Connecticut Home Inspection Blog

Chasing Your Tail

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 07:34:11 -0500

It is funny to watch a cat or dog go round in circles chasing their tail. They are just playing and having fun. I bet if children had tails they would do the same.

The thing with tail chasing is it is an exercise in futility. The goal can never be accomplished. Even a dog or cat seems to understand this and gives up in a short time.

I sure looks like the person who has continually tried to seal this plumbing vent is chasing his tail. Clearly there is a copious amount of roofing tar that has been repeatedly glopped around this stack. By the color it was re-sealed fairly recently.

When checking the wood around the stack in the attic it was wet. Really no surprise.

What's that old saying about insanity; doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Sounds like just another way of saying; you're chasing your tail.

Applying roofing tar around this stack again and again will never accomplish the goal of sealing out water.

Why? Because who ever put the roof on this house never put a plumbing vent flashing around the stack. Which brings up another cliché;

A man has to know his limitations. (Clint Eastwood)

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:

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Have You Ever Been to The Circus?

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:19:35 -0500

There just seems to be never a dull moment in the home inspection business, especially lately. I've seen in the last week more creative construction techniques than at a home show.

Today was the topper. The inspection never really got going due to obvious (to me) and numerous problems with this home.

The termite inspection revealed extensive damaged to the structure. This was added to by years of soil and water contact. The contractors who were clearly renovating this house to flip had "repaired" this structural deficiency.

The structural damage was so acute when walking in the kitchen the floors were perceptively sloping this way and that. No two door jambs leaned the same direction.

The crème de le crème was in the back yard. The house was built into a hill and the side yard had a retaining wall against the back yard. The Ringling Brothers Flipping Company decided to; Tear Down The Wall.

Well apparently the wall was also attached to the foundation. When the Ringling professionals tore out the wall they also remove a nice large chunk of the foundation corner. They must've thought this was not a problem because no bracing or any temporary support was any where in sight.

All this was explained to the customer when she arrived a little late. Since she was going through FHA this deal was not going to fly....EVER!

I just wanted nip this in the bud quickly and save her some money. She was actually going to pay me my entire fee!

She asked for a report describing the damage in order to get her earnest money returned. I sent her one by email and she replied with the following;

Jim,

I can only say wow and thank you for such a short yet very thorough (in my eyes) report. I like your style and sincerity. Thank you

That is one huge reason why I love this job.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services.

Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.

Just Leave It, No One Will Notice

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:01:56 -0500

When we hire people to do a job in our homes or really any where for that matter, we expect the job to be done right. Unfortunately there are some people or companies that seem they are not interested in providing good service. Or perhaps they may have a less than stellar employee. Whatever the reasons for low quality we have to be careful who we select to do a job.

I recently did a pre-sale inspection for a husband and wife who by their own admission can not change a light bulb. Because they are not handy they rely heavily on service providers to do work around their home.

From an inspectors stand point the home was well cared for and maintained; new roof, updated kitchen and bath and a newer furnace.

When I got to the job of inspecting the furnace is when a problem became apparent. The homeowners stated the unit had been installed in 2005 by XYZ Company. They would be coming by tomorrow to service the unit for the first time since installation.

What?

The homeowners explained since they have a pellet stove, the furnace actually gets little use.

I asked them have they ever changed the furnace filter.

No was the answer. Where is it, they asked.

I said well it's right here on top of the unit. You just take off the cover and pull out the.....filter

The filter was not coming out without some dismantling of the air intake pipe. By dismantling I mean cutting and re-gluing.

This kind of stuff makes me crazy. You know the guys who put this in knew about the pipe and yet they left it in the way of the filter. I also believe they left it wrong because they knew the homeowners, who are very honest about themselves, would quite possibly never discover their goof.

My advice to the homeowners was to have the company fix the mistake when they come to service the furnace and I would demand the service and repair is free.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services.

Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.

Clean and Philosophical

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:59:43 -0500

During the course of every inspection you invariably come across some interesting personal items of the homeowner. I'm not snooping or being nosy, but as an inspector I poke into some out of the way places.

One item I discovered recently was an interestingly named bar of soap. I was inspecting the kitchen sink and the logo caught my eye. The lettering was not something my brain must have recognized as usual.

