Blog - Decker Inspection Services

All about Furnaces (Forced Air)

Posted on March 5, 2023 by Will DeckerMarch 14, 2023

In the area I work in, Chicago and the surrounding counties, the most common heat source for a home is a forced air furnace. The term ‘forced air’ refers to the furnace being equipped with a blower fan which moves …

Some Truths About Condominiums

Posted on July 11, 2021 by Will DeckerJuly 14, 2021

By William Decker, CRI, CPI, CMI Please Note: I live and work in the Chicagoland area. My comments are based upon that although many of the issues are the same all over the country. Different states and municipalities have different …

Split Block CMU Construction – A Case History

Posted on April 30, 2021 by Will DeckerMay 3, 2021

I had a client call me the other day. Townhome style house in the northwest side of Chicago. Originally built in 2006. Client stated that house was never finished, structure, roof, interior framing, electric, plumbing done, but no drywall or …

About Us

Posted on November 20, 2020 by Will DeckerNovember 20, 2020

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Why you should only hire professionals

Posted on November 27, 2019 by Will DeckerNovember 28, 2019

(The cheap guy is usually the wrong guy. Why pay twice?) By William Decker, CPI, CMI. ILL Lic # 045.002240 Home inspectors, at least those who have been doing it for awhile, have a professional disability. Don’t get me wrong, …

New Construction Inspections. Are they needed?

Posted on January 2, 2019 by Will DeckerNovember 28, 2019

(Municipal Code Inspections are no guarantee that a new house is habitable, or even safe.) By William Decker, CRI, CCI, CMI As a professional Home Inspector, I regularly hear people saying “It’s a new house and does not need a …

Water Leaking Window Problems, and The Solution

Posted on July 12, 2018 by Will DeckerNovember 28, 2019

(Why windows and doors leak water from above, and how to fix it.)

The Most Common Defect found in Home Inspections

Posted on July 11, 2018 by Will DeckerNovember 28, 2019

(And it is getting more and more common).

10 Common Household Dangers

Posted on July 10, 2018 by Will DeckerNovember 28, 2019

(Common safety hazards that are easily and inexpensively fixed)

What is a Home Inspection?

Posted on July 9, 2018 by Will DeckerJune 10, 2021

(What, exactly, do Home Inspectors do and why should you hire one?)

It’s Not the Rain, it’s the Humidity

Posted on July 8, 2018 by Will DeckerNovember 28, 2019

(Water is entering your house through the air.)

Inspection Problems for New Construction

Posted on July 7, 2018 by Will DeckerJuly 13, 2018

(Just because it’s new, does not mean it has no defects)

A Guide to Foundation Cracks

Posted on July 6, 2018 by Will DeckerDecember 26, 2018

(Is the crack in your foundation serious or simple)

Common House and Construction Myths

Posted on July 4, 2018 by Will DeckerJuly 27, 2018

(You really don’t know what you think you know)

The Final Split Faced Block Problem

Posted on July 3, 2018 by Will DeckerJuly 13, 2018

(A new, disturbing finding.)

Water in your building? Sealing does not solve the problem.

Posted on July 2, 2018 by Will DeckerNovember 28, 2019

(The better, long term and permanent fix)

Solving the Split Faced Block Problem

Posted on July 1, 2018 by Will DeckerJuly 13, 2018

(New program to guard against split faced block problems)

Water Retention in Split Faced Block Buildings

Posted on June 30, 2018 by Will DeckerJuly 13, 2018

(How to fix it right the first time)

The Problem with Roof Decks

Posted on June 29, 2018 by Will DeckerJuly 27, 2018

(The problem with roof top decks in Chicago)

Problems with Electro-Magnetic Fields (EMF) in houses.

Posted on June 28, 2018 by Will DeckerNovember 28, 2019

(Are electromagnetic fields really a problem)

Owning a house is more responsibility than you think.

Posted on June 26, 2018 by Will DeckerJuly 13, 2018

(What home owners have to do for themselves.)

Dealing with Water Intrusion and Mold Problems in Houses

Posted on June 25, 2018 by Will DeckerJuly 13, 2018

(All about mold in in your home)

New problem with split faced block buildings

Posted on June 24, 2018 by Will DeckerJuly 13, 2018

(Will we see structural collapses in thousands of Chicago buildings?)

Problems with insulation, and water, in Chicago masonry buildings

Posted on June 23, 2018 by Will DeckerJuly 27, 2018

(Why do Architects get it wrong?)

Efflorescence, what is it and what causes it?

Posted on June 22, 2018 by Will DeckerJuly 13, 2018

(A growing problem in the Chicago area)

Masonry Building Problems in Chicago.

Posted on June 21, 2018 by Will DeckerJuly 13, 2018

(A big problem with an even bigger one on the way!)

Problems with Older Brick Houses in Chicago

Posted on June 20, 2018 by Will DeckerJuly 13, 2018

(Modern masons are not well trained)

The truth about contractors, builders, sub-contractors and home construction

Posted on June 19, 2018 by Will DeckerJuly 13, 2018

(How to avoid costly mistakes in home repairs and remodeling)

How to keep your basement from flooding, and what to do if it does.

Posted on June 18, 2018 by Will DeckerNovember 28, 2019

By William Decker, CPI, CMI, Decker Inspection Services In our area (Northeastern Illinois) there have been some heavy rains, recently. In fact, 2008 had the most rainfall of any recorded year and this year (2014) has been very cool and …

Ice Dams, their causes and dangers

Posted on June 17, 2018 by Will DeckerJuly 13, 2018

By William Decker, Nick Gromiko and Kenton Shepard An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow from draining. As water backs up behind the dam, it can leak …

Fiberglass insulation: It’s problems and the new alternatives

Posted on June 16, 2018 by cathyJuly 27, 2018

By William Decker, Nick Gromiko, Rob London and Kenton Shepard NOTE: We recently received a letter, from the North American Insulation Manufacturer’s Association, asking us to remove this article because they disagreed with it (actually, because it slams a product …

Bathroom Exhaust Fans

Posted on June 15, 2018 by Will DeckerJuly 13, 2018

(Usually improperly installed and can cause mold formation)

Comparing OSB to Plywood in mome construction

Posted on June 14, 2018 by Will DeckerJuly 13, 2018

OSB vs. Plywood. Which is best? By Nick Gromicko, William Decker and Rob London Oriented stand board (OSB) and plywood are wood structural panels made by compressing and gluing pieces of wood together. While OSB and plywood appear similar and …