Inspection Range hood:
Kitchen range hood is a ducted range hood that vents to outside of house. On inspection found 2 lights to be out of order above range top. Vent fan worked properly and was functional. Heat lights were also functional and found no other defects.
Inspector did not replace lights to check working condition of sockets.
Article/writing assignment#1
Pool and spa safety have become a big issue in the United States today. With over 350 fatalities in children under 5 years of age, pool and sap safety can not be overlooked. Pool alarms such as window alarms, surface censors, sub-surface sensors, and wristbands should be a common household item, when a pool is present. Many of these fatalities occurred wen unsupervised children entered the swimming or pool areas. Its sometimes difficult to keep a eye on our wondering children, so lets keep them safe.
article/writing assignment #2
Pool drain hazards cannot be overlooked for pool safety. From 1990-2004 there were over 74 entrapment cases involving a body be held under water due to a broken or improper drain function.
In 2008 laws passed requiring the installation of anti entrapment drains. Add an additional drain ad make sure your pool is equipped with an anti-entanglement drain cover.
It would have been a mistake to turn on this dishwasher before inspecting it closely visually. the unit had been damaged by rodents and was no longer water tight. this is not only a deficient condition because the machine can not operate but a dangerous condition as operating this unit would have cause hot water to spray t client the first time they attempted to use it.
I read the articles on barbecue safety and anti tip brackets for ovens. never adding lighter fluid to a fire is a safety you should give to any client inexperienced with outdoor cooking unless you’re hoping to attract repeat business by allowing them to burn down their home and then inspecting the next one they buy. it is wise to make sure people moving from an urban environment to a rural one know this. anti tip brackets are almost never installed in my market and it’s a good way to show ones safety knowledge to suggest their installation it’s also a good way to pad ones inspection report when very few defects are present.
The picture I took is of my garbage disposal unit under my sink. It is hard wired to the electric outlet and not plugged in. It is also connected to the drain with an 1 1/2 drain. The rubber insert was in tact and looked good. Turned the unit on did not make any loud noises. The only problem that I saw was that there looked like there was a leak coming from the side of the disposal, but did not see any water on the shelf below.
The picture I took is of my garbage disposal unit under my sink. It is hard wired to the electric outlet and not plugged in. It is also connected to the drain with an 1 1/2 drain. The rubber insert was in tact and looked good. Turned the unit on did not make any loud noises. The only problem that I saw was that there looked like there was a leak coming from the side of the disposal, but did not see any water on the shelf below.
Here you see an older whirlpool hood vent, it still works the fan has two speeds an the lights in working condition. it exhaust to the outside as you can see in the other picture.
power strips range in appearance from plastic coated to a bank of plug ins in
cased in large metal boxes. they should be used sparingly and temporarily with small appliances.
lumber stamps .lumber is graded using American lumber standards which is based on the structural and integrity of the board. they take in the size an location of the defects and the slope of the grain. select is 80% clear wood
select structural is 75% clear wood then there is #2 structural grade is 66% and #3 stud grade is at least 50% clear wood construction grade 57% clear and standard grade 43% then there is utility grade 29%
The following image is of an inspection of a GE dishwasher. The dishwasher looked to be in good condition, initially. After inspecting the dishwasher, the handle was broken and the dishwasher would not come on. Referred to have a licensed appliance service company to troubleshoot dishwasher.
In the first article, Garbage Disposals for Inspectors:
Garbage disposals are used in commercial and residential applications, they are designed to shred food. By adding a disposal to your home you can add a strain on your septic system and shorten its life span. Septic systems were not designed for food waste. When testing a garbage disposal put the stopper in the sink and fill it up with water, then release the stopper and check for leaks. Check for loose wiring at the bottom of the disposal, check that the drain size is at least 1 1/2 inches or greater in diameter, before turning on the disposal check that there are no objects in it and only run water through it during testing.
The inspector can pass on some operation suggestions to their clients, such as: Run water while using disposal and for 30 seconds after, only put small amounts of food in at a time, put only food and water in the disposal and ice can be used to clean the blades. Never put items in the disposal that are hard enough to dull the blades, do not put grease or oils in the disposal, foods that are highly fibrous like corn husks, celery, artichokes and potato peels should be avoided and lastly do not put chemicals in the disposal.
In the second article, Central Vacuum System:
The central vacuum system idea dates back as far as 1850 in Sweden, where horse-powered fans where used to create suction through in-wall plumbing. This system is now operated by electric motors and are generally located in the garage or basement where a canister receives the debris and dust through a wall outlet and plumbing. Since the 1990s the central vacuum systems have faded in American homes and the portable vacuum has taken over but in Canadian and Scandinavian homes central vacuums still hold strong today.
There are some advantages and disadvantages to central vacuums, advantages are: They are hypo-allergenic, the system is easy and safe to use, they are long lasting, they are quiet and they can be retrofit into older homes or into new construction. Disadvantages are: They aren’t cheap, a good system can cost $1,500.00, there is a chance of sucking up items that could damage the system, and the system could be compromised by items getting stuck in the lines creating a weak suction. These systems come in three different varieties: cyclonic, inverted filter and disposable bag.
This is a photo of an electric oven. The oven light works and an anti-tip device is installed. The oven is accurate within five degrees of the temperature setting.
The two articles I chose to read were Anti-tip brackets for free standing ranges and Doing damage during a home inspection. Anti-tip brackets are is a secondary safety precaution for free standing ranges. The primary safety measure is to use your range like a range. While inspecting the range you should make sure it works even if you break it. Your client will thank you.