It wasn't Dial or Irish Spring. The name brand was Socrates. As you might have guessed it's from Greece as was the homeowner.

It seems a little strange to put the name of such a great and insightful philosopher on a bar of soap, yet there it was in an ash tray on the kitchen sink.

When I mentioned the soap the homeowner told us it was of course from Greece and she liked the scent. I asked after cleaning up do you become more philosophical.

After a momentary pause she and everyone realized I was joking. I'm thinking of ordering a crate for myself.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services.

Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.

My Kids Love Stickers and So Do I

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 07:43:39 -0500

My two girls absolutely love stickers. They have them all over their bedroom doors. Not particularly appealing to my wife and I, but the girls seem to think they look great. Oh well, we can change the doors some day.

My love of stickers is a little different than my girls. I like to see them on things like furnaces and boilers or electrical panels. They can tell me things like when that clunky old boiler was installed or last serviced.

Since I never lived in the home I am inspecting scrounging up whatever information is available is an important part of the process. Stickers or tags can provide pieces to the puzzle that is every home inspection.

I found that green beauty on a very old but functioning boiler. It doesn't get much better than that, an inspection sticker from the city. NICE!

That big, bright orange guy was an unusual find. Old Dan the plumber left it to tell all those who come by that he did the drain repair. I like it!

The last one is not particularly special, a run of the mill service record sticker on a boiler. I like to see them to know; 1 if the unit has been regularly maintained and 2 what repairs may have been performed.

Yep, I do love stickers, just not on my doors.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services.

Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.

An Invisible View Revealed

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:37:26 -0500

I love technology and gadgets and who doesn't. My job as a Connecticut home inspector allows me to buy cool stuff and use for my job. How great is that!

One of my favorite tools and most costly is the infrared camera. This device measures the surface temperature of anything you point it at in real time. It can actually seem like you are looking through an object, but in fact are seeing the differences in temperature due to material composition, density and other variables.

On a recent inspection I was scanning a home with a steam heating system. The rooms all had older cast iron radiators. I pointed the camera at one of these old heaters and thought the image was kind of cool.

You can actually see where the steam wafts up from the pipe on the left and distributes through the radiator. The temperature at the top near the pipe, about 190 degrees or more. VERY HOT! At the drain pipe on the right about 80 degrees.

Technology can reveal hidden information to us and help us do our jobs better for our customers. And sometimes it's just fun to use.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services.

Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.

Energy Audits, Home Inspections and DIY

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:03:14 -0500

One qualification I make sure to mention to potential energy audit customers is my being a licensed Connecticut home inspector. Energy audits are by definition, at least in Connecticut, home inspections. The difference is what is inspected and for what purpose.

The Connecticut Statue defines a home inspection as the evaluation of two or more components in a home. Therefore anyone doing an energy audit is technically conducting a home inspection and needs to be licensed.

Unfortunately this loop hole is exploited everyday by many contractors of all different types. Sticking with energy audits, hiring a home inspector makes far more sense than using someone who has been trained to perform energy audits based on a software program.

As a home inspector I evaluate homes in depth and detail every day. I am required to take continuing education in order to maintain my license. My level of expertise and knowledge is broader than a narrowly focused specialty contractor.

To make a point look at the first picture, this was found during an energy audit. The two electric wires going into all that insulation are old knob & tube wires. Knob & tube wiring can not be covered by insulation due to an increased risk of fire.

Two things about this discovery; 1) the insulation contractor never said a word about covering these wire with insulation and 2) a utility company auditor never said a word about these wires being covered with insulation.

The second photo shows the area immediately around a water heater flue pipe which is corroded. What does this mean? That the unit is back drafting into the home and expelling CO. This was discovered during an energy audit.

Another aspect of home energy savings is the DIY trend. As a home inspector I see all too many DIY projects that are just plain wrong and in some cases dangerous. Homeowners attempting to save by doing energy improvements themselves should enlist the help of a qualified energy auditor (home inspector) before beginning major work. Sure there are simple projects that anyone can do, but real savings comes from major improvements such as insulation and changing heating & cooling systems.

An audit performed by a knowledgeable professional using energy auditing software can identify exactly what savings opportunities are available. More importantly what small DIY projects the homeowner can perform themselves safely and with good results.

