How do I know if my chimney is dirty?

• <div><p>There are several signs that your chimney is dirty and ready for cleaning. Look for the following:</p><ul><li><p>A buildup of creosote and soot inside the chimney</p></li><li><p>The room fills with smoke when you use the fireplace</p></li><li><p>The damper is black with creosote residue</p></li><li><p>When you light a fire, it quickly goes out</p></li></ul><p>In general, it’s best to schedule a cleaning at least once a year before winter so you can safely use the fireplace. </p></div>

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Q: Do my permit fees cover the cost of an inspection?

• <div><p>Permit fees sometimes include the cost of a solar panel inspection, but it depends on local regulations. In some locations, the inspection process involves several site visits with a preinstallation, in-progress, and post-installation inspection. We&rsquo;ve covered the latter. Working with an experienced installer can help you through each step of the inspection process.</p></div>

Q: When should I be worried about a house creaking?

• <div><p>While most house creaking is expected to some extent and under normal conditions, it's not a good idea to ignore new noises. If other problems accompany the creakiness, like cement cracks, wobbly or loose stair components, or moving trimwork, it's time to look into the potential for foundation trouble or other structural problems. </p></div>

Q: How do you tell if a two-prong outlet is grounded?

• <div><p>By nature, two-prong outlets aren't grounded&mdash;but the box they run to might be, which makes them safer. The safest way to test if an outlet is grounded is to purchase a circuit tester, which cost about <b>$20</b> at home improvement stores. </p><p>If you discover your outlet (or outlets) aren't grounded, know that this greatly increases your risk of personal injury and electrical fires. You may want to consider installing new three-prong ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets. On average, the <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/how-much-should-it-cost-electrician-replace-combination-gfci-switch-and-receptacle.htm">cost to install GFCI outlets</a> is about <b>$210</b> per outlet.</p></div>

Q: Who pays for repairs found in a home inspection?

• <div><p>There are no strict rules for who is responsible for covering repair costs after a home inspection, but major issues with the home often result in a renegotiation. The seller may agree to lower the price to compensate for the cost of the repairs to the buyer, or the seller may agree to fix the repairs before the sale is complete.</p></div>

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Verified Reviews for Home Inspection pros in Earlville, NY

*The Angi rating for Home Inspection companies in Earlville, NY is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Home Inspection needs.

*The HomeAdvisor rating for Home Inspection companies in Earlville, NY is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Home Inspection needs.

Last update on November 15, 2025

Reviewed in April 2024
Fantastic install of home generator and kitchen outlet replacement.
A Squared Electric Inc
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Reviewed in May 2023
I would highly recommend! I got a call back within the same day and Joe was here within the week to help me promptly and very efficiently inspect my issue. He was very helpful in educating me in why I was having this issue and even helped make recommendations to a mold remediation company so...
Precision Mold Inspections, LLC
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Reviewed in October 2022
He was very knowledgeable and professional. Cleaned both our fireplace CHIMANY and oil CHIMANY. Left the home clean. Great price
M.M.T Fireplace & Masonry Repair
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Reviewed in May 2022
I found them and ordered my Sunesta awning online. The entire process was not only quick and professional but was without out the typical pressure of a sales person. They inspected my seasonal home and made some great recommendations before we settled on the product(all done without my...
The Reynolds Group
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Reviewed in March 2017
They are the best, they were good with everything. Green Home Solutions did mold remediation in my entire 3500 sq ft home. They saved my life and it allowed me to be able to move back into my house without total reconstruction of my home. I cannot say enough about Green Home Solutions. They...
Green Home Solutions of Central Mass
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Reviewed in June 2015
Generx Generators is an AWESOME company to do business with. We were looking for a whole-house stand-by generator and were fortunate to locate this company on the web. They are located in our home city of Oldsmar, FL and are centrally located in the Tampa Bay area. Mark Costis, owner/operator of...
Generx Generators
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Reviewed in February 2015
I had a very good experience with this company, Russell provided a thorough review of our home inspection. The price to have it done was also very reasonable. We would recommend him and this company to any of our friends and family how would need their home inspected.
HouseWise Inspection
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Reviewed in November 2014
We had a great experience with Paul's Chimney & Restoration from start to finish. Prior to booking the appointment, Susan was a pleasure to work with and took time to answer our questions. We recently purchased our home and were not sure the last time the chimney had been cleaned. Paul and...
Paul's Chimney Cleaning And Restoration LLC
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Reviewed in February 2014
Excellent service - one of the techs was sick and owner came did the cleaning and inspection himself, then would not charge full price because it wasn't dirty enough - everything was explained and done very professionally-highly endorse this company!
Brickliners Chimney Service
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Reviewed in October 2011
We had a very good experience with Spec-Pro and found them very informative. Having an older home we were concerned about many things. We stayed with them through the entire inspection and they explained every bad and good thing about the house. We have lived in the house for over 7 years and...
Spec-Pro Home Inspections
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