Originally Posted By: bwieczorek This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
After doing an inspection with another inspector for a friend of his he got some bad news. The home was about 25 years old and was in generally good shape. However after they moved in which was 4 weeks after the inspection they were using the shower and tub for about 5 days when the the waste water started pouring into the basement. Not just a leak, but every drop into the finished basement.
The ceiling was finished drywall, not new condition. I ran the shower and tested the faucet in the tub although I didn't fill the tub. I'm not if I put enough water in the tub or its a coincidence this happened when it did. There was no way to see the piping because of the finished ceiling.
Two questions. How full do you fill the tub when testing the tub drain? Would you refund the inspection cost to the buyer ? Remember this was a friend of the inspector and he had done 2 inspection for this person before she found something suitable.
Originally Posted By: phinsperger This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
bwieczorek wrote:
...after they moved in which was 4 weeks after the inspection they were using the shower and tub for about 5 days...
So that's about 23 days of no showers  Lets hope they had another tub or shower somewhere else in the house
bwieczorek wrote:
...the waste water started pouring into the basement. Not just a leak, but every drop into the finished basement.
An unconnected waste line, open cleanout, severly damaged line orsomthing similar
bwieczorek wrote:
The ceiling was finished drywall, not new condition...There was no way to see the piping because of the finished ceiling.
Ok
bwieczorek wrote:
I ran the shower and tested the faucet in the tub although I didn't fill the tub. I'm not if I put enough water in the tub or its a coincidence this happened when it did.
This is why I allways start at the top of the house and work my way down finishing in the basement. Often I have found freah leaks showing up on lower floors from the fixtures above from the water I ran a few minuites before.
bwieczorek wrote:
How full do you fill the tub when testing the tub drain?
I do fill the tub at all. Just let it free flow. Shower pans are a different story. It would take far too long for a tub to fill with enough water to be of any benifit. I simply don't have the time. I run full hot, then full cold, then test the shower head. Quite a bit of water has gone down the drain at that point. 5-10 gal+
bwieczorek wrote:
Would you refund the inspection cost to the buyer ? Remember this was a friend of the inspector and he had done 2 inspection for this person before she found something suitable.
The fact that he was a friend should not be weighed. Business is busness and friends are friend.... But then again I consider many of my NACHI coleges friends.
I would first want to see the breach after the ceiling was opened up. If I did the upper floor first and saw nothing in the basement afterwards I would feel satisfied that I did my job.
Originally Posted By: bwieczorek This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Thanks for the note Paul. What I didn’t mention is all the while I was running water the other inspector was in the basement and saw or heard no water so I can only assume the problem occurred after we completed the inspection.
I usually do the basement last so if anything has leaked it would show up as you also mentioned. Whatever happened likely happened after we did our job. I just feel bad for my inspector friend since it was his inspection.
Originally Posted By: bwieczorek This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Blaine
The home was occupied but the owners were not there during the inspection. Just us, the realtor and buyer were there. 
Originally Posted By: Blaine Wiley This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
It would seem to reason then that if the homeowners were there for a few weeks after the inspection, the leak would have appeared if it were active prior to them leaving.
Since I wouldn't charge a friend, I would probably say I would refund their money. Otherwise, I wouldn't.
Originally Posted By: rcooke This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
bwiley wrote:
It would seem to reason then that if the homeowners were there for a few weeks after the inspection, the leak would have appeared if it were active prior to them leaving.
Since I wouldn't charge a friend, I would probably say I would refund their money. Otherwise, I wouldn't.
Any body moving to Florida Call Blaine tell them Roy sent you and that you are a friend and you understand he will give you a great inspection for ????
Roy Cooke sr..... almost a friend. Meet you in the new year .
Originally Posted By: rcooke This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
bwiley wrote:
Roy, you forget......I have no friends. 
I said almost .
We must touch hands next year and you can have a Canadian Friend.
I am coming down to Cocoa beach for the Conference .
Be their a couple of weeks .
Just maybe we can get together for a short while .
Our best friends live there .