As this heating season is comes upon us don't be lulled into assuming simple DIY projects or some under qualified "auditor" can help save you big money. The first step in improving your homes energy usage should be consulting with a qualified energy professional who is a home inspector.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services.

Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.

A for Effort, F for Results

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:25:00 -0500

Most everyone who is in real estate knows that solid aluminum electrical wire is a potential fire hazard. When it is found during an inspection it is called out as a problem and recommended to be repaired.

On a recent inspection in a very large condominium complex known to be wired with aluminum I found a somewhat curious repair. The unit's electric panel had been by replaced. Judging by the looks of the panel and the presence of two AFCI breakers (top left corner) I would say it was done fairly recently.

Because the electric panel had obviously been replaced I assumed the entire unit had been repaired for the presence of aluminum wire.

You know what they say about assuming.

I decided to open a few outlets and look to see if repairs had been done. The plugs and switches are where problems most often occur with aluminum wire. The wiring eventually can become loose through excessive expansion and contraction which is inherent to aluminum. A loose connection arcs or more to the point sparks and whoosh a fire happens.

When I checked the outlets no repairs were evident. AFCI breakers like the two installed in the top corner afford another layer of protection for aluminum wire, but the connections at the outlets and switches should never the less be repaired.

This electrician only did half the job. Why is anyone's guess. Another electrician will be completing the job before this buyer moves into this unit.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services.

Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.

Does Neatness Count?

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 06:54:37 -0500

How many times when you were in school did some ask or the teacher told the class; "Neatness counts on this assignment."

Being neat and clean shows you care about what you do. That you take pride in yourself and more importantly the work you perform. It also has the added benefit of making it easier for someone to look over your work or even to repair it if needed.

Yes I believe neatness counts.

Yet I find almost every day a lack of neatness or pride in workmanship. What's worse often homeowners have paid for a professional to do the work and it hasn't been competently done.

Going into an attic of a new home and finding trash and ruined insulation is not the sign of a skilled tradesman. Sloppy wiring stuffed into a cavity in a remote basement corner is hardly the mark of a prideful professional.

Were these people sleeping in class? Or do they feel that getting the job done is more important than getting it done right. It is hard to really know what is some ones motivation or lack there of.

What I do know is this;

When I see neat work, especially in the details, there are almost always no problems to be discovered. I often take a moment to admire a job well done.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services.

Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.

CSST is Not a Fast Plane

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:56:54 -0500

Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing or CSST for short is a newer type of gas pipe first used around 1988. It's a flexible pipe covered with a plastic sheathing and is very common to see in newer homes. To make the pipe flexible a continuous ridge was designed into the pipe. Which is how the "corrugated" made it's way into the name.

CSST is a great advancement in gas piping. Because it is flexible and available on large spools long continuous pipe runs are possible without the need for connections. Fewer connections mean less potential for leaks.

However a problem with the pipe began to show up some years after the first installations.

Because the pipe is metal it is electrically conductive. What was discovered after some years was that a lightning strike entering the home can disperse through the CSST resulting in holes in the pipe (see picture). The ridges are thought to create electrical arcs and at some point along the path burn a hole through the tubing.

A hole in a homes gas supply piping, as you can imagine, is not a good thing.

Because of this problem a class action suit was brought against 4 of the 6 manufactures of CSST alleging; "that CSST poses an unreasonable risk of fire due to lightning strikes."

The solution has been to electrical bond the CSST to ground. Or more accurately more thoroughly bond the system. Bonding of gas piping was in existence in the National Fuel Gas Code (NFGC) in 1988 (diagram).

The manufactures have now written electrically bonding the CSST into their design and installation manuals. Never the less I do not see CSST electrically bonded during an inspection.

The second to last picture is from a home built in 2005. The picture is of the main gas supply pipe entering the home. There should be a ground wire on this pipe. Additionally in some jurisdictions there should also be a bonding jumper wire at connections which are missing in the last photo.

There is still debate on the requirements of bonding CSST. As an inspector knowing the potential for a fire due to a lack of bonding on a CSST system there is no debate for me. When I find CSST in a home without bonding it is called out as defect with a recommendation to correct.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services.

Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.

