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Close enough for a cigar----or to at least it could have smoked like one!

Sorry if I have offended any cigar smokers out there, but by the time the smoke clears maybe you will forgive me----then again maybe not.

Inspectors are always harping about how hot heat lamps and electric heaters can get. The following pictures were from an inspection of a home that was less than a year old. A far shorter period of time than it takes to age a good cigar (some might say this is an oxymoron---but what do I know----I just don’t like cigars).

Heat lamp too close to the top of a door

When the door is left ajar it parks itself right under the heat lamp with the obvious result that the heat lamp is smoking the door.

It was really hard to get a good picture of the top of the door but there is a large depression in the edge where the wood has become charcoal.

Burned top of door

Leaves one to wonder about the smoke alarm/detectors in the home doesn’t it?

My buyer seemed to take it all in stride and just said they would be sure to remind their teenage son to be careful not to park the door under the heat lamp.

This time it was the inspectors turn to “freak-out” at the inspection, as I told them, “NO---this was not acceptable----and MUST be fixed.”

Someone needs to relocate the heat lamp so that it is not in the swing of the door.

Charles Buell

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Posted by Charles Buell, Seattle, WA, Home Inspector on 10/15/2009 09:51 AM

Comments (31)

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Originally posted at: Seattle Home Inspector's Blog: Close enough for a cigar----or to at least it could have smoked like one!

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31 Comments on Close enough for a cigar----or to at least it could have smoked like one!

OCT

Charles, Wow! That's a fire hazhard for sure. I'm surprise the buyers were so accepting of that situation. Good photos.

If the house was less than a year old, the location of the heat lamp must be original. How did that pass the county inspection for a final occupancy permit?

Charles,

Yikes, sounds like a big safety issue to me. But to think that your teenage son would remember not to park the door under the heat lamp, well....that is just insame.

Barbara, I could do a post about that as well---someday maybe

Kate, all I can say is that they don't look that close and it is why I have a job:)

Jan, I don't think anyone should have to remember something like that----it just needs to be fixed.

Charles, that is pretty scary stuff. Good thing inspectors warn buyers of dangers like this.

Good catch, Charles. I don't like heat lamps anyway, and this one is a danger.

I refused to have flood lights put even outside my home because those bulbs scare me. I worked at the Uncle Remus Museum for years on end with those hot flood lights behind the counter where I stood when being the docent. They were pointed at the fireplace and more than once I burned a hole in my hose. NOPE not in my house. Good call Charles, make em fix it.

Lizette, not a good place for a camp fire for sure:)

Marcy---I don't either---and they are very common in small bathrooms

Tammy, I am sure they will.

Such a safety hazard. I'm shocked that this passed an electrical rough in when the home was built.

Craig this got overlooked by at least 4 jurisdictional inspections.

Charles, This really demonstates why I really insist that all my buyers get home inspections. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Charles, sounds as if you really stood up for your beliefs on this one.

Gary, I think it is a good idea too---but everyone expects me to say that:)

Barbara----a guy has to do what a guy has to do.

I notice a lot of people don't look up when they are inspecting. You obviously leave nothing unturned, whether it's crawl spaces or tops of doors (!) I can't believe the buyers thinking a) it was OK and b) they could get a teenage boy to pay attention at all.

Shoshana---sometimes I just get lucky:)

Charles - Yikes. That is one hot cigar - I mean spot - I don't like cigars either... Good thing you were the one doing the inspection! ~Rita

Mr Charles,

Thank you for the excellent information. I really learned from that one.

Nutsy

OCT

Rita---it was smokin'

something fishy

Charlie B, Talk about getting hot under the collar... Me thinks that too many people do without really thinking. And man is supposed to be the most intelligent creature on the planet? H-m-m-m...

Helping you live your American dream...

That door must be made of Ash wood.

Michael---just another case of not knowing what you don't know.

Joshua---for sure

WOW! That's pretty scary!!

Charles, Why don't you just move on over to North Carolina...we could use a great inspector like you around here. I can't believe that no one else caught this, but thank goodness you did. What a hazard!?

Greg---freaky for sure

Amy---I'll be right over:)

Mr Charles,

You ignored my flattering comment. In my disgust, I spoke with an industrial sigh-chologist. He said that I needed to let you know how deep my hurt is and how intense my anger at you. In light of that, I am now telling you that my hurt is deep and my anger intense.

Nutsy, going off