I do not have access to a chimney or fireplace right now as there is not one in my house, but here is a picture of my natural gas fueled water heater pipe. Recently installed and extends more than 3 feet above the roof. Also extends past the satellite dish that is within 10 feet of it.
Smoke Alarm Inspection
Smoke alarms, or smoke detectors, has either an audible sound or visual to show when it senses smoke. There are 2 types of smoke alarms. Ionization and photoelectric. Ionization uses air quality to detect the presence of smoke, while photoelectric alarms use light in the air to detect smoke. They should be located in or outside of each bedroom, in the garage, basement, and on each level of the house. They do not go by kitchen appliances, near windows, or in unfinished attics or crawlspaces. They can be powered either by a battery or hard wired into the electrical system. Smoke alarms, if properly maintained and installed in the correct places, can be a lifesaving tool to homeowners and their family.
Fireplace is a factory built vented unit with gas logs. The unit is in good shape, damper works properly and the flue is clean. The glass doors appear to be an addition. I would suggest client makes sure the doors are suitable for this type of unit. The gas line is also not sealed. I recommend sealing around the inlet to ensure safe operation.
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I did my exercise on “Three Deadly Mistakes Every Home Buyer Should Avoid”. Although it has nothing to do with the exercise and it was not what I expected I reviewed the article and this kind of sums it up.
First off buying a home is the smartest financial decision a client will make. Home values consistently increase. Would you rather invest or pay rent?
Secondly, not obtaining the service of a buyer’s agent. A buyer’s agent deals with real estate transactions on a daily basis and knows the ins and outs of the real estate contract. They are also able to set there clients up with local inspectors, banks, etc…
Lastly, do not go fall for a cheap inspection. Look for a certified inspector. Certified inspectors typically have to continually update their education and do a more thorough job of inspecting.
Hire an InterNachi-certified inspector!
Here is a good picture of a chimney that shows obvious signs of a rusted chimney cap and crown. The red rust has ran down the brick of the chimney stack. Problems with leaking caps will bring more structural problems to an aging chimney and fireplace.
Chimney Inspection: Preventing Collapse
This article details the key practices that will help you inspect a chimney and translate the signs you see into a proper diagnosis of a chimney structure. Chimneys must have a footing of at least 1’ thick and must expand past the footprint of the chimney. This is important because the chimney weighs a lot due to its masonry construction and the forces of wind that push the chimney. Proper chimney flashing is also very important to prevent moisture from compromising the structure of the chimney.
Chimney inspections. Most people don`t think on a chimney as being something that can not harm them, however, chimneys are some of the heaviest and most structurally vulnerable of all exterior components of a building.
The collapse of them has killed people before. Wind and elements can cause weakened chimneys to collapse. They need to be inspected for any movement and reported as needing further investigation by a professional chimney installer. Also check for evidence of fireplace movement for an indication that something not normal may be going on with the chimney and fireplace. Movement can allow moisture intrusion and structural damage to a building.
Following earthquakes, homeowners should have their chimney inspected before using the fireplace.
Leaning chimneys can also make using the fireplace dangerous. Hearth cracks, side cracks in the fireplace, openings around the fireplace, and chimney damage all present the risk that sparks or smoke will enter the living space or building cavities.
The attached photo is of a chimney for a LPG fireplace on a single-family home built in 2005. As one can see from the different colored roofing material, there was a repair to damage, which was created by water intrusion. The original installation included a cricket, however there was no flashing installed. One can see from the side and rear view that no flashing is present even with the newly installed shingles. Chalking is the only material that provides a barrier to water intrusion. There was water compromise to sheathing and to roofing structural members that were replaced. To prevent this from happening again in the future, potentially causing additional damage, the proper repair should have been completed.
The article, “Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and Detectors,” explains in plain terms exactly why it is important to install and maintain carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in a home and buildings occupied by living creatures. This gas is color-less, taste-less and nearly undetectable without a metering device. Its origin is from incomplete combustion of oil, gas, wood and coal products used primarily as sources of fuel for heating, cooking or energy production. Its effects are quite dramatic and often irreversible if the exposure was lengthy and/or of high levels. The placement of detectors is critical as improper placement could potentially produce false indications. The proper use of all appliances, especially, outdoor gas grills, portable electrical generators, un-vented heaters, and automobiles is critical in keeping this silent killer out of habitation spaces. Due to the chemical combining nature of carbon monoxide in the body, it is critical that anyone exposed to CO be seen by a medical professional.
in the picture of the fireplace I took shows visible defects in the firebox liner which I would recommend repairing or replacing. also the gas line coming in is not sealed. but the hearth is 21 inches out and less then 2 inches thick so it is not defective
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I studied aluminum siding. I have learned that in some jurisdictions require the siding to have a ground source. I never really thought about having to ground the siding for safety precaution but makes total sense considering it is a electrical conductor
ItnerNACHI Essay: Fireplace
By Scott M. Junk at Coast to Coast Home Inspection Services.
