Seeing if you guys run the clothes washer and dryer.
- Clothes washer
- Dryer
- Clothes washer and Dryer
- None, just a visual inspection.
- Maybe
- Not if full of clothes
- Occupant is using them
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voters
You left out some choices, like “Maybe”, or “Not if they’re full of clothes” , “Not if the occupant is using them as folding/sorting tables” or some other reasons…
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I agree. I may run the dryer for no other reason than to verify the vent termination point.
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May also make a difference with replies if ‘State SOP Mandated’ to operate.
Note: Ability to make multiple votes (jarseneau) will affect Polling results!!
I just want to share a story of something that happened to me not to persuade your poll.
Two weeks after performing an 11 month warranty inspection I received a call that I damaged the clothes dryer. It’s broken and is not working. She’s looking for a full replacement cost. I asked the client “What did the report say about a clothes dryer.”
Her reply was, “It was not on the report.”
My reply was “That’s because it wasn’t inspected. I never touched your clothes dryer. It’s outside of my state standard of practice.”
End of conversation.
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I test them, but at my discretion.
I just tested what appeared to be newer machines last week and the washer wasn’t working right, the tub was out of balance and wouldn’t spin-up. The inspection was for a first time buyer that was planning on using the machines.
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I never did before I got to Maui but they are in most condos and buyers are super-concerned about them. I have a disclaimer though about the limitations:
The washer/dryer appliance was powered on briefly and found to function (clothes dryer got hot, washing machine drained without visibly leaking). No testing with clothing was performed and it is not guaranteed the appliance will operate through a complete cycle and/or clean/dry clothes.
Most of these condos are in mutli-story buildings and the vents just go into the wall and I have zero idea where they terminate in most cases. I always recommend checking with the current owner and/or the AOAO (Maui version of an HOA) to ensure regular cleaning of the ducting.
I also recommend water alarms or a pan and stainless steel hoses. Post-fire here the insurance companies are hassling people and have required some of these things.
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I normally don’t test washing machines, but they requested it be tested since the house was a recent flip. Washing machine filled but didn’t discharge. Would have never known since its not in my sop or report.
So something like that has me wondering what some other inspectors do, or don’t do .
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Why don’t you just explain to your buyer it’s not in your standard of practice and recommend they cycle the washing machine and dryer on their final walk-through.
Customers need to know there are limitations to our inspections. This is what I do and it’s never been an issue.
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They asked nice, and was a very simple request that took 2 minutes. Plus I went the extra step to help them out .
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I started out not testing appliances at first. But I had so many clients ask if the appliances worked, that I eventually started testing them. Basic test only. Surprising how many I find with issues actually.
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I get that, it’s your business, you inspect the way you want to.
in wv, they’re not tested as part of the home inspection. no way i’ll touch one.
In my area, 99% of the time, they leave with the seller.
So there is no point.
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This is why I will only power on the washer, I won’t run it.
The dryer I’ll see if it spins and heats up.
In my area at least, 99% of the appliance stay with the home, so they get a basic function test. I’ve had a few dryers that either wouldn’t work at all or smelled like hot electric when run. One had a gas leak that you could smell when you entered the laundry area. That one I turned off and told them to call the gas utility.
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What would have happened if the washing machine, that wouldn’t discharge, leaked the water out after you left and damaged the hardwood floor?
No authorization to “monkey” with the machine seller says.
It is not part of the SOP
No good deed goes unpunished comes to mind.
Just a thought.
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Here is a leaky wall valve and a leaky washing machine valve that both failed. Since I operate in empty homes frequently, this adds a punctuation point to my reasoning. Fortunately in this case, it’s in a slab garage and the water runs out the garage door, but one of the baseboards needed replaced. This is how I found it by the way.
Interesting side note, when the wall was repaired, the water hammer arrestors were behind the drywall below the washer valves. Often they sit atop the valve. It seems to me that adding a T fitting, an elbow and the additional time/complication would negate the additional cost of the valve mounted arrestors.
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same thing that would happen if a dishwasher leaks water… *but I do get what your getting at-the washing machine wasn’t in the SOP. So where does the liability fall. …
Required “with the inspectors professional judgement” in Florida…
61-30.807 Standards of Practice, Interior Components.
(1) The interior components that shall be inspected include the following:
(a) Interior walls, ceilings, and floors;
(b) Steps, stairways, and railings;
(c) Countertops and representative number of installed cabinets;
(d) Garage doors;
(e) Interior and exterior doors and windows and their operating locks and latches or other opening mechanisms;
(f) Insulation and vapor retarders in unfinished spaces;
(g) Fireplaces and solid fuel burning appliances;
(h) Vent systems, flues, and chimneys;
(i) Household appliances.
(2) The inspector shall inspect all of the visible and readily accessible interior components. When inspecting doors
and windows, the inspector may inspect a representative number of doors and windows**. The inspector shall inspect**
household appliances for normal operation – using normal operating controls to activate a primary function. Inspectors
will not operate systems or appliances with owners’ belongings, or if there is a risk to the property being inspected.
Inspectors will first review the system to be operated and use professional judgment as to whether it is safe to operate
using normal operating controls and report accordingly
If it’s not connected, filled with clothes, buried under a pile of dirty laundry we don’t run them.
Otherwise I try to run them while checking the electrical as they help load the electrical system.
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I have always inspected all of the appliances unless I was instructed not to…
And, as I explained to the powers that be when these standards were being discussed, “Testing the appliances is not only important to determine if they are functioning properly, but also, other systems attached to the appliances, i.e. plumbing, electric, discharge, etc.”
Eventually, they agreed with my reasoning…
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