Knowing

One saying I have grown fond of is;

You don’t know what you don’t know or one might conclude, ignorance is bliss.

When inspecting homes I see problems that have been created or solved depending on your point of view as an attempt to solve an initial problem. Take for example the solution to an ice damming problem caused by the record snowfall in Connecticut last winter.

While inspecting the roof of this home the first thing I saw was the “solution” to the problem. Electric roof heaters installed at the end of the roof. I also saw the consequence of the original, temporary solution to the problem. Numerous broken, cracked and missing shingles from the obviously unqualified company hired to shovel snow from the roof. I have seen similar damage on way too many roofs over the past year.

It was disclosed that the ice damming resulted in water leaking into the house. I can understand a homeowner’s desperation in wanting to stop the leaks. Unfortunately desperate people too often fall prey to less than qualified companies offering solutions to their woes. So I can understand the roofs condition.

The roof heaters I do not.

Ice dams are caused generally by several factors. This house was a poster child for everything that can cause ice damming, and yet none of these issues were addressed. The “obvious” answer was the heaters, which by the way were wired incorrectly.

The attic, the place where one should look to solve ice damming, was terribly under insulated. There were an abundance of voids in the insulation. Two huge holes were the attic stairway that didn’t fully close and the metal louvers for the whole house fan in the attic. The fan was installed in one gable with louvers that effective eliminated half the attic ventilation, another cause for the formation of ice dams. There were also many spots where the insulation had been pulled back by workmen to install wiring. The picture shows a hole created by the company who installed the roof heaters. Does anyone see the irony in that?

One more ironic twist, the house had a pellet stove to supplement the oil fired boiler. This unit would have cost in the neighborhood of $3000 to install and then you have to feed it. More $$$. On the other hand sealing the holes in the ceiling and increasing the insulation in the attic would have probably cost somewhat less and without the continued cost of maintenance.

People don’t know what they don’t know. That includes it would seem those that are supposed to be in “the know”.

 

James Quarello
Connecticut Home Inspector
Former SNEC-ASHI President
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services we offer in Connecticut click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services.

Learn more about our home energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.

Serving the Connecticut Counties of Fairfield, Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven, Southern Litchfield and Western New London.