CLOSER LOOK INSPECTIONS

When exploring how to improve my home heating bills for my 1920's house, I found this company through an internet search rather than through Angie's List. I chose them because their site stressed that they were not directly affiliated with a contractor. They were very quick to get back to me in response to a telephone message, and were able to schedule an appointment within one week. The appointment was kept on time, and conformed to my needs of getting to work at a particular time. The assessment seemed to be thorough, and the expert was professional and explained his process and findings while he was there. Within a week I had received printed results of what was found during the visit, including pictures of heat loss areas, a manual advising how to interpret and follow through on findings, and a cover letter with an offer to talk more to help me decide how to move forward. This company mostly works in new office building settings or retrofitting older businesses, but was able to apply their technology well to my older home.

I was pleased with the results, which indicated most of the water getting into my basement walls is coming in at ground level. I watched while Al aimed the infrared camera at each section of basement wall. The darker blue areas showed where there was the most moisture. Al's recommendation was to add soil in around the foundation to make it slope better and drain away from the walls. He also recommended sloping the asphalt driveway where it meets the house wall, and removing a concrete patio that also doesn't drain correctly, causing water to flow into the basement. He recommended installing a patio of paving stones, perhaps with a drain. I felt the test was worth the price because I'd had some high-priced estimates for digging up part of my basement floor to get to a drain that may not even have a problem. I thought I might need to have the basement waterproofed, but now think I may not. His suggestions will be much cheaper. Al also answered tons of questions I had about moisture.

Scheduled an appointment with Closer Look for the home energy audit three weeks in advance. Received call from Closer Look day before appointment indicating that due to weather related issues, the appointment would need to be rescheduled. Rescheduled the appointment for two weeks later. The morning of the 2nd appointment, I received a call from Closer Look stating that due to weather issues, the energy audit would again need to be rescheduled. So we rescheduled the 3rd appointment for two weeks later. On the day of the 3rd appointment, I sat at home...waiting. Two hours after our scheduled appointment time, I called Closer Look and left a message on voicemail asking them to return my call ASAP. In order to be available for each of these 3 scheduled appointments, I had to take vacation from work. It is now 5 days after the 3rd and final appointment time and have yet to receive the courtesy of a return call.

SINCE THIS WAS OUR SECOND TIME USING THIS INSPECTOR, WHO HAD HELPED US INVESTIGATE A FOUNDATION ISSUE AT ANOTHER HOUSE, WE FELT CONFIDENT IN HIM. OUR MISTAKE. TURNS OUT THE INSPECTOR FAILED TO LOOK AT THE BOILER WORKING, AS HE HAD DONE WITH THE FURNACE AT THE PREVIOUS HOUSE WE CONSIDERED. ONLY WHEN WE HAD OUR HVAC GUY OVER, AFTER WE BOUGHT THE HOUSE, DID WE LEARN THAT THE BOILER HAD BEEN LEAKING FOR YEARS AND HAD CORRODED THE BURNERS, CREATING A FIRE AND CO2 HAZARD IN THE HOUSE. THE COST TO REPLACE EXCEEDS $6000. WE WOULD'VE NEGOTIATED AROUND THAT NEED WITH THE SELLERS HAD WE NOT BEEN MISINFORMED ABOUT THE STATE OF THE BOILER.