This is a prefabricated or manufactured fireplace. The hearth extends over 16 inches and the flue is clear. There are a few issues I notices on the inside of the combustion chamber that I feel need to be further addressed. There is a gap between the gas line and the wall. And there is a ¼inch gap between each panel wall. All other elements of the fireplace are up to InterNACHI inspection standards.
ItnerNACHI Essay: Garage Door Safety
By Scott M. Junk at Coast to Coast Home Inspection Services.
I have been on several ride alongs with a few local inspectors. It seems to be a common theme to remove the photoelectric eye sensors. Out of the 15 inspections I have witnessed. Only 2 had the PES installed and out of the 2 on 1 worked properly.
Is this common in most areas of the US or am I just experiencing a rare run in with dysfunctional garage doors?
This was a great course on inspections on fireplaces. I remember when I was kid and we had a wood burning stove. Someone passing by saw flames coming out of our flue. It was a scary moment when the firefighters came into our house. So make sure you look at these fireplaces very well keeping in mind of the families that will be living there.
I inspected this bathroom pedestal sink. The sink appears to be free from any type of visible damage or leaks. The drain operated properly and smoothly during water test. The handles on the sink are labeled with hot and cold accordingly. The plumbing on the backside of the assembly is free from visible cracks or leaks as well. Overall the sink appears to be in good condition at the time of inspection.
I read Ant Inspection. While many of us look at ants as harmful insects, when it comes to our homes they can be very destructive. Ants when inside of the home can cause many problems that many homeowners tend to overlook. Homeowners should treat any ant infestations immediately and properly. This was very informative as we have this problem in many homes in my area.
I read Termites. Termites are often times confused with ants. In order to properly identify the insect when looking at them, one must be aware of the different characteristics. Ants have bent elbow antennas, while termites do not, along with several other distinguishing characteristics. Termites can be very destructive in homes and cause homeowners headache and financial burden that can be avoided if identified and taken care of quickly by professionals.
I inspecting a wood burning firplace at my parents for internachi fireplace certification. The fireplace is 45 plus years old but in good condition. The sides of the firebox and back were inspected for cracking of any bricks along with the motor. These seemed to be in good condition at the time of inspection. The manual damper seemed to be in proper working order as well. The depth of the hearth extension was also observed. The fireplace is 6 square feet or less. Thus the extension needs to be 16", which it was. I feel confident that the fireplace is safe and can be used at this time.
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In response to “a garage inspection” I thought the information was informative. The article went over truss modifications that have been done without an engineers approval. Indicators that the trusses have been modified are the brackets and fasteners that are used, of which kenton went over in his article. I will definetely use this article for future inspections.
Hi,
Here is a small fire extinguisher made by Kidde that I keep in the shop. This is a dry chemical extinguisher made for liquid class B fires and class C electrical fires. This one is very easy to operate and the instructions are very clear on the front label just pull the yellow pin stand back 6’ aim at the base of the fire and press the white button then sweep from side to side at the base of the fire. Fire extinguishers are not very expensive and they are very easy to operate. When you are looking to buy one you should know what type of fires can happen in the area you plan on protecting. These come in A,B,C, D and K or a combination of these types.
Class A (Solids)
Class B (Flammable Liquids)
Class C (Electrical/Flammable Gasses)
Class D (Metals)
Class K (Cooking oils and fats)
Hi,
A little writing assignment on brick and mortar. Quality brick will last a very long time however if there is water penetration from runoff, high wind storms or capillary action from the ground and the brick cannot dry properly the mortar joints can start to fail long before the brick. I have a brick home and I like to pressure wash my house once a year. When doing this I have to be careful to buy a cleaner that is safe for the brick exterior. Pressure washers have a lot of water pressure when forced through a very small tip that can damage the surface of the brick especially the morter joints and once these are damaged water is allowed in so let the cleaner do the work and keep the wand back from the wall so you don’t cause damage from what started out as a simple cleaning job.