One very common and potentially dangerous situation is a cracked chimney flue liner. During a home inspection one the items I am looking for are cracked tiles. The signs can often be subtle or even hidden behind creostoe that may have built up on the flue liner.
The chimney flue is the narrow passageway in which the combustion byproducts of the fire are removed. The construction and operation of the entire chimney system needs a proper design and function so that smoke and toxic fumes exit the chimeny and home.
The main purpose of the flue liner is to … (4 comments)
In many cases the lending institution will require an HUD engineer's foundation certification for the Manufactured home. I am getting request for an engineers report on even new installations/sets. So if you are in the Chelan, Douglas, Grant county areas of Washington State you should be asking if you need one when buying and selling a manufactured home.
For New homes per Washington State's department of Labor and Industires (L&I) Manufactured homes in Washington must be installed by an L&I certified installer New manufactured homes must be installed according to the manufacturer's instructions or the specific instructions of an … (33 comments)
Such a simple plumbing item to do but so often done incorrectly... enter the fixture trap.
Plumbing fixture traps are devices that keeps a small amount of liquid every time the fixtures is used in it to create a trap seal. The amount of retained liquid is called a trap seal. Without a trap to seal off plumbing fixtures, unwanted and nasty things such as methane gas and vermin can creep into the house. In addition to a trap seal you want the trap to be self scouring or better stated self cleaning. These need to be properly installed to function properly. Under normal conditions, traps … (16 comments)
Living Small in a Big Way- Tiny Homes Wenatchee Home Inspections
Tiny home seems to be more and more appealing to many looking for a comfortable space on a small footprint and a smaller budget. The problem is the codes have to now deal with these smaller than normal spaces. Enter the 2018 IRC and Appendix Q. Now, most areas have not yet adopted the 2018 code and it may be a while for many. For Washington, the anticipated effective date for the 2018 codes is July 1, 2020.
Tiny home design from www.tumbleweedhouses.com
Here is a couple of section from the code to give you a feel … (7 comments)
One of the joys I get is seeing the bighorn sheep from time to time. Here are a few photos that I captured on a return trip from Lake Chelan.
“Sheep, like people, are ungovernable when hungry.” John Muir
If you find any errors or have additional information that would expand on any code, building standards or manufacturer requirements please let me know.
NCW Home Inspections, LLC is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas … (7 comments)
Bad Gas-Thou shall not go there!Wenatchee Home Inspections
Gas cooking is what most chefs prefer. So having a gas cooktop installed is a very nice feature for the chefs.
Like anything else though there are those pesky rules. Gas supply pipe in one of them. Here we had an installation of propane gas from a tank to the cooktop. To get it through the brick cladding (siding) they decided it was much easier to plumb it through the exhaust duct from the exterior to the crawlspace. The issue is this is not … (3 comments)
chelan real estate: Panel Terminations of Romex
- 11/12/18 08:12 AM
Panel Terminations of RomexWenatchee Home Inspections One of the most common occurrences with those who should not be doing there own electrical work is terminations at the panel. Romex(a trade name) or more specifically NM Cable has to be properly secured to the panel per code. This is to prevent potential damage to the cable.
Per the electrical code, all cables must be secured to the enclosure with fittings designed and listed for the cable [312.5(C)]. From the 2017 NEC 312.5(C) Cables. Where cable is used, each cable shall be secured to the cabinet, cutout box. or meter … (1 comments)
chelan real estate: Sunday Morning Muse
- 10/28/18 09:00 AM
Sunday Morning MuseWenatchee Home Inspections After a good rain last night the morning brings a new day and beautiful breaking skies.
Looking south from central Wenatchee
“Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work.”
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
If you find any errors or have additional information that would expand on any code, building standards or manufacturer requirements please let me know.
NCW Home Inspections, LLC is a Licensed Washington … (5 comments)
chelan real estate: Auxiliary Grounding Bars And Neutral Terminations
- 10/23/18 01:09 PM
Auxiliary Grounding Bars And Neutral Terminations Wenatchee Home Inspections One of the most common issues we see is double lugged neutrals on the grounding/neutral bus. Often this is a very easy correction but if the bus bar is crowded often adding an auxiliary grounding bar.
Link on why you cannot land more than one neutral on a terminal. ( Can I install more than one Neutral on a Panelboard terminal?) Adding an auxiliary grounding bar is a simple and easy way to create more space. But when doing this you can only land grounding conductors on it.What you cannot do is land neutrals on … (2 comments)
chelan real estate: Monday’s Bloom
- 08/20/18 05:05 PM
Monday’s BloomWenatchee Home Inspections Some days we just need a little flower in our life.
“Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.” Hans Christian Andersen
If you find any errors or have additional information that would expand on any code, building standards or manufacturer requirements please let me know.
NCW Home Inspections, LLC is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…
In the world of home inspections we get to see a lot of interesting, strange and odd things. I also am amazed at what some can do. I wonder what were they thinking?
So in the annals of weird…. the Flip Flopped.
Here we have a bedroom door that had come off the hinges. When whomever reinstalled the door actually installed the door upside down. Now I get it, you make a mistake, but to just leave it that way?
There are documented issues with Federal Pacific Panel (FPE) and the associated issues with their breakers and how the the Stab-Lok breaker attaches to the buss. The other infamous panel is the Zinsco (which I have written on before).
(Zinsco split bus mains)
I see a few Zinsco Panels each year, about two to three times as many as FPE’s. Yet I physically see more issues with the Zinsco panels even though I see fewer of them overall than the other major panel manufacturers such as Cutler Hammer or Square … (11 comments)
“I have a sad story to tell you, It may hurt your feelings a bit Last night when I walked into my bathroom, I stepped in a pile of … Shaving cream, be nice and clean. Shave everyday and you'll always look keen.”
Now seriously when it comes to bathroom receptacles we have certain rules in play. But for many you may not know that some of those rules are much newer than you thought.
Buying a home is a taxing proposition for most people. You have done all you financial stuff and found out what you can afford then the search begins for the new home.
You now found a home you are interested in and you need a home inspection. Home inspections are not required but they should be a high priority.
So how do you find a Home Inspector in Wenatchee?
Well for most they get a list or direct referral from the Realtor. I would advise against … (2 comments)
First lets start off with a definition- Traverse (verb)- To travel across or through.
Okay that is simple enough. Next is a question. Is your home inspector doing a home inspection or looking for and excuse to not inspect something or some area? Is that who you want to hire?
I am hearing all too often about inspectors who are not entering and traversing crawlspaces or attics when they can. Even for me, at times, I have not been able to fully enter or traverse a crawlspace or attic. … (20 comments)
chelan real estate: Panel Discussion -Chelan and Wenatchee Real Estate Home Inspections
- 08/16/11 12:53 PM
Panel Discussion -Chelan and Wenatchee Real Estate Home Inspections When performing a home inspection one of the most important components a home inspector will evaluate is the electrical panel. This is the heart and soul of the electrical system in your home. There are two very important items each panel should have. One-The panel should have proper clearances to access the panel in case of an emergency or for servicing. All electrical panels should have clearances of 3 foot in front, 6 1/2 feet for height and 30 inches wide of work area. Evaluate your panel and move things appropriately … (9 comments)
chelan real estate: Chelan and Wenatchee Real Estate Home Inspections- It’s Alarming.
- 08/15/11 05:03 AM
Chelan and Wenatchee Real Estate Home Inspections- It’s Alarming. One of the best safety devices you can have in your home is a smoke detector. Not having smoke detectors that are functioning and in all the proper locations is a life safety issue.
It is very important to understand that these devices should not be kept in service for more than ten years from the date of manufacture. The NFPA (National Fire Protection Agency) states: Replacement of Smoke Alarms in One- and Two Family Dwellings. Unless otherwise recommended by the manufacturer's published instructions, single- and multiple-stations smoke alarms … (2 comments)
chelan real estate: Chelan and Wenatchee Real Estate Home Inspections- Wenatchee Heights
- 08/14/11 04:37 AM
Chelan and Wenatchee Real Estate Home Inspections- Wenatchee Heights We have come to another proverbial time in one’s family’s life. My son is 15 and has his divers permit, so now I am out on the road with him guiding him on how to handle this 1-1/2 ton metal missile (and not kill anyone). So yesterdays drive entailed going up to an area just south of Wenatchee, called Wenatchee Heights. It’s an area of very nice homes, orchards, forests and trails looking back towards the Wenatchee valley and the Cascades to the west. We decided to combine this drive … (4 comments)
1. A low dam built across a river to raise the level of water upstream or regulate its flow
2. An enclosure of stakes set in a stream as a trap for fish
Origins: Old English- Wer, from Norse –Ver meaning “Fishing Place”
In plumbing terms- Weir- · The interior projection of the outlet side of a P-trap to aid in maintaining the water seal in the trap. As a home inspector we have to be versed in many aspects of the building … (10 comments)
The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not.- Mark Twain
When performing home inspection on homes from the 50’s or earlier it is very common to find galvanized steel used for the water supply, waste lines and vent lines. Galvanized steel piping was used almost exclusively prior to 1950. The life expectancy, depending on several conditions, is typically forty to sixty years. So when I see this style of plumbing … (4 comments)
Wenatchee Home Inspector
;)
;)
;)