Nice Landscaping, By The Way Where's....

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:25:11 -0500

I do enjoy seeing a nicely landscaped yard. There is something almost intoxicating about pulling up to a home and having my eyes drawn to many different visually pleasing elements. It makes me want to stop and sit a while taking in all the natural beauty around me.

But getting back to reality I have a job to do. My brief moment of admiration is gone as I must forge ahead and look for that which is wrong.

As I was walking around this nice little ranch house not long ago I was drawn in by the park like setting of the yard. Every side of the house was nicely landscaped with various interesting plants and shrubs.

After a few moments of seeing so much vegetation my home inspector's radar begins to blip. There are problems associated with flora and fauna so densely packed against a home. Not to mention what problems those plants may be hiding from my prying eyes.

I begin to look much closer along the edges of the home. Peeking between bushes and pushing aside limbs to see the home behind. I round the corner to the back yard. The plantings are much less dense here with one exception. There is a massive clump of decorative grass in the middle of back wall.

What is up with that?

I approach the thicket and push aside the grassy blades. What do I see? An A/C compressor. Once again homeowners have in the pursuit of beauty harmed the function of an appliance.

I'm quite certain most people do not realize the damage they are causing when trying to beautify an ugly A/C compressor or the eye sore of a furnace in the basement.

This particular compressor was the unfortunate recipient of a double whammy. After hacking my way around to the backside of the unit I discovered the clothes dryer vent directly behind the unit. Nothing like lint to effectively clog the cooling fins. I would think the installer, it was a newer compressor, would have alerted the homeowners to this issue.

I would guesstimate that the compressor was losing 10 - 20 % of its efficiency due to all this congestion.

What's that saying; putting lipstick on a pig. Sometimes you just have to let the pig be a pig.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services.

Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.

Close But No Cigar

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:51:13 -0500

One of the most common problems I find as a home inspector is bathroom vents not exhausting to the exterior. More often than not they simply expel right into the attic.

Sometimes a half hearted attempt is made to pipe the exhaust vent to the exterior through the soffit. This method is generally not allowed. Air is drawn into the soffit as a means of attic ventilation. As a consequence the air from the bath vent is then sucked back into the attic.

On a recent inspection I found this bathroom vent with a finished louvered end placed in the soffit of this home. I couldn't decide, maybe who ever put it here couldn't as well, where the vent had been intended to be placed.

Had they intended to put it through the roof or install the louver in the soffit? I guess no will ever know, but I do know this; that vent has to be moved.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services.

Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.

Permit! We Don't Need No Stinking Permit!

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:29:22 -0500

Being a home inspector is more than a little like being a detective. Often clues present themselves, if you know how to recognize them, and a conclusion or more often a theory can be drawn.

During a recent inspection I noticed that the home had a newer addition. The buyer said he was told it was built in 2006. The addition included a two car garage, large kitchen add on and master bedroom. It was built over a full basement. The original house has a partial or low basement.

Upon entering the garage I noticed the stairs didn't feel right. It turns out each stair was of very different heights. Stair height can not vary between stairs by more than 3/8 of an inch. Clue #1.

I next noticed there was an attic with a pull down stairway above the garage. Going into the attic I noted the garage and the interior living areas were all common to the space. Because of this there needs to be fire separation walls. The placement of these walls depends on a few factors. In the case of this addition a fire rated pull down stairway would be required. Also all the walls inside the garage would have to be covered with gypsum board. The exterior walls in the garage were not covered. Clue #2.

Next onto the basement. The basement stairway lacks a handrail, lighting and light switches at the top and bottom of the stairs. Clue #3.

All these clues, and there were others, add up to one thing; an un-permitted or un-inspected addition.

I have found many people believe that a building permit is what is required when building an addition or deck for example. These people would only be half right. Pulling a building permit should be one of the first things that is done before starting a project.

As the project progresses it also has to be inspected by the city building official. He signs off on the completed work as meeting code. His signature should be found on the permit which is supposed to be displayed in plain view.

My customer near the end of the inspection alerted me to a building permit he saw in the side window of the garage. I had walked by it earlier and not noticed the faded paper. Looking at the permit it lacks even one signature from the town building official. I was not surprised at all by the lack of sign offs.

