(440) 521-5399. I want to relay some of the information on the pamphlets that the department of natural resources shared with me when this abandoned gas well was encountered and inspected by the state of Ohio representative. A good reference site is http://www.ohiodnr.com/ . All of the following is copied from the materials handed to me at the inspection.This is in response to my previous posting.

1. How will I know if I have a leaking abondoned oil and gas well on my property?

 These oil and gas wells have been found under buildings, houses and streets, as well as in lawns and recreation areas. Some of the signs you may notice are:

           - large diameter pipe or wellhead

           - an area where vegetation will not grow.

           - the odor of crude oil or natural gas

           - water well contamination by saltwater(brine), crude oil or natural gas

 Saltwater contamination may increase water hardness or inhibit freezing. Crude oil may appear as either a thick layer or thin "rainbow" sheen on the water surface. Natural gas in a water well may be signaled by:

          - pressure surges

          - a natural gas odor at the tap

          - bubbling in the water

2. Who is responsible for plugging oil and gas wells in Ohio?

 Ohio law requires the well owner to plug and abandon any well which cannot produce oil or gas in commercial amounts, except wells that are used for a domestic supply. The owner of a well is the person or company who has the right to produce the oil and natural gas.

3. What is the orphan Well Program?

 The orphan well program was established in 1977 to plug improperly abandoned oil and natural gas wells. Funded by a portion of the state tax on oil and gas production. Ohio`s program has plugged more than a thousand wells and is recognized as one of the best in the nation.

 Proper plugging of orphaned wells is necessary to protect public health and safety, conserve natural resources, and allow the efficient development of Ohio`s oil and gas resources. Three separate programs are used to plug these wells:

 - Emergency Services Program is used when a sudden problem threatens physical harm to the public. For example, if an abandoned well near a house or school suddenly begins to release natural gas in explosive amounts, the problem could be addressed quickly through this program. Only wells that are an immediate hazard qualify for plugging through this program.

 - Traditional Program is used to plug wells that do not qualify for emergency action. These wells are grouped by priority and geographic location for state contract bid.

 - Landowner Grant Program allows prequalified landowners to act as the general contractor to act as the general contractor to plug and restore the well through a well-plugging contractor, then be reimbursed for 100 percent of the reasonable costs.

4. What happens after a complant is filed?

 The division will investigate each complaint to determine if the well qualifies for the Orphan Well Program. To qualify, a well must be verified as an oil and gas well and 1) have no legal owner with the money to plug the well, or 2) the has forfeited the owner`s surety bond. An inspector must be able to observe and document the condition of the well during a site visit. The Division does not excavate property to look for abandoned wells. Instead, it is the landowners responsibilty to locate and expose the well for inspection. The inspector then completes a title search at the county courthouse to determine the legal owner. If an owner is found, the Division will require the owner to plug the well.

5. How long does it take the Orphan Well Program to plug a well once a complaint is filed?

 The time from filing the complaint to plugging the well various depending on the program. Wells may be plugged through the Emergency Services Program in five to ten business days. Wells plugged under the Landowner Grant Program must be plugged within six months of the permit being issued. Wells plugged through the Traditional Program may take five or more years depending on the safety ranking of the well.

6. Who actually plugs the well?

 The Division of Mineral Resources Management awards a contract to the lowest qualified bidder who has experience in oil and gas well drilling and plugging.

7. What is the plugging contractor`s normal work schedule?

 Contractors generally work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, unless all parties agree otherwise.

8. What is the well plugged with?

 All wells are plugged with class A Portland cement prepared according to strict standards for materials and methods.

9. What type of equipment will the plugging contractor use?

 The contractor will use a rig that weighs about 16 tons and is about 40 feet high. Along with the rig, one or more steel tanks measuring 20 feet by six feet will be used to hold liquids during the plugging process. A registered saltwater (brine) hauler will then remove these wastes for disposal at a permitted injection well. The inspector will talk to the landowner about the location of utilities, drain tiles, and other information that will be useful in choosing the best access route.

10. How long will the plugging operation last?

 The plugging procedure may last from one day to six weeks with the usual being one to two weeks.

On a personell note..I live in a double house about eight years ago which was situated next door to a old farm house were the current homeowner is tapped off the original well for the last one hundred years. The vent pipe for this well was situated on my property. I have since sold the home and the entire time I lived at the double I encountered no problems. So I guess you can look at this in two different ways as a homeowner. Vurtually unlimited amounts of natural gas or a enviromental hazard.

Crown Inspection Solutions

20800 Center Ridge Rd.

Suite #323

Rocky River, Ohio 44116

http://www.ohioshomeinspector.com/

Mark@OhiosHomeInspector.com

(440) 521-5399

(440) 521-5399. This home inspection resulted in a turn of the century gas vent for a pocket of gas that was once used by this old farm house located in Rocky River, Ohio. Back in the late 1800`s gas was drilled for by the farm owner to use for heating and cooking purposes. Drilling companies would drill for the pockets of gas and then surface case the hole they drilled. Surface casing is a pipe that protects Underground Sources of Drinking Water (USDW) from oil-field contamination. Ohio requires that surface casing be set 50 feet below the bottom of the deepest USDW and sealed with cement or prepared clay. This double protection of pipe and sealant separates oil, gas and brine from freshwater supplies.The production casing allows oil and gas to move freely up the wellbore by protecting it from formations and water.

