Common Problems Found by Home Inspectors

Real Estate Articles, Selling Real Estate, Buying Real Estate

Common Problems found by Home Inspectors

Here are some common problems found by home inspectors in California. The list will change from area to area, but the most common things will remain constant. This list should help you get your home ready for the Inspector. These are some of the most common problems Home Inspectors find. Check them out before the Inspector comes and fix what you can, as thoroughly as you can.

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Problems with the Roof

The inspector goes into the attice to find problems that cannot be seen from inside the living area of your home. The worst trouble spots are areas around flashing -- vent pipes, skylights and chimneys. The calking or black mastic used to seal these areas deteriorates, or dries out.

Check the Strapping around Water Heaters

When a home is sold, the water heater must be strapped to prevent it from falling down in an earthquake and starting a fire. The strapping technique has been recently changed, so even people who think their water heater is strapped correctly may have to do it over to comply with the current code.

Drainage Problems

Standing water near the home can cause problems, especially if there is wood close to the ground. Having the ground level slope away from the home usually takes care of this.

Another good precaution is to have rain gutters that carry the water from the roof away from the house. I know that houses usually don't come with gutters, but a 0 or 00 investment can save you many drainage headaches.

Firewall is Breached

The wall between your garage and the rest of the house is sacred. It's intended to keep a fire in the garage from spreading into the house quickly. The door from the house to the garage is a solid core door, rather than the hollow doors used elsewhere in the house. Many people cut holes in this firewall to run cables, or cut a pet door in the solid core door. This destroys the integrity of the firewall, and will need to be repaired.

Ground Fault Interrupters that don't work

A Ground Fault Interrupter protects you from an electrical shock in case the ground wire is broken. These circuits are required wherever there is water, such as in kitchens, baths, garages, and outdoors. Many older homes don't have these GFI outlets and they will need to be added. More recently constructed homes have them, but after a few years they may stick and stop working. You should test yours periodically by pushing the test button on the GFI outlet. If it kills the circuit, it's working properly - push the reset button to turn the circuit back on.

Self Closing Door from Garage

The door from the garage to the house needs to have self-closing hinges on it to preserve the integrity of the firewall. The hinge makes sure that the door will shut and latch automatically. We'll see people wedge this door open to make it easy to get in and out of the garage, but this is a fire hazard. If a fire starts in the garage, it will spread rapidly into the house.

Inadequate or Non-Functional Smoke Detectors

Some smoke detectors just die of old age. You can keep them working by changing the batteries periodically. We change ours when we change the clocks in the spring and fall. To make sure it still works, push the test button after you've changed the battery.

Clogged Dishwasher Drains

There is a flexible hose that drains the dishwasher into the garbage disposal and then out the sink drain. Should this become clogged, water will come out of the overflow vent on top of your sink. This is your signal that the drain is clogged, and needs to be cleaned.

Loose Toilets

The wax ring that your toilet bowl rests on deteriorates over time, and causes the bowl to wobble. You might not notice it, but here's how to check it. Stand facing the bowl one leg on each side, squat down a little, and grab the bowl with the inside of your knees. Rock side to side, and if the toilet moves, it needs a new wax ring.