What this all boils down to is the entire project was built without a single inspection from the town. Some of what was discussed here are fairly serious safety deficiencies. Additionally there were some structural issues uncovered.

So when you hear some say a permit was pulled for the work the next question should be; was it closed meaning inspected.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services.

Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.

Chuckies Back!

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:38:32 -0500

A few weeks ago I told the tale of my new resident woodchuck Chuckie. I had found out about my little friend by his not so graciously chowing down on my vegetable garden.

Well it turns out ol' Chuckie actually has two homes, one under my deck and one under the neighbors. My neighbor has vegetables and I heard Chuckie helped himself to his tomatoes.

The gardens are pretty much gone now and Chuckie has taken to eating acorns outside my window. I believe he does this to taunt me.

I had thrown moth balls around and under the deck because I had heard it would drive Chuckie away. After salting the perimeter Chuckie disappeared for a few weeks. I thought I had seen the last of him.

But as you can see that is not case. I suspect he was vacationing across the way at his second home while the mothballs melted away. Cunning little rodent.

I have another card up my sleeve for Chuckie. My Father-in-Law just purchased a Have a Heart Trap because he has a couple of Chuckies cousins making a mess of his yard. Once he's taken care of his problem I will be borrowing the trap for Chuckie.

Hey Chuckie! The moving men are coming soon!

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services.

Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.

Don't Let The Cat Out!

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:32:33 -0500

How many times as an inspector or real estate agent do you go to a home and find a note about the pets? The most prevalent is not to let the cat out. Dogs are almost always taken away or crated.

Funny thing is most of time you never see the cat. It is cowering under a bed or closet somewhere in the house afraid of all commotion and strange voices. Once in a while you get one that is quite social and hangs around the whole time being cute.

The other day I was inspecting a small one floor condo which had a small section of basement at the front of the unit. There was the cat note on the door when I arrived. It said there were two cats inside.

After we got in the house one of the cats cautiously came out and became very friendly. Progressing through the inspection the where abouts of feline number two became a topic of conversation. Eventually there was a search mounted in case the scaredy cat had some how slipped out the door.

After some looking around under beds and in closets no cat was to be found. There was one place that had not been checked, the basement.

One of the agents said with a shudder there was a place in the basement where she was fearful the cat might be. We all went down stairs and went over to a large covered object against the wall. I pulled back the cover and saw this.

We never did find the cat and that snake had a mysterious lump in his belly.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services.

Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.

An Electrifying Discovery - Sneaking in The Back Door

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:13:26 -0500

Electricity is a mysterious energy source. You can't see it but you most certainly can feel if you come in contact with an energized wire. After which you may just have a new hair do.

I was inspecting a home the other day that had clearly been recently updated. Nice looking place which an obviously single couple was occupying.

Remodeled always gets my radar going at ultra high frequency. Often there is work done by someone other than a professional. As I went through this home it was clear the remodeler was the homeowner.

As they say the devil is in the details and that is where it was apparent our homeowner was the handy man. Not to take any thing away from the guy because all in all it was not bad workmanship.

But as I said electricity is a mysterious energy source and takes a level of knowledge above the homeowner handyman to comprehend.

In the electric panel I found a newer 220 volt wire. It didn't look right from the start. The wire appeared to be for the newer dryer.

I noticed that the ground wire was not connected to the panel. This was odd because there was a ground terminal in this panel. I put my voltage detector on the wire and;

Houston we have a problem!

There should not be any current coming through the ground wire unless there is a ground fault or other problem.

My guess is Harry Homeowner crossed some wires. When he discovered that the wire was hot, he then probably decided to leave it as you see it. After all the dryer works.

This problem is often referred to as back feeding but usually occurs on the neutral wire. That wire is in very close proximity to the panel and if it makes contact would energize the panel. Then all someone has to do is touch and the panel and zzzzzzt, new hair do or worse.

Bottom line here is it's a danger and needs to be repaired by a licensed electrician. This illustrates once again why professionals should be doing the work and not the homeowner or his Uncle or Cousin, etc.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services.

Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.

Who Left Dirt On The House - Can You Tell Me The Culprit

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:43:55 -0500

Here's a little mystery from a home inspection the other day. Actually it wasn't that mysterious because I knew what had caused the dirty spot. That little grimy patch is actually quite common to find on many homes, but more often it's on an older house.

