It is always nice to have a clue as to what might be happening next. I think we often get such clues but, sometimes, recognizing them is the trick. We are exposed to so much stimuli that it can be easy to have something pass right over our heads. Poof --- and the clue is gone!

I had a major clue yesterday and, after walking by it about five times, it all registered. The good news is, that clue -- when it sunk in -- kept me from having wet pants. Let me explain. It has been dry as a bone in Bellingham since about the end of June. I am inspecting a home next to the site of new construction. As I passed by the foundation to the new house, I saw all this water at the end of the foundation. I thought, "gee, were those guys running water or what?" Next time I thought, "huh, is that ground water?" I decided to snap a photo.  

Because I saw all of that water, I decided that I needed to absolutely, for sure, no doubt about it, put on my full crawl space outfit -- the green machine -- prior to going under the house. I am glad that I did because, once I got under there, I saw that this same groundwater had given no amnesty to the house next door -- a 20 year old home. In Bellingham and Western Washington, we have more than our share of ground water but I did not really expect it as dry as it has been lately. I have not seen any significant standing water, other than plumbing leaks, in a few weeks. This is another example of a good reason to have an inspection. All that water evaporating up into the home is unhealthy and can rot the wood too. You really need to know about it if you are buying a house.

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA Home Inspections