some standing water under and
around the furnace...
06/09/2007
How do I clean up a mercury
spill from a compact fluorescent lamp breakage?
06/02/2007
Drain runs slow. Any idea what I
can do to speed things up?
05/26/2007
Home security system selection 05/19/2007
Sump pump runs every two minutes 05/12/2007
What do you recommend that we look
for in a shingle warranty?
05/05/2007
What do the pros think of plastic
plumbing pipes? Is it as good or
better than copper?
04/28/2007
Zone Dampering and dryer exhaust 04/21/2007
Carpet around the edge near the baseboard
looks dirty.
04/14/2007
Carpenter bees have ruined the framing around
my garage door
04/07/2007
Testing the pH of well water 03/31/2007
Should I close off rooms to save
heat?
03/24/2007
My bathroom ceiling began to crack right
at the wall/ceiling joint...
03/17/2007
Why are stud lines and nail heads
showing up on the wall?
03/10/2007
Cold ar coming in around the fireplace 03/03/2007
About generators 02/24/2007
Where to locate humidifier controls 02/17/2007
Should I reside my house? 02/10/2007
Should we have attic fans or not? 02/03/2007
Is my aluminum wiring safe? 01/27/2007
Mercury disposal concerns with flourescent lights? 01/20/2007
Should we replace old windows? 01/13/2007
Battery operated back-up sump pump 01/06/2007
Should we have our air ducts cleaned? 12/30/2006
Will my Holiday lights overload my circuits? 12/16/2006
Why does my frost free refrigerator not
work in the garage in winter?
12/09/2006
Replacing a garage door spring that broke 12/02/2006
"seconds" lumber to build a house 11/11/2006
I have an odd size air filter
location
11/04/2006
Can't get house warm in winter 10/28/2006
Shopping a new roof 10/21/2006
Programmable Thermostats for a Heat Pump 10/14/2006
Hooking a generator to the house wiring 10/07/2006
old house heat with new addition 09/30/2006
Got bluish - white gunk blocking my
hot water faucets
09/23/2006
Pipe leak starts, stops and can't find
it
09/16/2006
We need a French Drain around the
foundation
09/09/2006
Is it okay to close up a
house with no A/C in September?
09/02/2006
Toilet backs up periodically-- can't find a
drain blockage
08/26/2006
Dont know if my abandoned septic tank
is safe...
08/19/2006
Attic fan won't necessarily cool 08/12/2006
A/C Booster fans and vinyl siding 08/05/2006
Truss roof frame attic storage 07/29/2006
Smelly closet and rebuild roof 07/22/2006
Wet-vacs aren't pumps! 07/15/2006
Well pumps and ceiling fans again 07/08/2006
Keeping ceiling fans working w/o A/C 07/01/2006
Our dishwasher mostly empties through the air
gap.
06/24/2006
Replace old pressure treated deck with composite 06/17/2006
Drywall is separating in the second floor
master bed.
06/10/2006
Do we need lightning rods? 06/03/2006
Recurring problem with mice 05/27/2006
Carpenter bees: What can I do? 05/20/2006
Assessing air-conditioning operation 05/13/2006
Installing wood floor over old asbestos tile 05/06/2006
Regarding the use of guards to cover
gutters
04/29/2006
Can you tell me what "Industry Standard"
means?
04/22/2006
How does one stop the noise of
a squeaky floor?
04/15/2006
The toilet flushes slow and overflows 04/08/2006
Shouild I vent the dryer into the
crawl space?
04/01/2006
How necessary is it to have ridge
vents installed?
03/25/2006
Our basement bathroom has a sewer-like smell 03/18/2006
We have a drippy skylight in our
master bath
03/11/2006
The hall bath vent occasionally will have
damp drywall around the fan.
03/04/2006
Air-condition a crawl space? 02/25/2006
After this recent episode of ice and
snow I noticed a wet spot...
02/18/2006
Is there something special one can do
to remove the smoke smell in a
home?
02/11/2006
What's up with mold remediators? 02/04/2006
I have an old boiler. 01/28/2006
Do termites only attack trees that are
diseased?
01/21/2006
Is there a way I can tell
if my deck is safe?
01/14/2006
Put a smart thermostat on a heat
pump
01/07/2006
Do we need a humidifier? 12/24/2005
Why replace my 15 year old heat
pump?
12/17/2005
I have a house that no one
is living in
12/10/2005
Our house is being attached by woodpeckers 12/03/2005
I know I need more insulation 11/26/2005
should we close off attic vents in
winter?
11/19/2005
How often to pump septic tank 11/12/2005
Spray roofing scam 11/05/2005
We have a problem in our shower
stall
10/29/2005
We have an odor problem in our
bathroom
10/15/2005
Cover gutters or not to cover 10/08/2005
Hardwood floor creaks 10/01/2005
Brickwork has been tilting outward 09/24/2005
The intake vent is constantly covered in
mildew.
09/17/2005
Question about winterizing a house. 09/10/2005
My upper floor and attic are too
hot
09/03/2005
Pros and cons of tankless water heaters 08/27/2005
Basement drainage 08/20/2005
I'd like to put a roof over
my heat pump
08/13/2005
A peculiar mildew problem that has cropped
up in our living room ceiling.
08/06/2005
Is it too early to have our
townhouse spruced up to sell?
07/30/2005
A tutorial on crawl spaces 07/23/2005
Considering the age of the house should
we re-wire?
07/16/2005
Our fireplace smells after it rains 07/09/2005
Would like to try to make deck
low maintenance
07/02/2005
Opening a house that has been winterized 06/25/2005
A/C ducts drippng water 06/18/2005
My attic fan has been running constantly 06/11/2005
Water heater refuses to give up its
sulfur smell
06/04/2005
we notice what seems to be a
mildew odor coming from the ducts
05/28/2005
Using a fan or fans to extract
crawl space air forcibly
05/21/2005
One of our GFCI's blew 05/14/2005
The facts about thermal pane windows 05/07/2005
Noticed the surface of the concrete was
crumbling
04/30/2005
Drywell collapsed in the yard 04/02/2005
Don't block return-air vents 03/26/2005
Replacing polybutylene pipe 03/19/2005
Bathtub refinishing and aluminum wire pigtailing 03/12/2005
...had my annual septic tank cleaning... 03/05/2005
our upstairs toilet the pipes make a
loud awful sound
02/26/2005
good reasons why roof shingles should be
replaced if the roof's not leaking
02/19/2005
Furnace filters and foggy mirrors 02/12/2005
we developed a pinhole leak 02/05/2005
When do I use "Supl. Heat" setting
on my Heat pump?
01/29/2005
We want to winterize our home for
our two-month trip to Florida
01/22/2005
our floors are starting to squeak 01/15/2005
looking for advice how to further improve
the quality of our water
01/08/2005
To add a Drain Heat Recovery Ssytem 01/01/2005
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