Unexpected Home Inspection Finds That Will Surprise You

Last week, we looked at some common home inspection problems, so this week, let’s take a look at a few unexpected home inspection finds. As a rule, home inspectors learn to expect the unexpected, but sometimes they find things that, well, stand out.

Here are a few examples.

That’s What The TPR Valve Is For

We’ve written about that Temperature/Pressure Relief (TPR) Valve before — the safety device that keeps the temperature and pressure from getting too high in your water heater. Well, here’s what happens when the TPR can’t do its job. Someone had plugged the TPR valve on this water heater.

That’s Not What Caulk is For

Can’t you just see the proud face of this DIY-er after completing this job? “I fixed the leak!” No. You didn’t. It’s still leaking in there. It’ll just build up until there’s enough water to burst the caulk.

New House, Bad Form

This is a load-bearing beam in a new construction house. That has been glued and held together with wood staples. Not what we like to see in a newly constructed house.

Want more? Check out these surprising home inspection finds from the Upon Closer Inspection archives. More importantly, the best way to have no surprises when you’re buying a home is to have a thorough home inspection, and find out everything you need to know ahead of time.