Clothes Dryer Inspection: Through gas or electricity, heat is blown over the wet clothes as the are tumbled in the dryer. The vent connection can be located below or behind the dryer and can be made up of plastic or metal duct. Particular attention is to made to observing any kinks or compression of the vent tubing. Installation space often is a leading cause of this. This can lead to a build up of lint and a potential ignition source or a fire. Thus, the implementation of the 45 degree 2.5 foot and 90 degree 5 foot, straight and 25 foot venting rule and terminating externally is crucial. Additionally, there are other essential rules governing vent safety.
Kick out flashing is used to divert water from cladding into the gutter. When installed properly the seam should be water tight and angle no less than 110 degrees. If missing or modified report it as deficient on the report.
I took a photo of a chimney from a house that I inspected recently. The chimney was a pre manufactured model and was covered my siding. I inspected what was visible to me and made sure the chimney met all height clearance specifications.
Efflorescence is a white chalky powder that is sometimes found on brick or concrete walls. It can be a cosmetic issue, or it could be an indicator of water intrusion that could cause potential major cosmetic and structural problems along with potential air quality problems.
There is a free standing pellet fuel burning stove in the basement of the home. The door and interior burn chamber are clean and free of any visual defects. The exhaust pipe appears to be properly installed and shows no visible signs of leaking exhaust. I operated the fan and it blows strong. I did not ignite the pellet stove and can not confirm the operation of the pellet auger or thermostat. I recommend the homeowner remove all flammable material 3 feet away from the stove when in operation.
Bats- You can detect bat infestation by piles of feces droppings or a milky white urine stain near there nesting area. Bats can carry rabies and contact should be avoided. Bats should be removed during the winter months because they have there babies during the summer. Removing the adults will lead to there starvation and rotting corpses in the home.
Pictured above is the chimney extended through the roof on the south side of the house located on the back. Chimney is brick mortar with a cap on top of that. I would recommend chimney be cleaned by a professional chimney sweep.
When doing a home inspection on a home with a brick fireplace, it is important to check for things such as; separation on the brick fireplace from the brick of the home, crack in the brick and mortar on the fireplace, as well as crumbling of the brick of the fireplace due to deterioration.
Upon examination of the of the fireplace creosote like substance was observed on the back side of the fireplace. Creosote can cause fires and can be dangerous if left. Creosote is caused by burning uncured, damp wood or wood that has been chemicaly treated. Recommend a fire place cleaning and further examination by a licensed professional.
The stone veneer on this chimney shows how water and weather can cause damage. Water during the freezing ,thawing process can get enter poor mortar joints and causing pushing on the stone and them to come loose. High wind can them come along and sometimes blow these down cause.
I learned how to prevent chimney collapse. Examin the chimney for cracks, loose bricks, spalling or missing grout. Look for leaning or improperly braced chimneys. Tall thin chimneys have more potential for collapse. Its is best to have the chimney replaced or repaired if any of these signs are present.
EPDM or ethylene propylene diene monomer is a single ply synthetic rubber membrane. EPDM is used as a roof covering on low sloping roofs. It is used widely in the commercial and residential applications. EPDM is resistant to harmful weather such as heat and ozone.This can be installed in a number of ways
The property inspected had a solid fuel wood burning stove. The stove was installed to manufacture specifications witch were on site for review. The stove was of catylitic design. The stove was also equipped with a electric motor. The fire bricks in the stove were cracked and showed some material loss. Repair is recommended by a qualified contractor.
The article “Fireplace Fuel” discusses safe and unsafe fuels for fire places and wood burning stoves. Safe fuels include, properly dried hardwoods and soft woods. Wood pellets can be used in some cases. Unsafe fuels include, painted wood, pressure treated wood, liquid fuels ,trash and card board.
when inspecting gas and wood combination units its very important that the damper works properly.Checking the interior of the fire box walls for fracturing or cracks is important so gas fumes are not able to escape into chimney.Also when burning wood non flammable material needs to extend out 18 inches minimun.
when inspecting a attic its important to check the underside of vents for any leaks check the soffitts to see if baffles are installed for adequate air flow.Check the depth of the blown in insulation and also the trusses or rafters for overall integrity.
This is a cutaway image of a chimney. There is a separation of the flue liner in the middle of the chimney. This is a defect because moisture (which is normal byproduct of exhaust gas) can penetrate the chimney walls which can wick through the brick and cause efflorescence and eventually spalling of the brick. Recommend further evaluation by a chimney contractor.
The following picture is of a crawl space with concrete block foundation walls. The concrete blocks have efflorescence buildup. This is an indication of moisture intrusion through the porous concrete material leaving dissolved salts (efflorescence). This issue could only be cosmic but could also indicate possible future structural damage due to too much moisture accumulation.
Proper chimney flashing is critical for the prevention of water penetrating the interior of the roof structure. There are three main steps that must be used for proper flashing of a chimney. Form the step flashing around the base of the chimney. Above the step flashing, tuckpoint the brick deep enough to allow the counter flashing to lay 1" in the mortar channel. Apply sealant in the tuckpointed area of the counter flashing. Finally, apply the apron flashing at the lower end of the chimney and roof.
Ceramic Tile and Stone Inspection
by Nick Gromicko
Ceramic tile is now a common flooring material because of its low maintenance, ease of cleaning and durability. Home inspectors should inspector for uneven tiles, cracks, crazing, and discoloration of grout.
Stone tile is more durable than ceramic and is considered hard to replicate its beauty. It is however more difficult to maintain than ceramic tile.
