Common Problems Home Inspectors Find That You May Have Missed
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When you’ve done as many home inspections as the inspectors at Green Scene Home Inspections have (more than 10,000), a few common themes emerge. People tend to neglect the same kinds of things in their homes, and of course, Mother Nature affects the homes in certain areas in the same sorts of ways.
In Upon Closer Inspection, I try to present these common home inspection problems periodically so that as a homeowner, or a Realtor working with homeowners, you can be aware of issues to look out for both when you’re shopping for a home and as a homeowner.
Here are some common problems home inspectors find that might just be at your house:
Have Your Checked Your Flue Recently?
As Inspector Alex points out in this video, a damper clamp is a super handy safety device that prevents you from using your fireplace with the flue closed and breathing noxious fumes—a very real concern with gas fireplaces that don’t fill your house with smoke to let you know you’ve forgotten to open the flue. However, now you’ve got the job of remembering to disengage that damper clamp to prevent energy loss through the fireplace. Sigh. Now that we’re into the warm weather, go ahead and check your flue and save some $$, just in case.
Have You Checked Your Dryer Vent Lately?
If most of the houses we inspect are any indication, the answer is likely NO. Many people get the lint out of the vent on the inside of the dryer, but forget about the vent on the outside of the dryer. Most of the repair calls on dryers are because of clogged dryer vents. Keeping these clean maximizes the efficiency of your dryer and prolongs its life, and a clogged vent can actually be a fire hazard.
Flubbed DIY Projects
You know who you are! “I’m not paying to have that installed when I can do it myself!” OK, but find out how to do it properly so you don’t burn your house down, or ruin that very expensive equipment you just purchased (that you’ve nullified the warranty on my installing it improperly). I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, don’t DIY electrical.
For more common problems home inspectors find, go here. And when you’re buying or selling a home, remember that knowledge is power: get a home inspection to learn all you can about the property so there will be no surprises.
