I got a response back from a recent home inspection - "But they're really small holes."

For sure, I am not going to say if this comment was from a seller or listing agent disagreeing with me.  It was, but I am not going to identify from whom.  For sure, it was a very out-of-place, even stupid, comment.

Those are the small holes.

They are located where a boiler exhaust vent attaches to the main exhaust stack which proceeds from there through the roof.

Certainly those holes represent a carbon monoxide danger to the house.

Has CARBON MONOXIDE been a problem to date?  I don't know.  The house is vacant.  The sellers aren't forthcoming in that regard.

Notice other things -

1.  There is rusty corrosion there and elsewhere.  That can say a variety of things, but certainly condensation is one of them, probably acidic condensation.

2.  There are drips coming from above.  Over this location the vent extends inside a 2'x3' chase, and all the way to the attic.  Where this enters the attic the underside of insulation is visible.  It's touching the vent.  These drips begin at the roof sheathing.

3.  That large gap extending to the attic represents a fire hazard.  A fire beginning in this boiler room, which doubles as the laundry and workshop, and is beside the basement family room, would spread quickly upward and into the house.  This chase passes between the master bedroom and upstairs hall bath.

To say "but they're really small holes" may be true.  They are small.  But they are still dangerous and they are not the only problem.

My recommendation:  inspectors observe and report.  They may report a lot of things about a single problem because that problem can do or cause other things to happen.  But arguing with, or discounting, or berating an inspector's report is not a smart thing to do.  GETTING ANOTHER PROFESSIONAL TO LOOK AT, EVALUATE AND RECTIFY A PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY A SERIOUS PROBLEM, IDENTIFIED BY A HOME INSPECTOR IS A SMART THING TO DO.  TAKING A HOME INSPECTOR SERIOUSLY IS DEFINITELY A BEST PRACTICE!

 

 

 

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com


 
This post has been included in Virginia Real Estate News Prince William County, VA Real Estate News Bristow, VA Real Estate News
Post is included in group: WeBlog Anything (almost)!
Post is included in group: Best Practices
Post is included in group: Adventures in Home Inspecting
Post is included in group: Addicted to Active Rain
Post is included in group: Professional Home Inspectors

41 Comments on But They're Really Small Holes

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

OCT
18
977,236 Points 352 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Alan - only when you sleep.  But, fortunately, the Internet is always in the atmosphere around your head and it fills in the gaps where other stuff has leaked out.

Harry - this house was fun all around!

Robert - I agree.  But when the house was built that chase was considered acceptable.  I pointed it out as a "now" thing.

Monica - unknown if the sellers knew about this previous to my inspection.  But they sure berated me once they found out!

Shane - there are reasons they did.  I didn't get into everything on the post!
11:00am • #22
390,867 Points 27 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

That type of information is why they pay you the big bucks, Jay. Bet it wasn't the BUYER or his agent who made that comment.
12:29pm • #23
229,179 Points Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Jay -- you did a good job of pointing out the situation.  For someone to denegrate thecomment, just shows that they don't understand what your job is.
2:28pm • #24
126,032 Points

Wow that was ugly. Little holes mean little problems I guess.
2:55pm • #25
977,236 Points 352 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Thanks Hella.  Not exactly big bucks, but you are right, neither of them made that comment!

You would have to understand the entirety of the situation to know why Steven.  There's more to this...

That follows Rob.  Don't you remember Algebra 1?  AB = BA.  It's the commutative property of equality.
4:34pm • #26
405,185 Points 15 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Called Shot Master

Good evening Jay. Those really small holes could take really small lives. I would almost have to out the person with that mindset that would discount the threat.
5:33pm • #27
Outside Blog

Hey Jay,

For the life of me I can't understand why the home inspection report is almost always questioned. Your closing comments are on point. Hopefully other professionals will wake up and realize inspectors are not the enemy!
6:45pm • #28
Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

I don't know what's scarier the small holes or the they're only small holes comment.

 
6:54pm • #29
852,266 Points 72 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Jay, I am not a betting woman, but my money is on the listing agent. Tumors start small too ... but they get bigger and kill. 
7:53pm • #30
880,278 Points 225 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I wondered what that was on my pillow.
8:54pm • #31
183,101 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Called Shot Master
Or, the yellow spots on the ceiling aren't from water, it's because the window lets in a lot of light And that's made the ceiling yellow.
11:52pm • #32
OCT
19
977,236 Points 352 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Randy - that's correct.  The smaller the body the more quickly CO is attached to the cell instead of O2.

Eric - we are the messengers!  If we're wrong, THEN it's time to ask!  I had an agent call me the other day because a home inspector said the radon fan was working but not removing the radon.  (Not sure how he knew that...)  The home owner called a radon remediation company who did measurements and said the system was fine.  It cost the homeowner $200 to find that out!  In this case I am not speculating - there are holes!

You got that right Goran.  Both indicate a lack of understanding!

Kathleen - you would be disturbed to find out the rest of the story.  Hint:  you are half right.  But it's not what it appears.
3:03am • #33
977,236 Points 352 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Alan - hopefully it wasn't your spleen, coughed up during the night.

Michael - right, those are from the yellow rays of the sun's spectrum.  They can be so pesky.
3:03am • #34
568,210 Points 140 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I found a couple a small holes mtself the other day. The seller was there, freaked her out. I bet they get repaired right away. 
5:37am • #35
977,236 Points 352 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Well, duct tape matches almost perfectly to the metal Jim.  And cheap!
5:50am • #36
226,784 Points 4 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Great that you caught it - I showed a home several months ago where the smell of gas was sickening - shared with the occupant who had no idea! Regards Dave
7:23am • #37
293,498 Points 66 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Jay, Those CO molecules are pretty small also ; ) Man I love electricity do not have to worry about this stuff very often.
12:40pm • #38
977,236 Points 352 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

David - could be they were so used to it they weren't fazed.

Don - we had a family die here in an all-electric house because the husband pulled into the garage drunk, fell asleep with the car running, and the lack of CO detectors was the death knell for the family.
2:54pm • #39
OCT
23
625,934 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog

Wow Al good for you regardless of which one hired you if I was the other party I would want to know.
2:50pm • #40
977,236 Points 352 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I agree Joyce.  Everyone should want to know about this!
6:46pm • #41

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

Login or register to leave a comment
 
Jay_light_ar_photo Rainmaker_large

Jay Markanich - N. Virginia Home Inspector

Bristow, VA

More about me…

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC

Address: 12315 Sherborne Street, Bristow, VA, 20136

Office Phone: (703) 330-6388

Cell Phone: (703) 585-7560

Email Me

An experienced home inspector's look at current home inspection events and conditions along with his useful recommendations.


Listings

Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog

Find VA real estate agents and Bristow real estate on ActiveRain.