Field notes on the tools inspectors carry
Plain-language guides to the meters, testers, lights and ladders used by home inspectors, commercial property inspectors and fleet techs. What each tool actually measures, where it misleads you, and how to write up what it shows.
All inspectors
Choosing and using an inspection flashlight
Lumens vs throw, color rendering for stains and rust, raking light for cracks, and why you carry two.
SafetyLadder safety for inspectors working alone
The 4-to-1 rule, three feet past the landing, duty ratings, and knowing when not to climb.
Home & commercialMoisture meters for inspectors: pin vs pinless, and what a reading means
Pin vs pinless, why most readings are relative, and how to write up elevated moisture without overstating it.
ElectricalOutlet testers and voltage detectors: what they can and can't tell you
The blind spots of three-light testers, GFCI and AFCI checks, and the live-dead-live habit.