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Installing a new Furnace or water heater? Trust but verify.

By Clint Mckie

Home Inspector with Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections 10072923

November 06, 2013 09:47 PM

Installing a new Furnace or water heater? Trust but verify.

When ever you have new appliances installed in a home. say the water heater or a furnace. There needs to be a "Trust but verify inspection" done.

Almost all jurustictions in the United states require a permit for a new furnace or a new water heater.

In this case there was no permit pul;led. These installations were to say the least "Crappy".

At Desert Sun Inspections in Carlsbad, New Mexico.

We are here to help you. if there are any issues with the installation of the newly purchased appliance, then we will find it. Many companies rely on the home owner not knowing what they are looking at when they get a new appliance installed.

This means the installer can get away with a lot if no follow up inspection takes place. Pulling a permit is required but seldom ever done.

Take a look at the furnace install in this home I was at yesterday. New furnace installed in 2012.

Here we have a junction box that is a "Out of sight out of mind". How many owners are going to get up into the attic and inspect the furnace installation? None.

Then the water heater was installed by a plumbing company. this plumbing company is the same plumbing company that advertises on T.V. saying they are the best in the business and this is what thousands of residents rely on them for their plumbing needs. Really?

Look at this water heater's installation.

Can you see what I saw when I entered the garage?

Then to add insult to an unsafe condition here is a look at the TRV that was supposed to be connected for a safety feature.

So this is what the client's of this plumbing company have to look forward to?

It's a very sad day in the state of New Mexico.

Call Clint McKie of Desert Sun Inspections at 1-575-706-5586 and we will do a "Trust But Verify inspection" Never leave anything to chance.

Have a great day every one.

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Adrian Willanger

206 909-7536 AdrianWillanger-broker.com - Seattle, WA

Profit from my two decades of experience

Clint,

Obviously permits were not pulled for these jobs. Most of us homeowners really don’t know what to look for when a job is finished. We rely too much on the companies that install the equipment to do it right. Thanks for pointing these deficiencies out.

Have a good week-Adrian

Nov 07, 2013 12:08 AM

TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.

Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN

Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

Good morning, Clint. Oy vey! How many times have I seen that stuff before? I really hate that folks pay good money to have work done and find out that they have to pay out again to have it fixed correctly.

Nov 07, 2013 01:08 AM

Toni Weidman

Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL

20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

Clint - when we get a new appliance installed, we expect the installation to be done right. I guess our expectations are too high.

Nov 07, 2013 02:38 AM

Jay Markanich

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA

Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

And they are big advertisers on TV! That means they make a lot of money! Hopefully people in your area will see this and know to whom you refer!

Nov 07, 2013 05:20 AM

Anita Clark

Coldwell Banker Access Realty ~ 478.960.8055 - Warner Robins, GA

Realtor - Homes for Sale in Warner Robins GA

Clint: Just another day in the life of an honest inspector who reports what he sees. Thanks, as always, for sharing your findings so we can learn.

Nov 07, 2013 06:51 AM

Anonymous

Reggie Marston

Right on target Clint, I find these type of issues everyday of the week. As I tell my clients, if you have any work done on your home you need to stand right there behind the technician and ask questions about what they're doing, if they don't like it tough your paying them and if you think they're doing what you think they're doing you're wrong, they aren't!

Nov 07, 2013 08:22 AM

Marc McMaster

RE/MAX Centre Realty - State College, PA

Putting my clients before myself

Our local code office recently started requiring a permit for replacing a water heater. I thought that was a little absurd for replacing like with like. Guess they needed a little job security.

Nov 07, 2013 09:25 AM

James Dray

Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Interesting I wonder if the buyer is going to the press and announce their disdain for the job done? Probably not but it would be interesting wouldn't you think?

Nov 07, 2013 06:40 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Joan,

No permit and no inspection by a third party till I inspected the home.

Have a good day in the Denver area this fine Friday.

Best, Clint McKie

Nov 07, 2013 09:12 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Dorie,

I think that is part of the big picture. but in many cases the company sends out high school kids to do a lot of the work. This is what they get for an untrained worker.

Have a great day in Canyon Creek Texas.

Best, Clint McKie

Nov 07, 2013 09:14 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Adrian,

The home owners are trusting the company to do the right thing. In most cases they miss the mark fully.

Have a nice day and weekend in the Seattle areas.

Best, Clint McKie

Nov 07, 2013 09:16 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Michael.

This crap happens every single day. Sad but true.

Have a great weekend in Brentwood.

Best, Clint McKie

Nov 07, 2013 09:18 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Toni,

We expect the job to be done the right way. After all we are paying them to do it the right way. I guess we expect too much from everyone.

Have a good day in Trinity.

Best, Clint McKie

Nov 07, 2013 09:35 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Jay,

I will refrain from mentioning any names. But the company needs to hire me as a consultant to get them back on tract as soon as possible.

Have a great day in Bristow my friend.

Best, Clint McKie

Nov 07, 2013 09:37 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Anita,

This is really annoying for me. Even though I am there to inspect the home. There are issues I should never find.

Have a good day in Warner Robins, Georgia.

Best, Clint McKie

Nov 07, 2013 09:38 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Reggie,

Many companies don't want you looking over their shoulder nor even asking questions. but it is the best policy for any home owner.

Have a nice day and thanks for the comment.

Best, Clint McKie

Nov 07, 2013 09:40 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Marc,

This could have been caused by the past work. Shoddy at best. I think the local jurisdiction wants to get a grip before there is a tragedy.

Have a good weekend in Collage Station Pa.

Best, Clint McKie

Nov 07, 2013 09:43 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi James,

Yes it would be. But it would probably never happen.

Have a good day and weekend in Rogers my friend.

Best, Clint McKie

Nov 07, 2013 09:44 PM

Paul Miner

Affinity Inspection Group "For The Discerning Client" - Salt Lake City, UT

One of the 1st calls the homeowner needs to make when replacing systems is to the AHJ. (Authority Having Jurisdiction) They will be glad to tell you whether or not a permit needs to be pulled. If they tell you it "IS" required and your vendor tells you something different, it's time to find another vendor!

Rogers? I did a project up that way in 2005. They issued a warrant for the head Building Official, what ever happened?

Nov 08, 2013 05:01 AM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Paul,

There are permits needed for these installations. Many don't get any permits. This leaves the owners to repair any issues after the fact. Not a good situation when you pay good money to get things done the right way.

As far as the warrant. I don't have a clue. Thanks for the comment.

Have a great day in Utah.

Best, Clint McKie

Nov 08, 2013 08:03 PM