Home Inspection Articles | House Inspection News

Home buyers like you may be surprised to know that the examination of furnace heat exchangers is not included in a regular house inspection.

You may also be frustrated to know that the reason for the exclusion is the prevalence of frivolous suits in the country. The house inspection industry has chosen to protect house inspectors from being burdened with costly lawsuits that could jeopardize their profession.

House inspection leaders argue that typically heat exchangers are inaccessible during regular home inspection and that these devices can only be examined if the furnace is dismantled.

This is why standard home inspection checklists and contracts specifically point out that heat exchangers are not included in standard house inspection procedures.

This is also the reason many house inspectors no longer take time in examining a furnace’s burner chambers even if they can.

Home inspectors who are more committed to their profession and who care for their clients take time in seeing signs of defects in the heat exchangers even if they cannot fully access them. According to many house inspectors, fissures or cracks in the visible portions of the firebox can be seen if the inspector uses a flashlight to take a look into the burner opening.

Other visible indicators of defects such as black soot, rust flakes and incorrect flame patterns can be seen if house inspectors care enough.

The case of a homeowner whose heater failed just six months after moving in illustrates one kind of failed home inspection. The house is only four years old and the home buyer has just moved in, but he is already required to spend over $1,000 to repair the heater.

According to the homebuyer, the heating contractor was able to show him a fissure in the exchanger without dismantling the whole heating system. The homebuyer argued that the house inspector could have easily seen the crack if he only exercised a higher level of professionalism and care towards the buyer during the house inspection.

For similar cases of failed inspection, the homebuyer is advised to talk with the home inspector involved and negotiate an acceptable solution. The home inspector should be asked to reinspect the furnace so that he can see that the fissure is visible and should have noted the crack during the house inspection. If the house inspector does not accept any responsibility, the homebuyer can report the problem to a mediator or arbitrator.

Home Inspection

Foreclosure homes provide price opportunities for buyers, but they can also become pits that swallow buyers’ savings if they are purchased without professional house inspection.

House inspection would show defects undetected by the prospective home buyer and would help determine if the asking price is reasonable.

Bill Richardson, president of the 6,000-member 80-chapter American Society of Home Inspectors, said that a lot of defects discovered during house inspection were caused by neglect and lack of maintenance. Many inspectors are seeing leaking faucets, air conditioners and furnaces without filters and damaged windows and doors.

Kathleen Kuhn, head of the New Jersey-based 380-affiliate franchise organization HeadMaster, said most inspectors doing home inspections on foreclosed homes see many defects due to neglect and vandalism. Kuhn said that some homeowners forced out of houses vent their anger on walls and other parts of the house.

Foreclosed houses that have become vacant for so long have also been seen with molds during house inspection. Molds can be removed with proper cleaning and ventilation, but it will take time, including money to buy strong cleaning solutions and to hire cleaning personnel.

Richardson also added that many house inspection processes conducted in foreclosure homes resulted in findings of leaking valves, defective appliances, damaged gaskets, broken hoses and missing plumbing fixtures.

Kuhn said defects in plumbing can cause floods that would damage many parts of the house and wipe out the homeowners’ savings due to expensive repairs.

Meanwhile, Richardson added that when a sewer trap dries out, it could permit methane gas to enter the house.

Both Richardson and Kuhn also described foreclosed house damages caused by thieves and vandals. Inspectors also come to know during home inspection that many foreclosure properties with a lot of damages were owned by lenders that did not carry out foreclosure proceedings with compassion.

So if you are investing your money in foreclosure properties either for your own use or for investment purposes, hire a professional house inspector to conduct a home inspection.

The fees you are going to spend for house inspection will be returned to you in the form of peace of mind and the assurance that the lower price you paid for the foreclosure property will not double because of expensive repairs.

House inspection will also help you calculate repair costs so you will know how much discount or what repairs you are going to negotiate with the seller.

Home Inspection

Whatever your reasons for obtaining a home inspection, there are several things that you need to check and do to pass the home inspection.

If you are obtaining a home inspection for loan refinancing, home equity loan or for listing because you are selling your house, you need to do the following so that your house will surely pass the home inspection.

Among the things that you need to check is your plumbing system. Check for leaks around your pipes and your faucets and the connectors that supply water to your dish washer and washing machine. House inspectors say many houses fail inspection because of water leaks.

If you house is built in the 1970s and 1980s, see to it that the pipes used are standard. There are types of pipes that will not pass home inspections.

Another system to check is your electrical system. See to it that your electrical outlets work and that the connectors are not loose.

Check your circuit breaker. See to it that the breaker boxes are wired properly. Faulty wiring and wrong size of boxes are among the leading causes of fires in homes.

Your heating systems should also be checked and fixed by a professional experienced in heating and ventilation systems. Annual checking of heating systems will ensure that the burners are replaced and that leaks are fixed. Filters should be replaced periodically to ensure the proper flow of heat through the house.

Periodic maintenance of heating systems also ensures that carbon monoxide leaks will not occur. Gas leaking is always given attention by the inspector during home inspection.

Ensure also that your insulation in the attic is not causing higher energy costs. Check that shingles are correctly installed and secured. Improperly installed shingles cause water leaks during the rainy season and will start damaging the house. Repairs on structures are among the most costly home projects.

Another important house system is your drainage system. See to it that your gutters properly drain so that water will not accumulate near the foundations of the house.

Drainage problems also cause mold, which has become a big problem in many houses. During the home inspection, the inspector will check if your drainage system directs water to where they should be going. Clean your gutters regularly.

If you have checked your major systems and have fixed and replaced defective parts, surely you will pass your home inspection easily.

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