 So what is a current buyer suppose to do when deciding on purchasing this home? Some questions I have been asked are, " Can I tap into this pocket of gas for my house?", " Are there any hazards I need to know about?"

 So, I contacted the State of Ohio for information that my clients can use.

 I met Norbert Lowder through the department of Natural Resources at he was very informative when we met at the property. The first thing he showed me was how the state keeps track of the location of these old wells. Next, he examined the vent pipe to determine if indeed this was a gas vent pipe, that it was connected, and if there was a presence of gas from the orphaned well. Everything appeared to be okay with Norbert.

 Then I asked him is there anything for my client to do with the orphaned well. He said that homeowners who inherit these orphaned wells can get on a waiting list to plug the well. The program that the state of Ohio has set up addresses the need to plug abandoned oil and gas wells and restore land surfaces by administering an annual $1 million dollar account to support these projects. Now the only obligation to the new owner is to expose the casing head for the state contractors can get access to the well. Usually these casing heads are within five feet from the surface. Also to consider is for example in the picture up at the top of this page shows a the gas vent for the well. But, the casing head could be inside this garage underneath the concrete floor. And for the contractor to plug the well the garage may have to come down...thats if the head is under the garage floor. Because for the contractor to get his equipment in position the structure may have to come down. This is worst case scenario. Cost to plug the well by the state runs anywhere between $5,000 to $20,000 dollars. It really all depends what they run into.

 I then asked him if the new buyer can tap into this source of gas for his home. And his answer was yes but, they are then responsible for any problems with the well from here on out. So, if there are any problems with the well it will be up to them to clean up any environmental issues that may arise with the well and responsible for permits and requirements with the state of Ohio. My personnel opinion is in a residential area this may be a huge responsibility. I think the best route to take with these wells before buying the property is have the current homeowner locate the well head ( usually done by the department of natural resources with a metal detector), and then see if there will be cost to plug the well at a later date...such as removing structures for the contractor to get into the require position with there equipment.

Crown Inspection Solutions

20800 Center Ridge Rd.

Suite #323

Rocky River, Ohio 44116

http://www.ohioshomeinspector.com/

Mark@OhiosHomeInspector.com

(440) 521-5399

 (440) 521-5399 With foreclosures still prevalent in cuyahoga county. As a home inspector I see this more often than I would like to. At this home inspection Cleveland, Ohio the water main is disconnected at the meter. A common practice done by the utility company for the bank to protect the home from freezing pipes during the winter. This also prevents the intrusion of mold if a pipe should burst...which can be a big deterrent from a future buyer from buying the home. This home was discounted $140,000 dollars from its sales price from three years ago.

 The problem with doing these types of inspection when the water is off is the plumbing cannot be inspected. So on top of the price for a home inspection the buyer is gonna pay another $100.00 dollars to have our firm come back out to inspect the plumbing systems. I guess that is a small price to pay seeing they bought this home at a big discount.

Crown Inspection Solutions

20800 Center Ridge Rd.

Suite #323

Rocky River, Ohio 44116

http://www.ohioshomeinspector.com/

Mark@OhiosHomeInspector.com

(440) 521-5399

 (440) 521-5399 On this home inspection in Rocky River, Ohio our inspectors found this water heater showing signs of improper venting of the heated gases that heat the water for this home. Besides the burn patterns on the outside of the gas chamber, the excessive flaking of the bottom of this tank is another sign of heated gases getting pushed back down into the chamber and interacting with the cool bottom of this tank causing condensation to form and flaking the coating and paint off the bottom of the tank. This tank is only three years old.

 Another indicator that this tank may be back-drafting is when the inspector placed his mirror along side the bonnet of the flue which hovers over the opening at the top of the tank and connects the flue that connects to the chimney, the mirror fogged up. Which is a definite indicator that carbon monoxide gasses are spilling out into the mechanical room.

 Our recommendation is to have an licensed H.V.A.C. technician evaluate the flue system to the water tank and the heating system and after the technician has corrected the life threatening problem, to run a draft test to ensure the new install is working correctly.

Crown Inspection Solutions

20800 Center Ridge Rd.

Suite #323

Rocky River, Ohio 44116

http://www.ohioshomeinspector.com/

Mark@OhiosHomeInspector.com

(440) 521-5399

 This crack in a poured concrete foundation wall was observed on a previous home inspection our company Crown Inspection Solutions performed. (440) 521-5399

This crack although seems like a serious crack for most homeowners. This crack can be dealt with without excavatating.

There are two methods that are perferred.

