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Laundry 101 pop quiz

I return comment for comment. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Laundry 101. Tonight we're going to have a little pop quiz to see how much you know, and how much I'm going to have to teach you.

There will be one picture with some colored boxes and arrows. It's multiple choice, and you'll have five minutes to complete the quiz. Here's your picture:

Laundry 101

Question 1 - What is the purple arrow pointing to?

Water heater
Washing machine
Dryer
Dishwasher

Question 2 - What does the red box enclose?

Irrigation system pipes
Water pipes for the bathtub in the master bathroom
Water pipes for the water heater
Water pipes for the kitchen sink

Question 3 - If the answer to Question 2 is #3, why is this part of Laundry 101?

They used to be the hookups for the washer
I haven't a clue
The water heater is sitting next to the washer
Because you're trying to trick us

Question 4 - What does the red arrow point to?

A green snake
Bubba's rodeo lasso
Cable wiring for the satellite dish on the roof
A garden hose

Question 5 - What does the yellow arrow point to?

The hookup for the beer keg
A water hookup for the washing machine
I haven't got a clue

Question 6 - What does the blue arrow point to?

The drainage line for the washing machine
The drainage line for the washing machine? Are you kidding me?
I haven't got a clue

Question 7 - What's interesting about this setup?

The red box encloses the old water hookups for the washing machine but now services the water heater.
You can only wash your clothes in cold water, and you have to turn the exterior hose bib on before washing.
Now that the old water hookups for the washing machine serve the water heater, the hot water shutoff valve should be removed (this applies to San Diego; other areas might be different).
Now that the old water hookups for the washing machine serve the water heater, the cold water shutoff valve (and the hot water shutoff valve, but see #3 above) is too low and could be turned off by young children, creating a dangerous situation.
The drainage line for the washing machine should drain into the sewer system and not the yard.
All of the above

Question 8 - Who do you think is responsible for this setup?

Bubba
Harry Home Owner
Wendy the Weekend Warrior
Billy Hillbilly
Red Redneck
Any of the above is a good possibility

Okay, now that everyone is finished, here are the answers:

2 - Washing machine
3 - Water pipes for the water heater
1 - They used to be the hookups for the washer
4 - A garden hose
2 - A water hookup for the washing machine
2 - The drainage line for the washing machine? Are you kidding me?
6 - All of the above
6 - Any of the above is a good possibility

That's it for this evening's lab, class. See you next Monday.

*****

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Posted by Russel Ray, San Diego home inspector on 03/16/2009 11:13 PM

Comments (26)

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26 Comments on Laundry 101 pop quiz

MAR

That is hillarious! I am going for "I haven't a clue" on the questions where that is a possible answer. I certainly hope this isn't anywhere close to South Dakota - all those pipes and hoses would be frozen and busted!

Hey, Tristan.

You're lucky. It's right here in sunny (most of the time) San Diego. I almost couldn't stop laughing long enough to take the picture at the inspection.

I must agree that it is very funny.

In fact it is very eco green.....

Washing only in cold water.
Recycling grey water to water the lawn.

Hey, Brenda.

It is eco-friendly, isn't it? Great perspective!

Just when you think you've seen everything....

Hey, Jim.

I think that as long as there are people on Earth, and Home Depot sells tools, I will never see everything. Human ingenuity, for better or worse, precludes that -- LOL.

I was beginning to think maybe there was a hook up for a keg! At least that lawn is getting water - though it is getting the detergent as well! Interesting and hey, it keeps you on your toes!

Hey, Libby.

When I go out to the boondocks here, I have to constantly be on my toes. There are some creative people living in the boondocks.

MAR

I thought it was a new 'green built' home laundry. You know the type, you warm the water in the garden hose laying in the sunshine then use it to wash your dainties, then recylce the water back onto your tomatoes.

Also, I wouldn't leave that door wide open like that. The same darn kids who spray painted them arrows all over yer trailer are gonna come back and steal yer warsh machine.

Hey, Robert.

Too funny. One never knows what they might have been thinkin', though. I've learned not to presume anything about other people, their habits, their vocations, their avocations, etc.

Hi Russ, I just zoomed in with Google Earth on your home address and all indications are that the hillbilly laundry facility is at your house. If I lived on the West Coast, I would gladly stop by and help you out.

Bubba lives in the boondocks Russel. He has a strong presence here also. I have one for you. I went to an inspection yesterday and it was a foreclosure that had been winterized. OK we had the utilities turned on and he was filling the water heater. He was back in the house and I was outside when I heard a sound like water running. Walked around the corner of the home and the water heater in a utility room had the valve open and was pouring water out on the floor. DUH HUH. Hmmm so was he testing the valve. Nope just didn't notice when he turned the water on to the tank that the valve was open.

It all looks like a disaster just waiting to happen. I can not imagine what the rest of the house was like. Perhaps a BBQ pit in the kitchen for a stove?

I don't know how you manage to make it through an inspection like that without laughing your fool head off (or crying your fool head off!). Next thing, the washing machine will be watering the fishtail palm in the courtyard, and will have a sign on it stating, "If you don't wash your clothes daily... the fishtail palm's gonna die!"

Russel, we have homes like that here as well. They are typically farms where every generation of the same family has applied their own handy work.

Great quiz, keep 'em coming.

Hey, Glen.

I knew someone would bust me!

Hey, Larry.

That's exactly why 95% of home inspectors won't turn valves on or off, turn circuit breakers on or off, light or extinguish gas pilot lights, or plug in or unplug anything. There's just too many valves, circuit breakers, gas pilot lights, and appliances throughout the home. If you miss just one of them, there can be a lot of property damage, injury, or even death.

Hey, Richard.

That was the inspection a few years ago. It was also out in the boondocks. The owner didn't have enough money to buy a new range when the old one went kaput, so he just removed it and brought his big ol' outdoor gas grill inside. It did fit perfectly, though. I might still have that picture. I'll have to search for it.

Hey, Alan.

Don't be picking on my beautiful fishtail palms, now.

Hey, Tad.

I grew up in a very rural area of South Texas, a little Bubba enclave called Kingsville. We all built our own houses, septic systems, irrigation systems, swimming pools, etc., but when I think back on some of the things we did, well, I think it's a miracle that I am still here.

Generation upon generation upon generation....

That was cute! Of course, most of my answers were "I have no idea"! hahahahahhah I'm such a challenged person. I probably should know all of that stuff but I leave it to my husband.

~Renae

Simply amazing that there was hope that this would "fly" thought tfor this inspection. I love the 101 test - I'd say this area of the home "Flunked". Entertaining post, Russel!

MAR

I am bookmarking this blog for my next customer who tells me their uncle can do the home inspection. Yikes.

MAY

Very funny. I almost envy you for having such a fun job!

Hey, Silvia.

It is fun seeing what people do in their own homes. It's not so much fun explaining to the Seller and the two Realtors why something should not be.

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