While in the course of inspecting a home I will expect to see certain things in certain places. For example the water meter is going to be all most always in the basement. When something is missing or out of place I get a little nagging feeling that lies quietly in the back of my mind. As the inspection progresses the feeling gets stronger until the proverbial light bulb pops on. Some people may call it intuition.
The other day I was inspecting a bank owned property and after getting off the roof that feeling started. It was very subtle and I hardly noticed, but it was undeniably there in my mind. The roof looked fine, fairly new in fact, but something just wasn't right.
I finished up the exterior of the home and headed inside to record the data onto my tablet. As I filling in the roof section of the report it was there again, that feeling that something was not right.
I proceeded to the attic next as is my custom. The pull down stairs leading into the attic were a little dicey, but after examination seemed safe enough to climb. This attic had a light which had a bulb that worked! Nice, makes life just a little easier. I entered the attic and there in the middle of the floor was the answer to my little voice.
The plumbing waste vent.
I know what you're probably saying, but it should be in the attic. And yes you would be correct except for one teensy detail; the pipe should go through the roof venting to the exterior.
The upper section of pipe in this attic has been removed and laid on the floor nearby. Funny thing was I could not find any evidence it have ever been through the roof. So removed may in fact be the wrong term to use in this case, never installed might be more accurate.
Either way this pipe needs to be vented to the exterior. Sewage gases are not something you want wafting around in your attic. They are not only unpleasantly fragrant, but poisonous. Can you imagine our home buying couple lying in bed some night and those odiferous sewage gases wending their way down and settling in their bedroom?
We can assume who will get the blame for the unwanted stench.
James Quarello
SNEC-ASHI President
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 home energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®. |
Comments(26)