Sometimes you just have to wonder about the internet and some of the advice given there.
Here is a prime example-Top Tips for Prospective Homebuyers.
From this article “For those who feel that home inspection Toronto is something that is best done by professionals, nothing could be further from truth. With a little bit of effort, almost anyone can do a good job of it. In fact, with the Internet to help these days, a lot of people in Canada are doing home inspection themselves.”
The plumbing vent is so simple yet so misunderstood.
The advent of the residential vent theory actually goes back to the late 1800’s in New York City. This is when indoor residential plumbing really took off for those who could afford it.
One problem that arose in those early residential plumbing systems was that the traps were losing their seals due to being siphoned and from back pressure conditions. This left that wonderful odorous aroma in some very wealthy (34 comments)
Now when it come to reduction, if it is my waistline I am all for it. But some things are not meant to be reduced.
Here we have a drain coming out and then attaching to the trap. If you look closely you will see there actually is a reducer installed.
Oh oh… this is not my waistline and since it is a drain you cannot reduce the drain line in the direction of flow. There is a good reason for this. If the flow amount exceeds the (6 comments)
Here we have another example of creativity that may just not be quite right.
During this home inspection I find a water supply piping that is just not quite right. Any piping that is used for your water supply needs to be rated and listed for that use.
( I (22 comments)
plumbing inspection: Galvanized Pipes… an end of an era.
- 03/04/13 10:29 PM
Galvanized Pipes… an end of an era. Wenatchee and Leavenworth Home Inspections Like most components in a home they have a functional lifespan. As a home inspector in many cases we will inform a client of a component that has reached its predicted lifespan. This does not mean that it will fail soon but the likelihood of failure is higher and that you should be planning for replacement. As with the case of galvanized pipe it has several issues when it reaches it predicted lifespan. Galvanized piping has a useful life of around 40 to 50 years. How long it will actually last depends on (6 comments)
plumbing inspection: When Monday never comes
- 01/16/13 10:06 PM
When Monday never comes Leavenworth Home Inspection Services Okay let’s start with a little story. It’s Friday and you are busily working on this beautiful new home. This is not your normal “Spec Home” but a nice custom home with some very nice amenities. The Jones will have a beautiful home. If you have ever been around the trades you know what Friday usually brings, it is the end of the work week. Many times the guys are ready to bail as quick as possible from the job site on Friday. So clean up starts a little earlier and they need to secure (43 comments)
plumbing inspection: Jumping Jack Flash it’s a gas!
- 12/13/12 09:55 PM
Jumping Jack Flash it’s a gas! Wenatchee and Kittitas Home Inspection ServicesWell I really do not know how many jumping jacks I am doing when I am entering an attic space during a home inspection.I find attic inspections are maybe the most restrictive areas of the home for a thorough inspection. With the premise of do no harm to the home I have to always weigh doing my best for my client versus being very careful not to damage any ceilings, wiring, ducting and insulation.This is where in older homes I usually actually can do a much better attic inspection. They (18 comments)
plumbing inspection: Pot- Legal or Not Legal… I ask the question.
- 12/07/12 10:52 PM
Pot- Legal or Not Legal… I ask the question. East Wenatchee Home Inspection ServicesWell here in Washington State we had our first day of legal pot (marijuana). It will be interesting to see where this all leads. I am not here to profess or deny this law. But I bet there will be a run on Oreo cookies.Okay what I am here to really discuss is if a home is listed with two bathrooms what defines that.The IRC defines a bathroom as a “BATHROOM GROUP”. - A group of fixtures, including or excluding a bidet, consisting of a water closet, lavatory, (15 comments)
plumbing inspection: NAPA Know How… NAPA does plumbing?
- 10/30/12 11:28 PM
NAPA Know How… NAPA does plumbing? East Wenatchee Home Inspection ServicesOkay get the jingle going, N-N-N- Napa know how… Napa know how!!!You can see the NAPA attendant behind the counter singing his jingle, making you want to run down to your local NAPA dealer and gets some auto parts.Well here we have that happy go lucky home owner that did just that. Unfortunately Mr. Homeowner does not know that this is an Auto parts store only. Not to be construed with the local box store or plumbing distributer.Here is a great example of NAPA know how (not to do it right (10 comments)
plumbing inspection: Plumbing cross connections and condensate connections
- 10/28/12 11:36 PM
Plumbing cross connections and condensate connections- Wenatchee Home InspectionsWhy we should worry as Home Inspectors , safety!So you may be asking what is a cross connection and what is the risk? A cross connection is any physical connection or arrangement between the potable water (drinking water) and any source of contamination.The real issue is a cross connection puts at risk the buildings water piping and/or municipal water supply with harmful bacteria from waste water system or contamination. This puts the homeowner and public water system at risk.Cross connection can happen at many areas that most people do not think about. The (7 comments)
plumbing inspection: Clean up on plumbing cleanouts
- 10/05/12 10:01 PM
Clean up on plumbing cleanouts- Wenatchee and Chelan Home Inspection ServicesPoor plumbers there made fun of and jokes abound about them. But they are one of the trades like an electrician that has a very extensive set of rules (codes). This is for good reason, we want the poo to go away efficiently, we do not want any leaks and we do not want to contaminate the drinking supply of water.
There is a joke that claims (7 comments)
plumbing inspection: The case of the dropsy
- 06/23/12 12:38 AM
The case of the dropsy- Chelan Home Inspection ServicesInto the dark recesses of the home… where shy creatures stir, dark and damp, and no man or woman has ventured into in recorded memory.This is where the humble home inspector must go, pushing back fear! (Okay that may be a little extreme but how about cobwebs?) Carrying the trusty hammer like a “Norse God” making every spider in 5 counties tremble and run with fright. (4 comments)
plumbing inspection: Low Water Volume… High Blood Pressure- Chelan Home Inspection Services
- 05/07/12 12:16 AM
Low Water Volume… High Blood Pressure- Chelan Home Inspection Services Nothing worse than taking a shower in the morning and someone uses the sink and you are either being scalded or getting a very rude wakeup call due to cold water and your blood pressure skyrockets. When (2 comments)
plumbing inspection: Under the Stairs- I’m trapped or not! - A Cle Elum and Quincy Home Inspection Service
- 11/21/11 04:55 AM
Under the Stairs- I’m trapped or not! - A Cle Elum and Quincy Home Inspection ServiceOne of my recent articles was about an issue under the stairs. So here is another from the deep recesses of the stair well collection.On another recent inspection I could see the basement bathtub back in the corner under the lower stair landing. So again I am crawling back to there to do my usual evaluation under stairs and now I get to perform a plumbing inspection of the basement tub drain also.Plumbing fixtures in basements can be more difficult because if they have not been properly planned (10 comments)
plumbing inspection: Wye Is this a problem?- A Wenatchee and Chelan Home Inspection Service
- 11/18/11 05:13 AM
Wye Is this a problem?- A Wenatchee and Chelan Home Inspection ServiceIs your home inspector willing to go the extra mile, or in the case the extra feet. During a recent home inspection I found a curious situation. I was in a mechanical closet that was situated under some stairs. I could see some plumbing lines behind the water heater but getting back there was going to be a bit of a chore. So off comes the tool belt I move a few items and then suck in the old gut and squeeze through.Here is what was found. Wye is this (17 comments)