This week I have put together a list of the five most common discrepancies found during a home inspection. I’m pretty sure everyone is as excited to know this as I am! This is by no means a scientific study with years of data. This is a simple compilation of facts from summary reports written by me, covering discrepancies found during inspections performed in the past year.
My top five list is as follows:
- Dirty furnace that hasn’t been properly serviced.
- Carbon Monoxide detectors.
- GFCI outlets non-functional or not installed.
- Overgrown or improper landscaping.
- Improper installation of water heater.
It is recommended by most manufacturers to clean and service furnaces and central AC units annually. A dirty, un-serviced furnace can be the cause of inefficiency, premature failure or even a fire.
Carbon Monoxide detectors save lives! Illinois passed a law in 2007 that states there must be a CO detector within 15 feet of any sleeping area. It is hard to believe there are so many homes without proper protection.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI’s) are required for all outlets servicing bathrooms, garages, unfinished basements & crawl spaces, any kitchen counter top (including island outlets), and most outdoor receptacles.
Trees or shrubs touching the roof or siding pose several problems. There may be damage to the roofing material or siding caused by branches blowing in the wind. There is also a direct path for animals and other pests to gain access to the roof and possibly find (or make) a way into your home.
A water heater that is improperly installed is like a ticking time bomb. Water heaters fail all the time. With the proper installation of a TPR valve and the required piping, the damage and threat of personal injury is greatly reduced.
These are the top five most common items I have found during Home Inspections I performed in the past year. If you think you may have similar issues in your home or if you are unsure, call today for a no obligation quote for a Maintenance Inspection.
Thanks for reading!
David Novalinski
About Your Home Inspection, Inc.
847 669 9040
Many of us tend to use our garage for more than just parking our cars. For many it is a storage place for equipment, chemicals, gasoline, toys, tools, and even some meaningless junk. We also use it as a place to work if we need a lot of space or if we are working on the car. I know that I use my garage often. The only problem with the space is the air is not conditioned. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter!
There are many options for resolving the issue. There are portable air conditioners, ceiling fans, portable fans or even installing central air to cool the garage. Similar options are available for you to consider when it’s cold, such as portable heaters, space heaters and installing a furnace. These are all great ways to accomplish the goal. My advice would be to research them all, choose the option that best suits your needs, and make sure which ever choice you make, it is installed and used properly and safely.
This is not an acceptable way to heat the garage......
Some homeowners choose to add a heat register from their existing home heating system. This is not a recommended way to heat and cool your garage. As a matter of fact it is not allowed in any of the uniform code books and is very dangerous. But it sounds like an easy, viable option, right?
Think about what happens when you add a heat vent in the garage. There is now a direct link between the garage and the house. There is now an open invitation for Carbon Monoxide to enter your home. Think about what you store in your garage. Why do you store it there? Usually it’s because you don’t want it in your house. By tapping into your heating system to heat the garage, it would be the same as storing that gasoline for the lawn mower in your living room.
I have seen this done on a number of homes I have inspected. Sometimes the perspective buyers are excited that the garage is heated. That is until I give them my perspective. I can usually see the light go on within a few seconds. I hope yours went on too!
If you have any questions about your home or its safety, please call me as soon as possible. Safety is a huge concern when I inspect your home.
Thanks for reading.
David Novalinski
About Your Home Inspection, Inc.
847 669 9040
I have been noticing a trend developing in homes with attached garages. A lot of home owners have opted to install a screen door between the garage and the house. Those who have installed them swear by them. They seem to be in agreement that opening the garage doors and allowing the air to pass through their home is refreshing. It allows a cross breeze that may not otherwise be attained. Their reasoning is pretty good and has even made me question my stance against this practice. I will present the facts and let you decide if a screen door between your garage and your house is a good idea or not.
First of all, what type of door is recommended for use between the garage and the living space in a house? The International Residential Code (IRC) requires either a solid wood door with a minimum thickness of 1 3/8” or a fire rated door able to withstand fire penetration for 20 minutes. The Uniform Building Code (UBC) uses the same standards but also requires doors between garages and living space be self closing and self latching.
Screen door not recommended!
So what is the big deal? Does it really matter? Think about this, your garage, along with your kitchen, is one of the two most likely places for a house fire to begin. Most garages have flammable and potentially dangerous materials in it which could cause a fire at any time. No matter how much you spend on a screen door, it won’t slow down a spreading fire.
The other main reason to have a solid door between your garage and your house is Carbon Monoxide (CO). CO is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is known to cause death. One of the most common areas to find CO is in the garage. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to breathe any more CO than I have to.
After re-evaluating the facts, my stance against installing screen doors between a garage and living space is still the same. In my opinion the amount of “fresh” air you get flowing through the house isn’t worth the risk involved. Do you think it is worth it? Either way, I don’t recommend installing that screen door.
If you have questions or comments, feel free to post them here or call our office.
David Novalinski Sr.
About Your Home Inspection, Inc.
847 669 9040
Carbon Monoxide – What is it and why is it such a concern? According to Wikipedia, Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas, which is highly toxic to humans and animals. It consists of one carbon atom and one oxygen atom, connected by a covalent double bond and a dative covalent bond. I don’t know about you, but they lost me in that second part.
What’s important to know is that CO is colorless, odorless, tasteless and highly toxic to humans and animals. But where does it come from? CO is produced by the incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels. Carbon-based fuels are natural gas, gasoline, propane and burning wood. Some of the most common sources of CO are automobile exhaust, appliances such as furnaces, dryers & ovens and many natural & synthetic products like cigarette smoke.
A properly used and maintained fuel burning appliance normally will not produce a hazardous amount of CO. The CO becomes an issue when there is incomplete burning of the fuel. Any gas burning appliance that is not working efficiently will produce higher levels of Carbon Monoxide.
A CO / smoke detector can save your live!
Because you can’t see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill you before you are even aware of its presence. Lower levels of exposure to CO causes mild effects that are commonly mistaken for the flu. These symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. The effects can vary greatly from person to person depending on age, overall health and the concentration and length of exposure.
The best form of insurance in your home is a properly installed, operational CO detector. In some states, including Illinois, laws have been passed requiring CO detectors in homes. The law in Illinois mandates that every dwelling unit be equipped with at least one CO detector within 15 ft of every room used for sleeping purposes. Click on this link read more about the Illinois CO law.
This law has been in effect since January 1st, 2007. Why are most homes still not protected? Is yours?
David Novalinski
About Your Home Inspection, Inc.
847 669 9040