The French door style, counter depth refrigerator is in a dedicated nook. Airspace around the unit is approximately 1" average. The unit operated quietly, the ice tray was full and the interior water spigot operated properly. The temperature control appeared functional. The bottom coils were fairly clear except for a small amount of cat hair. The unit was plugged into a labeled, non-GFCI dedicated circuit. The water supply line was stainless steel covered and the appropriate length to allow service and prevent kinks when in normal operation. The supply valve was quarter turn in a recessed panel. No leaks were apparent at time of inspection.
PS. This inspection was Feline Approved
“Septic System Inspection” provides a very quick overview of how private sewage systems operate. The article provides quick and easy to understand descriptions of the components, their maintenance and problems that can occur. It is critical that homeowners with septic systems receive this information because this may be the most “out of sight, out of mind” component in a home. Septic systems have a great potential to cause health problems and property/environmental damage and should be rigorously maintained.
Two articles I read were:
Central Vacuum System
Pool Alarms
In the article Central Vacuum systems it explains that a central vacuum system is a cleaning device that is installed throughout a home or building. The canister that all the dust and debris go to is located in the garage or the basement of the home. There are wall outlets throughout the home that the hose connects and sucks they debris by the force of a motor. Central vacuums were used as far back as 1850’s in Sweden. Shortly after that central vacuums were replaced by portable vacuum cleaners. The were forgotten for one reason the price. In the 90’s central vacuums came back because of bigger homes and concerns of air quality and it was cheaper because of plastic pipping and refined filtration systems. Even with this it’s still not that popular in the states because of the portable vacuums. There are advantages and disadvantages for central vacuum system. The advantages are that they last longer,they are quieter, they can be retrofitted to older homes, they are a good investment and that the system is easy and safe to use. The disadvantages are the prices are on high,damage because of items sucked up inadvertently and weak suction due too obstructed pipes. In conclusion central vacuum systems are more convenient and powerful but are more expensive.
In the article Pool Alarms states that pool alarms are safety features that are designed to alert adults when unsupervised children or pets enter or fall into a pool. They are many different designs of pool alarms, but none are 100% foolproof. Drownings of children of ages of 14 and under remain the second leading killer. These deaths occur when children are unsupervised. If all pools would have these alarms it could reduce the response time for an adult and maybe save a child’s life. There a few types of pool alarms and they are surface wave sensor, a subsurface disturbance sensor and a wristband. Studies have shown that sub surface pool alarms are generally more true of an alarm that the others. Since pool alarms are not foolproof they should not be dependent upon and not be substituted for supervision of adults or barriers that completely surround the pool. Pool alarms should be used with other types of alarms such window and door alarms, perimeter alarms and gate alarms to be somewhat foolproof. Pets also are in danger a of pools because they also fall in and drown. So by having pool alarms in position can also save a pets life. In conclusion pool alarms are a good saftey feature, but inspectors should recommend to their clients that they should be used with other strategies also so no lives will be lost.
The above photos show the vent hood at this property. This is a non-vented re-circulating hood. The one deficiency I found was both lights did not function. Suggest replacing light bulb before contacting repair company.
Modular vs. Manufactured Homes
Although these types of homes are labeled as the same in a lot of areas, there are major differences. Knowing theses can be very beneficial to an inspector. Calling a modular home a “manufactured” home is doing these houses a big disservice. While they are manufactured in a factory, they must still meet all code requirements of a stick built home, unlike a mobile/manufactured home.
This is a picture of side-by-side style refrigerator freezer combination appliance. I observed the following:
• The ice maker produced ice sufficiently
• The ice dispenser correctly dispensed ice
• The water filter was properly installed
• The water dispenser correctly dispensed and chilled water
• All refrigerator drawers functioned correctly
• All refrigerator shelves were installed correctly and not sagging
• There rust was observed on the exterior of the appliance under the ice/water dispenser
• The rear coils and compressor area were free of dust and debris
• The appliance partially blocked a HVAC supply register (see top right-hand corner of picture)
• All freezer drawers functioned correctly
• All freezer shelves were installed correctly and not sagging
• The auto defrost was functioning correctly – there was no build-up of ice on the condenser coils within the freezer
• The appliance’s compressor activated using normal controls
• The light turned off when the door button was pressed
• Door operation was normal with gaskets in good condition
• The water supply lines and valves correctly installed and not leaking
• The refrigerator’s interior temperature was 34°
• The freezer’s interior temperature was 30°
Reading Assignment 1:
A refrigerator is an appliance that consists of a thermally insulated compartments and a heat pump. The heat pump transfers heat from the appliance’s interior to the external atmosphere. The appliance’s interior is cooled to a temperature below the exterior ambient air temperature. According to the InterNACHI SOPs, the inspector is not required to inspect and/or move any appliances. However, appliance inspection is required by some states’ SOPs, and some inspectors offer appliance inspection as part of their standard home inspection. The inspector may note the following:
• Unit not working
• Damage to the exterior or interior of the cabinet or components
• Presence of rust on the exterior or interior of the cabinet or components
• Damaged or missing interior shelving
• Excessive interior ice or frost formation
• Strange sounds or vibration levels
• Filthy or damaged coils
• Additional deficiencies present in the:
Door operation, gasket, hinges, closure and handle
Interior or exterior lights
Controls and control panels
Water valve, location, & supply line (if applicable)