bellingham wa home inspector: Zinsco Panels (King of the House) Bellingham Home Inspector - 03/02/14 12:27 AM
For some reason, lately, I have been seeing a number of recalled and outdated electric panels. The timing of this is rather strange, it is not like these old Zinsco-Sylvania panels are a fad, since they are all about 40 years of age. I guess it is just the luck of the draw as to the houses I have been inspecting lately.

When the inspector sees those distinctive multi-colored breakers and that blue and black label, he or she knows that the panel is Zinsco. My comments to the client are below and they describe the dangers associated with these panels.
(11 comments)

bellingham wa home inspector: Home Inspection: Where the Uncommon is Common - 02/22/14 12:19 AM
Anyone who says that a home inspector sees the same old things over and over again, is either not familiar with the territory of home inspection or he or she is ill informed. Sure, most of what we see is repetitive with varying degrees of good or bad going on.
But there are so many different systems and devices, and many harebrained repairs, that sometimes the unusual becomes apparent. I think I have seen maybe two systems like the one I am writing about here -- Apollo Hydro Heat. At first glace, the unit looks like a furnace. But, in fact, it utilizes hot … (4 comments)

bellingham wa home inspector: Washington State Home Inspector Training at Bellingham Technical College - 11/14/13 09:06 AM
Bellingham Technical College has announced that the next home inspector pre-licensing course will begin on February 3, 2014. The 120-hour portion of the class will run until February 23. And the 40 hours of field training will take place between February 25 and March 1, 2014. All classes are held in Bellingham on the BTC campus.
When home inspector licensing began in the state, several years ago now, Bellingham Technical College was the first accredited school in Washington.  Instructors include Rick Pen, Curtis Brown and myself, Steven L. Smith, from Bellingham. The other instructor is Charles Buell of Shoreline.
Students who train … (0 comments)

bellingham wa home inspector: Government Trusts in Thee (to do the right thing) - 08/25/13 08:06 AM
In the course of a home inspection in Whatcom County, I ran into an unusual situation. The home was about 30 years of age, so trying to decipher the series of events that took place, from that many years ago, is pretty much impossible to do. But, based on the state inspector's notes inside the remote distribution or sub-panel, I have a hunch as to what took place.
I think the state code inspector approved the electrical panel and wiring subject to corrections: (1) properly wiring the sub-panel (2) installing GFCI receptacles.

As you might anticipate, this was not … (5 comments)

bellingham wa home inspector: Frost-free Yard Hydrants - 07/07/13 03:02 PM
Most "modern" faucets, that I see attached to the exterior of the home in Bellingham and Whatcom County, will be frost-free hose bibbs with backflow prevention devices -- to keep gray water out of the potable water system.
However, frequently even at new homes, out at the garden or at perimeter locations, I will see a simple faucet mounted on a piece of pipe (anything from PVC plastic pipe to copper or galvanized steel) sticking out of the ground. Most of the time these faucets are not frost-free and, even if they were, the associated pipe would not be. Unsupported plastic … (18 comments)

bellingham wa home inspector: Down Mexico Way -- Huatulco - 01/21/13 02:23 AM
My wife and I are just passed the half way point in our two week Mexico vacation. We spent the first week in Oaxaca City, a favorite place of ours. But we, also, enjoy going to the beach and viewing the ocean. Therefore, we always end up in Huatulco on the Pacific Ocean. This is an area of multiple beaches and guaranteed hot weather. The days are in the high 80's, so warm but not overwhelming.
Yesterday we went snorkeling, with mixed results and satisfaction, but we did see lots of very colorful and, to us, unusual fish. Cab rides are … (8 comments)

bellingham wa home inspector: 1957, What a Year - 01/06/13 11:40 PM
In the history of recorded music, songs do not get much bigger than this one. The impact of this song,  how it and the artist who performed it influenced music for the next 50 years and beyond, is quite amazing. It was a real trend setter.
For seven weeks, in the fall and winter of 1957, this tune was #1 from downtown Manhattan to Alcatraz Island. The smash hit was blasting out of AM car radios and, internationally, the artist had the first song to ever debut at #1 on the British charts. Ike was the President, back in the days … (14 comments)

