sudden valley: Electric Heater Safety
- 02/02/11 03:36 PM
Recently I read a post by Charles "Chuckie" Buell, where he talked about cords being run over electric heaters. I guess it was a coincidence but at an inspection recently, I ran into a great example of the "cord over the heater syndrome". It is a very common occurance in Bellingham. Problem is, people do not know that there is an inherent problem with the arrangement. Below is the language, and photos, straight from my report.
"Electric outlets/receptacles are installed directly above bedroom and living room heaters. While this was a common installation practice a few years ago, it can be a … (14 comments)
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sudden valley: Never Answer the Same Question Twice -- Calibrating A Hygrometer
- 12/28/10 01:12 AM
This post is in response to Bob Stewart's "it's raining" blog. He has created a challenge: Sanitize and post some past client Emails and responses. The goal is to provide, to the public, easily accessible online information. This probably seems like an esoteric topic but, over the years, I have gotten many Emails and calls on the topic of calibrating a hygrometer. Years back, I wrote an article on how to do so, using common salts, and this piece has legs. It never goes away and every year I receive questions from people, from around the world, who have found that piece. Here is one … (6 comments)
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sudden valley: Move-in Ready House -- Not!
- 12/22/10 03:59 AM
I cannot recall how many times, I have had an individual tell me that a new home has passed all of the municipal code inspections and it is "move-in ready". In fact, I have had agents discourage their clients from paying for home inspections at new homes for that reason.Granted, a code inspection is better than having had no inspection at all but such inspections are minimal and often there are oversights or they lack good old common sense.Let me give you a couple examples:
Does the deck below look safe to you? I think the municipal inspector forgot about requiring guard … (10 comments)
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sudden valley: Squirrel-Listed: As Good As It Gets
- 12/21/10 02:56 AM
I saw something the other day at an inspection that I thought was funny. The first thing that I noted at the side of the tiny wood stove was the logo (squirrel sitting with the acorn).
When I got down behind the unit, to try to figure out who manufactured it, I was pleased to see the manufacturer's tag. If you look at the top, right beside where it says model 1410 and 1440, you will see that this unit is "squirrel listed."
Charles Buell had told me, and my certifried assistant, that he would never buy this story of … (23 comments)
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sudden valley: Draw Inspections, New Construction, Bellingham, WA
- 08/08/10 09:11 AM
When I first began in this profession, I used to supplement my income by performing some draw, or progress, inspections for banks. That was back when more new construction was taking place.
Since that time, for the most part, I have gotten too busy to spend much time doing the lower cost draw inspections. However, there is a company that I did some contract work with for years so, if I can, I try to fit in a job or two for them on occasion.
With draw inspections they call you in for the first inspection and, usually, you can watch … (8 comments)
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sudden valley: Wow -- That Got My Attention
- 08/05/10 05:12 PM
I had a moment today where I got quite a start. I had just popped open an attic hatch, then I turned my head. At first, what I saw looked like a woman's hat. It did not take me long to get my head on straight however.
My first impression was wrong. No hat -- Bee looking creatures, or more specifically yellowjackets.
Ths was way bigger than a basketball and it got me pretty excited, I admit it. Good news is that the yellowjackets did not seem to be active today but I was not going to go up there … (107 comments)
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sudden valley: Oh Yes, The Best Of Intentions
- 11/13/09 10:14 AM
Picture this: The homeowner knows there is a roof leak. The homeowner knows that shingles are blown off. So how does the homeowner correct this? Usually in a totally unprofessional manner. The photo below is not an uncommon repair.
Those shingles laying over the damaged area are vulnerable and this is not the way a roofer would do a repair. New shingles are worked in where the damage was done. They are no plunked down on top. If the old shingles were prone to blowing off before, then how about this conglomeration? Once an inspector sees something like this, the … (8 comments)
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sudden valley: I Ought To Do A Series
- 08/20/09 12:45 PM
I can only guess how many times I have posted photos like this. I have said it over and over again, yet every time I go out to Sudden Valley, near Lake Louise and a part of Bellingham, I see deer. Today I only saw one. He was so tiny that, at first glance, I thought it was a dog.
This guy, maybe a girl, almost looks like a plastic deer. But that is not the case. Active Rain is giving points for various series, this should have been mine. I have plenty of material.
Steven L. Smith
Bellingham WA … (17 comments)
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sudden valley: Whatcom County Waterfront Homes -- Need a Dock Inspection?
- 07/02/09 05:12 AM
In northwest Washington we have many waterfront homes. Homes so situated include wonderful bay and lakeside lots. Lake Whatcom, Lake Samish, Sudden Valley and Glenhaven come to mind. As one would expect, when water views are involved, the prices may go up.
When a home is right on the water, a dock might be involved in the real estate sale. I was scheduled for a home inspection the other day, for a past client, and he asked me if I could also inspect the dock. Well, "no" on that one. Inspecting a dock is, shall we say, "way over my … (2 comments)
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sudden valley: Oh Deer! I Knew I Was In Sudden Valley
- 03/13/09 03:36 PM
I can honestly say that I do not believe I have EVER done an inspection in Sudden Valley, a community that is part of Bellingham, without seeing deer. The deer out there are very tame and they seem to want to participate in the inspection. Today I was working for a lady from another state. She was pretty charmed by the deer and they really are beautiful and graceful.
I only got eight legs in the photo -- that would be two deer. However, there were a total of twenty legs there because there were five deer. One time there … (15 comments)
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sudden valley: How Safe Is That High Deck?
- 08/27/08 08:28 AM
This photo, and the topic, will get you thinking. I guarantee it. To get things going, setting the stage so to speak, please take a look at the high deck, balcony if you prefer -- top right side of the photo. It is way up there, where the air is thin.
If you were standing on that deck, I bet you would want to think that it was safe. Is that a reasonable assumption on my part, that you would want to think that a parachute is not in order? Usually, unless people have an obvious clue to the contrary, they assume … (14 comments)
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sudden valley: A Deer Time In The Old Park Tonight
- 08/19/08 03:14 AM
When I do inspections at Sudden Valley, a lake area that is part of Bellingham, I usually have deer hanging around like pesky kids. They are so plentiful there. A couple weeks back there was a young buck with a full head of antlers. Yesterday I heard a dog bark, and there were two deer grazing. I could only get a photo of one.
While they are pretty and quite tame. There are a couple problems with them.
1. Each one will eat plants to the tune of about 100 rabbit each. And they jump so well they are hard to … (7 comments)
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Recently I read a post by Charles "Chuckie" Buell, where he talked about cords being run over electric heaters. I guess it was a coincidence but at an inspection recently, I ran into a great example of the "cord over the heater syndrome". It is a very common occurance in Bellingham. Problem is, people do not know that there is an inherent problem with the arrangement. Below is the language, and photos, straight from my report. 
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