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Burning Down the house. Direct Vent Gas fireplaces.

By
Home Inspector with NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Burning Down the house. Direct Vent Gas fireplaces. Chelan Home Inspections

 

“My house's out of the ordinary, That's might don't want to hurt nobody

Some things sure can sweep me off my feet, Burning down the house”

 

Talking Heads- “Burning down the house”



Sometimes during a home inspection you find something that you go “How long before this catches fire?”



Wood charred from heat

 

On a recent home inspection I found the direct vent from a gas fireplace had begun charring the roof overhang from the vent. Often in areas where I do home inspections snow and ice can be an issue so protecting protrusion from the home is often desired. But in this case you need to ensure you have proper clearance to combustibles.




Improper clearance to overhang



Most gas stove installations requires a minimum of 12 inches to unvented soffits or other like areas such as under decks, verandas or porches.



 

It is very important to understand that often these appliances are rarely used so even if there is no evidence like in this situation that these clearance need to be verified.

 

We do not want our clients humming to the tune of “Burning Down the House”.

 

“If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.”

Red Adair

 

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…  

 

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

 

www.ncwhomeinspections.com                                                   509-670-9572



You can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and on my website Blog.

 

Comments (8)

Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Don, is that one of those combination fireplace vent / hibachis? :)

Oct 06, 2014 11:52 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

It's definitely critical to install fireplace vents properly!  That's one thing no one should take a short cut on.

Oct 07, 2014 12:51 AM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Charlie, Yeah a Home BBQ is not a good thing here.

 

Kat, I agree. A simple mistake could have a very undesirable conclusion.

Oct 07, 2014 03:32 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

As soon as I saw your title I started singing the song!  (And you don't want to hear me sing...)

I'm not sure what's so hard to understand about heat and combustible material.

Oct 07, 2014 09:22 AM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Jay, I am with you on singing. That is why I played guitar ;)

 

Oct 07, 2014 09:25 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I understand from LinkedIn that you started teaching at Bellingham.  How fun!

May I recommend that you stand on the front table, point down at your class, and rail on them, calling the Ostragoths and Visigoths to repentance.

After that your lesson won't be remembered and you can't be held responsible.

Oct 07, 2014 07:03 PM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Jay, Awesome advice ;)

Yeah, I feel pretty honored to be asked to join the boys up in Bellingham. They needed an Eastern Washington dude to come in their and stir the pot.

 

In reality I thnk it will very good. What I see and what they see are many time quite different due to our different environments. 

Oct 07, 2014 11:32 PM
James Quarello
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT
Connecticut Home Inspector

Hard to imagine how someone thought installing that vent and overhang like that was okay. Wow!

Oct 11, 2014 10:08 PM