bellingham wa home inspector: Double Whammy -- Carpeting on Outdoor Wood - 01/01/13 12:43 AM
Working as a home inspector in Bellingham, WA, the heart of the Pacific NorthWET, I see many circumstances that are conducive to decay and deterioration of the building materials.
This example, below, is commonly seen. A homeowner has tacked indoor-outdoor carpet over the wood deck. Some of the surface, of lesser concern, is covered with an overhang above. But there is a significant expanse that is not covered.  These carpets absorb moisture and retain it against, and in, the surface of the lumber below.

A combination of wet wood and carpet over the wood is a double whammy. With the … (19 comments)

bellingham wa home inspector: Bigger Than The Beatles, Super Group 1965 - 12/27/12 05:10 AM
When a person thinks of the early British Invasion bands, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones would, at this time, be the best known of those pioneers from the U.K. That was not always the case, several bands were nipping at the Beatles' heels in those early years.

In December 1965, it looked like another British super group might surpass the Beatles as hit-makers. In fact, back home in the U.K. this band did rival the Beatles in the year 1964. As a kid in Bellingham, I remember watching TV news reports when the Beatles and this other group (subject of … (9 comments)

bellingham wa home inspector: Homeland Insecurity By Pet - 12/26/12 08:11 AM
In the Pacific Northwest, everywhere I suspect, we all like our pets. Some of our pets are larger than others. And many of us decide that we want our pets to be able to enter and exit the house at will. When a pet is large, the size of the pet door required to provide access can be a significant security risk.  I remember at one house I inspected, when an agent locked the key inside, I was able to get back in by squeezing through the pet door. Since I weighed 200 pounds at the time, that was not a … (14 comments)

bellingham wa home inspector: Safety Is Not Age Dependent -- High Decks - 12/24/12 07:23 AM
It does not really matter when a house was built and what codes, if any, applied at the time of construction: An unsafe guardrail is just as unsafe at a 100 year old home as it is at a new house.
As a home inspector in Bellingham, WA, I point out that codes are not retroactive but I, also, inform buyers of critical safety issues.
This is a guardrail, high upper deck at a two-story residence, and "part" of the rail is of sufficient height -- 36" over the surface of the deck. However, at another section of the same … (4 comments)

bellingham wa home inspector: Remembering Ed Sullivan - 12/23/12 12:50 AM
Nearly five years ago, I wrote a historical piece here at Active Rain that received many comments. The topic was Ed Sullivan, a showbiz phenomenon of my generation.  In looking at that post the other day, I saw that some of the links were broken and the formatting has a problem that I was unable to easily correct. Therefore, I have revised and rewritten the story, with some updated information and videos, below.
In the midyears of the past century, one of the biggest names in show business was Ed Sullivan. His show was broadcast from coast to coast across the … (10 comments)

bellingham wa home inspector: Flashing the Deck or Landing - 12/22/12 04:30 AM
Time and time again, working here in Bellingham as a home inspector, I find improperly installed or, more often than not, decks installed without proper flashings at the wall.  The problem is simple enough, where that horizontal landing attaches to the house, moisture collects thanks to our "liquid sunshine" here in the Pacific Northwest. So, given a few years, it is just a matter of time until rot forms at that transition point and, often, the rot will spread back into the wall.
Here is a photo of a deck that is of particular concern.

This is a traditional stucco … (10 comments)

bellingham wa home inspector: Aged Metal Plumbing Pipes, Bellingham WA Home Inspections - 12/18/12 10:55 PM
In the course of performing home inspections at older homes, along with knob and tube wiring, one of the most common issues that I find involves aged metal plumbing pipes. The old pipes commonly found in the Bellingham area and Whatcom County include cast iron, galvanized steel (drain and supply pipes) and even lead pipe at toilet drains.
Some clients wonder why the old pipes would even be considered a problem. The answer to that, based on when the materials were commonly installed, is that most old metal pipes are at, or beyond, estimated design life of 50 or so years. … (4 comments)

bellingham wa home inspector: The Home Inspector Does Not Pass or Fail Houses - 12/16/12 05:57 AM
 There is a misconception, among many people (including buyers and sellers), that we home inspectors "pass" or "fail" houses. That is not the case. Inspectors do not give letter grades A through F at any house.  

