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Think they may have a problem II.

By Jack Gilleland

Home Inspector with Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton

August 27, 2008 04:54 PM

My last attempt at this didn't turn out so well due to the picture quality. In my defense a home inspector has to take pictures during the time he is there.

This time everyone should be able to see. Picture 1 was initially of the air conditioning unit, but turned out to expose a problem that was like an iceberg, most of it was hidden.

AC unit and slab

There are several smaller problems here and some of them even contribute to the larger problem. Remember all of the pictures are only seeing what I saw. There are no magic red arrows on the house to indicate serious problems.

Let me know what you think might be the serious problem.

Jack Gilleland Home-Inspection-Services

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Myrl Jeffcoat

Sacramento, CA

Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Jack - First I must admit, that when I check to see who is on-line, I always look for the picture icon of your dog. What's his/her name by the way?

Now regarding the picture of the air conditioning unit. There's a couple of things that kind of alert me about it. I would like to see the platform it is sitting on on at a little higher grade than the soil around it. I also don't like that the rain gutter pipe is so close to the unit.

Aug 28, 2008 04:16 PM

Rick Maday

Schaumburg, IL

Schaumburg Home Inspector -

Well, Jack, I don't know how you do it without the magic red arrows. When I look at a house, I first look for the big red arrows pointing me to issues. :)

Looks like either the house is crooked or the AC unit is not level.

Something to do with the downspout, hose and vegetation, I think.

Also, were there any weep holes?

Next clue, please. :)

Aug 29, 2008 03:31 AM

Jack Gilleland

Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton - Clayton, OH

Blog 2 behind ac

Mryl - His name is Izzy. Like izzy hungry? Where izzy? Of course, he has put on over 100 lbs since we named him.

Rick - Pay particular attention to behind ac.

Problem does have to do with water. My first clue was algae growing on ground in front of ac unit, but couldn't put my finger on it until I sat down with the photos.

Aug 29, 2008 05:25 AM

Well, I haven't a clue. I do know that several years ago I had a new HVAC unit put in. The company that did it, didn't put enough fall to the condensate pipe, therefore it backed up, went into the plenum (I think that's what it's called) and filled it up water. It grew algae. About 3 years later, when another worker went under my house, he found it. When they took it out, it looked like a giant green undulating caterpillar from a horror movie. But I don't see anything like that going on in his picture.

Aug 29, 2008 09:03 AM

Scott Patterson, ACI

Trace Inspections, LLC - Spring Hill, TN

Home Inspector, Middle TN

No idea.... Enough of the hints, whats up?

Now behind the HVAC unit, it does not look like you have a 30" clearance between the disconnect and the unit. Also the dryer vent is a little too close.

Aug 29, 2008 09:27 AM

OK Jack, I've looked and looked and nothing's coming to me.

By the center point of your pic, does it have something to do with the downspout and/or hose bib?

Aug 29, 2008 09:41 AM

Okay here it is. I count myself very lucky on this one.

Foundation problem blog

In the picture below you can see where the water was running back on to the foundation and deteriorating the block. After digging this out I went inside to recheck the finished walls and found where moisture was eating away at the walls. No outward indication was visible, but I pushed my finger through the drywall with little effort.

Closeup foundation damage.

This house was a steal for the investor and he ended up getting it anyway, but he knew about the problem in advance. House was bank owned and vacant.

Aug 29, 2008 03:31 PM

"Bank owned" and "Vacant" = 2 words that absolutely should MANDATE having a home inspection done!

Aug 31, 2008 05:34 AM

Myrl - Bank Owned and Vacant describes my client base. Eighty percent of the buildings/areas I inspect are vacant and about 25% are bank owned.

Aug 31, 2008 10:21 AM

Mark H. Roe

BeSure Home Inspection Service - Lancaster, OH

BeSure Home Inspection Service

Jack,

Great catch and Great eye...

Sep 03, 2008 01:48 AM

Mark - the luck of the Irish. I should have noted the green moss on the ground earlier, almost always means standing water.

Thanks

Jack

Sep 03, 2008 05:07 AM

Atlanta's Home Inspector, David Lelak IHI Home Inspections

IHI Home Inspections 404-788-2581 - Canton, GA

Experience the IHI Difference

Great post and I really like the magic red arrows, this one had me going for a little bit.

Bonnie

TheHomeInspectorsWife

Sep 04, 2008 03:55 AM

Gene Allen

Fathom Realty - Cary, NC

Realty Consultant for Cary Real Estate

We see that problem a lot around here. The water just drips right on the ground around the unit.

Sep 04, 2008 01:16 PM

Jacques Mountain

Dream Home Inspections/203K Consultant - Fayetteville, GA

Inspector/203K Consultant

I like the magic red arrows.

Sep 07, 2008 03:38 PM

Think they may have a problem II.

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