What has caused this smudge is missing. So I'm wondering can anyone tell me what is missing from the house that made the spot.

Sorry there are no prizes, but you get to bask in the glory of your superior home inspection knowledge :D

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services.

Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.

The Kick is Up....It's Good!

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 08:30:18 -0500

That's what I thought when I saw this beautiful installation of a radon mitigation system. They split the ol' uprights with that pipe. What most people would notice is that the pipe is plastic. The "uprights" are two outdoor spotlights.

Plastic last time I knew melts when heated. PVC in particular has a very low melt temperature (I worked in plastics for 20 years). Light bulbs, especially high wattage incandescent bulbs, get very hot.

This installation shows;

A lack of planning
An unwillingness to adjust to the situation
An I-Just-Don't-Care-Attitude or lack of pride in my workmanship

I think this installation really all boils down to my number three point, lack of pride.

One of the most prevalent characteristics I see with AR members is pride in what they do. It takes a certain amount of pride and more importantly passion to be able to write blogs that are good and helpful.

I think the guy that installed this system could take a lesson from the members here on Active Rain.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

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Upside Down, Inside Out

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:24:48 -0500

Sometimes when walking around a house something stops me in my tracks because it just doesn't look or feel right. Call it instinct, intuition or an inspector's sixth sense, it really makes no difference. It's a little voice that tells me to pause and look a little longer.

This hose spigot spoke to me the other day as I was walking around the outside of this house. It may just look silly to most people being upside down and all. Causing someone to think the installer got started on his after work imbibing a little early. But there is more to this than meets the eye.

The drinking water that comes into our houses is all interconnected through a large network of pipes. You use the same water from the same pipes as all your neighbors. Why is this important?

In a word; Contamination.

The potable water in your pipes could become contaminated through your neighbor's pipes.

Seem hard to believe? Contamination through backflow has happened and continues to happen frequently. If a drop in pressure occurs in the water pipes, for example due to a power outage or repair work being done, a back flow can occur.

Getting back to that hose spigot, if there were a drop in water pressure the hose water could be siphoned back into the house pipes causing contamination. There have been cases where this type of back siphoning has contaminated several homes on a street.

The installation of a hose bibb vacuum breaker, second photo, will safe guard against cross contamination.

Backflow prevention is not limited to the outside hose spigot. This very brief tutorial from Watts explains about all areas in your home that can be a possible source of cross contamination.

So installing that spigot the wrong way is actually more of a problem than it first appears.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

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Don't You Just Hate Negativity?

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:51:27 -0500

We all know a glass half empty kind of person. You know the type; you say it's a beautiful day and they point to one cloud in the sky and say it's going to rain. They complain they have the worst luck and nothing ever goes right for them. You just want run away and leave them and their dark cloud behind.

Home inspectors I think are looked at as kind of negative people. We are hired to look for the negatives, but that doesn't necessarily mean we are negative people. The old adage of; it's not what you say but how you say it, is especially applicable to the home inspector. The key to pointing out those home inspection negatives is a good, unbiased explanation by the inspector.

No one likes a Chicken-Little-The-Sky-Is-Falling kind of inspector. On the other hand the No-Problem-Everything's-Fine guy isn't any better.

A house can have some negativity to it as well. Like our sullen friend it can be unpleasant and in some extreme cases deadly to be around.

On one recent inspection I found a mildly annoying and a potentially deadly case of negativity.

The first instance was under the kitchen sink. Most people understand the concept of gravity. Based on that knowledge we know water runs down hill. However it would seem that the installer of this sink drain is in disagreement with Sir Isaac Newton.

The second case was found in the basement. This problem was much more alarming as it could be potentially deadly.

The flue pipe for the gas fired water heater was pitched downward. The entire installation had several flaws which is a sure sign someone other than a professional installed the unit.

So you see a house can have some negativity residing inside its four walls. But as long as those mechanical negatives are addressed a negative house then becomes a job for the Feng Shui practitioner.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

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My New Neighbor, Chuckie

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:35:36 -0500

Does anyone remember that silly movie; actually there were a bunch of sequels, Chuckie. A puppet, Chuckie, comes to life and he turns out to be a maniacal killer. He can't be killed because he's a puppet. As the movie progresses he becomes increasingly more gruesome and sadistic.