On the other hand, the home inspector will report the conditions that are present and visible.  For example, there are obvious problems at this building. A good inspector will describe those deficiencies in detail but he or she will not give the house a letter grade. 
The inspector's job is to provide pertinent information on the condition of the home.  It is the job of the client … (4 comments)

bellingham wa home inspector: Green Building, By Default -- King of the House, Bellingham Home Inspector - 03/25/12 02:09 AM
Green building is a buzz word in our society today. I hear many agents and builders discussing green building and I run into clients who wish they were buying a green building.
Despite there being considerable controversy over the whole topic of green building and just how environmentally beneficial it is anyway, there is a type of green building that involves no controversy at all. We see this one frequently in the northwest and we can all agree that it is not a green condition that you want to have going on at your own house.

That is a gutter … (5 comments)

bellingham wa home inspector: Bellingham Home Inspector (King of the House) Perimeter Slope - 01/21/12 04:07 AM
 One issue, often found to be present during the course of a home inspection, is perimeter pavement or soil that slopes toward the home. Here in the northwest, more often than not, houses have crawl spaces and not basements. I have even seen soil or pavement slope directly toward a crawl space vent. Below is a shot from an inspection, this is my indicator to myself, often displayed in reports, to get the point across about the slope of the soil. 

This is, in most cases, not difficult to correct by grading soil. But, if the problem is not corrected, … (3 comments)

bellingham wa home inspector: Merry Christmas from King of the House - 12/25/11 06:35 AM
I want to wish all of my Active Rain friends -- internationally, nationally, statewide and locally -- a great Christmas. As I write this post, we have a really windy day here. I am hoping that the power does not go out. I am so glad I no longer am involved in being an engineer in radio, wind often led to power outages and real headaches. And, due to the time of the year, this often happened between Thanksgiving and New Years. That is a responsibility from my past life that I do not miss at all. Dead air meant no … (7 comments)

bellingham wa home inspector: You Can't Always Do What You Want (Bellingham Home Inspections) - 12/25/11 03:09 AM
It is my goal, at a home inspection, to try to look at all components and systems. That not only earns me repeat business from clients and agents, but it provides some insulation against potential client complaints. Logic prevails: The more you see the less important stuff you miss.
It is not possible to find everything that might be wrong at a house. Finding 100% of the problems is not achievable within the confines of a home inspection. Sometimes mother nature herself interferes. This time of year, it is not unusual for the home inspector in this region to have restricted roof access … (1 comments)

bellingham wa home inspector: Bellingham Home Inspector (King of the House) It's Cold Outside - 12/22/11 05:25 AM
Recently, as the weather has gotten colder, I did an inspection on a cold day -- at least it was cold based on our wimpy Pacific Northwest standards. It was 28 degrees F.
At first, I thought that someone had left the garage door to the outside ajar or open. On closer examination, the fit of the door was something less than ideal.

Since it was cold outside, and my little knees were knocking together, it made me think of an appropriate song for the season and the weather.
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Steven L. Smith, Bellingham WA Home Inspector (King of the House Home Inspection, Inc.)

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Bellingham, WA

More about me…

King of the House Home Inspection, Inc.

Address: 1609 East Maplewood Ave, Bellingham, WA, 98225

Office: (360) 319-0038

Mobile: (360) 319-0038

Steven L. Smith, King of the House Home Inspection, provides information for real estate buyers, sellers and real estate industry professionals. Blog posts emphasize issues commonly found in Bellingham, WA and Whatcom County. Smith is Washington State Licensed Home Inspector #207, a state licensed structural pest inspector, ASHI certified inspector #252760 and one of the most experienced inspectors in the northwest corner of the Pacific Northwest. Steven L. Smith is lead instructor of home inspection at Bellingham Technical College and teaches classes for Washington State University and the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Steve was a two-term member of the state licensing board.


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