1. Expandable two-component polyurethane.

2. Two- Component Epoxy

 Most homeowners have encountered the frustrating problem of cracks in poured concrete basement walls and thus leads to stubborn water leaks after a heavy rain. They usually try to fix the crack with some type of caulking or tar base materials. This is only a tempory solution. Water will still fill the crack on the inside and cause efflorescence, which will push off the caulking and or tar. Then it will peel and look unsightly.

 The determined homeowner will pull off the caulking and or tar and start to chisel the crack into a v-pattern and then apply a hydraulic cement to the opening. Hydraulic cement will not bond well with concrete in most cases...unless you use a bonding agent. In time, the concrete will move around shrinks and expands will indoubtable create openings for water to reenter the crack. Efflorescence will start coming up around the ridgid plug, will get loose and water will seep around the hydraulic plug.

 A better repair method would be to keep the rainwater out of the crack. But excavating and repairing the foundation crack on the exterior may cost thousands of dollars and may not be permanent either. Because the waterproofing membrane that waterproofing contractors use only have a 15-20 life expectancy and then it will start breaking down.

Low Pressure Concrete Crack Injection

 The main purpose of concrete crack injection is to permanently fill the full length and depth of the crack to keep water out. Then, water cannot deteriorate the concrete and widen the crack further.

Expandable two-component polyurethane

 Over 95% of residential foundation cracks are non-structural. the only problem is the seepage of water. Expandable polyurethane is the best choice for most basement cracks. Polyurethane does not add structural strength, it just forms a barrier impenetrable to water. Also, polyurethane remains flexible, which allows for continuous natural movement of the concrete due to thermal shrinkage and expansion or settling. It also bonds well to dry or wet concrete. It can be used to repair wet oe even leaking walls.

 The polyurethane forcefully expands, which ensures that the full depth and length of the crack is filled. It will fill a crack up to 20-24 inches thick!

Crown Inspection Solutions

20800 Center Ridge Rd.

Suite #323

Rocky River, Ohio 44116

http://www.ohioshomeinspector.com/

Mark@OhiosHomeInspector.com

(440) 521-5399

 At this home inspection in Brecksville, Ohio. I observed this pile of decaying and infested wood. The general rule of thumb is to keep this type of firewood at least 50 feet away from the home. That way if carpenter ants, powder post beetles, or termites happen to decide to have a harvest festival on this pile of wood, they wont decide to bring the after hour party to your house. (440) 521-5399

Crown Inspection Solutions

20800 Center Ridge Rd.

Suite #323

Rocky River, Ohio 44116

http://www.ohioshomeinspector.com/

Mark@OhiosHomeInspector.com

(440) 521-5399

 Home Inspection- Bay Village Ohio. Although this gas line was marked as not leaking by the gas company. Our gas detectors indeed verified a gas leak right at the corroded connection. We recommended that a licensed plumber come out to the property and fix the leak and also may be considered to replace the line given the age of the line coming into the home. The plumber came out and also verified the gas leak and also recommended the line be replaced for about $1,500.00. Our client was very pleased with the results because the seller ended up paying for the upgrade. Cost for inspection $249.00...Piece of mind priceless! (440) 521-5399

Crown Inspection Solutions

20800 Center Ridge Rd.

Suite #323

Rocky River, Ohio 44116

http://www.ohioshomeinspector.com/

Mark@OhiosHomeInspector.com

(440) 521-5399

(440) 521-5399 Recently encountered this nest for a family of mice in the main electrical panel at my last home inspection. It looks like they may have been here for sometime. Recommended resealing all exit and entry points and removing the nesting material by a licensed electrician. (440) 521-5399

Crown Inspection Solutions- www.OhiosHomeInspector.com

20800 Center Ridge Rd.

Suite #323

Rocky River, Ohio 44116

(440) 521-5399

 On this recent sellers home inspection this is what I encountered.

This water heater has been expelling its hot carbon monoxide gasses into the mechanical room of this home.

 The copper piping has received the blunt of the heated gasses. Notice the pattern on the pipe. Also during the inspection I turned up the dial on the water tank and placed my inspectors mirror in between the bonnet and the copper pipe that has patina and the burn pattern on it. It immediately fogged the lens on my mirror.

 The tank was 18 years old any way...so I recommended to replace the tank and make sure the plumber correctly installs the flue to the chimney without this back-drafting condition. (440) 521-5399

Crown Inspection Solutions

20800 Center Ridge Rd.

Suite #323

Rocky River, Ohio 44116

(440) 521-5399

 No, your eyes are not deceiving you. On this home inspection Brooklyn Ohio the wall has a considerable hump. The product on this exterior cladding is a T-111. T-111 has a life expectancy of 15-20 years. Ironically this home is 20 years old. The siding has pulled away from the structure and needs to be replaced.

 This condition was evident throughout the entire home.

 With T-111 you have to periodically caulk all the seams and keep a good coat of an approved exterior finish to maintain this type of product.

 Cost to replace this siding with the same product will probably cost roughly between $4,500 - $6,000.

Crown Inspection Solutions

20800 Center Ridge Rd.

Suite #323

Rocky River, Ohio 44116

(440) 521-5399