Earlier this year I noticed I had a new "neighbor". I didn't actually see him right away, but found signs of his presence. He has become an unstoppable nemesis not unlike that crazed puppet.

You see I have a small vegetable garden with tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, peppers, squash and this year my girls planted carrots. They were very excited about eating carrots they grew. It turns out our new neighbor has a liking for carrots. And he's rude and impatient.

I went out to the garden one day to find all the carrot tops munched down to stubs. My girls were not happy. We had an idea of who this masticating marauder might be, but as yet had not laid eyes on him.

Then one early evening there he was brazenly grazing in the middle of our back yard, Chuckie! A fat little woodchuck. He heard us and bolted right under our deck!

Turns out he not only was dining on our vegetables, but he was squatting under our deck.

Talk about an uninvited guest. This was like having that sloppy, over eating old college friend show up at your door unannounced and spending the summer with you sleeping on your couch.

We or more like I mounted an attacked against this interloper. First a fence, but I could not block off the deck (the garden is right against the deck. Front porch dining for Chuckie).

Chuckie then expand his culinary curiosities. He started chowing cucumbers and next on to tasty tomatoes. He was taking out my low hanging veggies with methodical precision.

The next weapon in my arsenal on advice from some family members and the internet is moth balls. I salted them all around and under the deck where Chuckie resides quite comfortably.

The next day I saw my nemesis again grazing in the yard and snapped this picture. It seems the moth balls are not making Chuckie's life unpleasant enough for him to pack up and leave.

I am contemplating my next move and believe I have a solution that would end the problem once and for all. I'm a little reluctant to carry out the plan because I believe my neighbors might get alarmed if they hear gun fire.

I have enhanced the picture of Chuckie the way I would enjoy seeing him on our next meeting.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

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An Undesirable Reduction

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:04:05 -0500

Some reductions are not very pleasant like a reduction in pay or benefits, not good. A reduction in your weight, now there's a reason to be happy. Most things are made not to modified or reduced. If they are designed to be altered there are specific guidelines that are to be followed when making an alteration. Yet I find all manner of creative, not right, modifications to stuff all the time.

Lately I have run into more than a few water heater TPR (Temperature Pressure Relief) valve discharge line modification. The installation requirements of these pipes are pretty straight forward. Here is a warning from the Watts Company a manufacturer of these valves.

WARNING: To avoid water damage or scalding due to valve operation, discharge line must be connected to valve outlet and run to a safe place of disposal. Discharge line must be as short as possible and be the same size as the valve discharge connection throughout its entire length. Discharge line must pitch downward from the valve and terminate at least 6" (152mm) above a drain where any discharge will be clearly visible. The discharge line shall terminate plain, not threaded. Discharge line material must conform to local plumbing codes or ASME requirements. Excessive length over 30' (9.14m), or use of more than four elbows or reducing discharge line size will cause a restriction and reduce the discharge capacity of the valve.

This is fairly simple to understand. This information is printed on the yellow tag attached to the valves. See the tags in both water heater photos?

Does anyone read these tags???

The second photo shows a discharge pipe plumbed up, a no no, and has just in the picture alone 3 elbows. There were two more elbows on the pipe for a total of 5. Another no no.

Why all the fuss over a pipe and valve? Simply water heaters can become bombs. I have talked with more than a few people who seem to have a bit of dificulty in believing that a water can cause massive destruction.

In the last picture the devastation you see was caused by a 5 gallon water heater that blew up in a Massachuetts school. The average size water heater in most homes is 40 gallons.

Suspected causes for the blast were;

"Additionally several elements of the (TPR) valve were missing either by the force of the blast or they were removed prior to the blast by untrained personnel at the school."

What may have occurred, all though this was not established conclusively, was the water heater was leaking or malfuctioning and someone modified the unit which led to the explosion.

As I said most things are not designed to be modified or altered.

One more thing regarding TPR valves. If you ever see yours leaking do not open the valve. This can cause a sudden release of super hot steam or worse an explosion if the water heater is in an over temperature state.

The best thing to do before something like this occurs is to learn how to shut your water heater down in an emergency. If you see the valve leaking immeadiately shut down the unit and then call a licensed plumber to check out the cause of the problem and repair it.

Reduction and modifications are best left for our tummies.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

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What a Knockout!

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:01:15 -0500

Have you ever been knocked out? I don't mean literally like from a left hook, but knocked out by someone of the opposite sex who you thought was a real looker. A person you can not take your eyes away from. Everyone has experienced the sweaty palms, the racing heart and the shortness of breath that can cause. Getting a good jolt of electricity can have the same effect, but it's a lot less fun I guarantee.

One of the most important things about electrical components is safety. Wiring, panels, outlets and switches are designed and made to protect us from getting a jolt. Like I said a shock will make you at the very least feel funny and not in a good way. At worst it can kill you.

What I find most often when it comes to unsafe electrical components is someone wasn't careful or simply didn't have the expertise to do the work correctly. Not having knowledge is a dangerous thing when it comes to electricity. Yet carelessness is equally as bad.

For example this electric panel is missing a knockout. As the name implies the metal strip can be "knocked out" to open the space to accommodate another circuit breaker. Thing is when its gone it's gone for good. You can't put it back.

Leaving a knockout space open creates a serious safety concern. You can see in the photo there is a copper strip inside the panel. That strip is carrying the full amount of electricity for the home. Someone could easily fit their finger through that opening and touch that strip. If they did that, ZAP!

Fortunately there are plastic covers that are made for covering those open knockouts. It is simple solution to a careless and dangerous situation.

Careless and dangerous sounds like it might be fun with that heart stopper you saw, but just be sure to keep your fingers away from openings in electric panels.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

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That Thing is UGLY!

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 12:15:05 -0500

As the saying goes; beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There is no doubt that something one person may find stunning may nauseate some one else. Beauty is extremely subjective.

Often with things like a car or a toaster there has to be a certain amount of prettiness to the functional form. An ugly car is not going to sell.

When it comes to homes and home owners it's almost always about the looks. The function is often not a consideration. This theory is quantified by the numerous times I have found necessary functional items in a home compromised in the name of aesthetics.

The latest failure of function in the name of beauty was a water meter and main water shut off enclosed by a wall. An in-law apartment had been built in the homes basement. In the process the main water shut off and meter was enclosed inside a wall.

There was an attempt to leave it "accessible". You can see the opening in the wall which was covered by a panel in the first picture. To get the second shot of the meter I had to stretch over the counter top and blindly snap the picture. Not exactly readily accessible.

The main water shut off needs to be easily accessible for any number of reasons. Also many municipalities change the water meters on a routine basis (in my town every 8 years). Also the houses electrical service ground is often connected to the main water pipe.

With a little thought and planning the meter could have been made truly accessible. Unfortunately in the name of beauty function suffers once again.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

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Going Down and Back Around

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:40:16 -0500

The term common sense is bandied about quite a bit. We often use it to describe something where the solution or the correct way should be glaringly obvious. A no brainer. Actually good sense would be a more apt and accurate description, but I am not here to change the English lexicon.

Being a home inspector I regularly find stuff where I think, common sense would tell you...

Take for example this little piece of work. It looks like what it is, a pipe coming out of the side of a houses foundation.

What is that pipe attached to you may ask. Well it's attached to a sump pump. A sump pump that was just installed by someone the sellers hired because their basement regularly floods and has for many years. The sellers stubbornly realized that in order to sell their home a pump would at the very least need to be installed to alleviate the water problem in the basement.

Of course living with a water problem for years and years is another example of a lack of common sense, but I digress.

The sump pump is located on the opposite side of this wall directly below this pipe. The water that is expelled from the pipe will pour back against the foundation to be re-circulated by the pump.

Have you ever seen a hamster running in one of those wheels? This is in essence no different. Water spits out the pipe, flows back down along the foundation, gets recaptured by the pump and back out the pipe, repeat.

Fortunately all that is needed to fix this problem is to lengthen the pipe. I am certain most people would have by this time have come to this same conclusion.

Whether this was a case of a lack of good sense or laziness I can only speculate, but this I do know; no one wants a hamster wheel for a sump pump.

James Quarello
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services.

Learn more about our energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.