The premier source for home inspection news and information. Whether you're a homebuyer or a licensed home inspector, you'll find valuable insight on the world of home inspection training and competency on this blog.
There are very few people that dislike a fireplace. In the "olden" days, a fireplace provided dinner, warmth and a spot for the family to gather. And even today, with more computers and televisions in the house than people, fireplaces still command a special place in our hearts. For certified home inspectors, this means they better know their way around the hearth.
A home inspection training course will teach you many things about inspecting the fireplace, but the first item on any checklist is the damper. Make sure it opens and closes effectively. You then want to inspect the hearth extension to see if it's large enough to collect embers that may pop from the fire.
A certified home inspector's report will also note any creosote buildup in the firebox, visible smoke, as well as the integrity of the lintel (the stone/brick beam perched across the top of the fireplace). According to the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors, a licensed home inspector isn't required, however, to:
- examine the flue or vent system
- inspect the interior of chimneys, fire doors, screens, seals or gaskets
- determine the need for a chimney sweep
- move fireplace inserts, stoves or firebox contents
It's also important to keep in mind that you may even encounter a wood burning stove occupying the fireplace. A wood stove is an important heating source for many homes in rural areas, but keep in mind that many of them are installed by owners who have no house inspector training. Make sure the clearance between the stove and surrounding materials is regulation.
In the end, no matter how cozy it is by the fireplace, you've got to move onto the other parts of the house. A home inspection career will train you to be at ease inspecting each part of the house, from the basement all the way up to the roof.
Unless you establish your home inspection career in the Brazilian rain forest, odds are you'll inspect a variety of heating systems over your career. This week we'll take a look at forced air heating systems, which by far are one of the most popular forms of central heating in America.
Forced hot air is a loop system, where cool air is drawn down to the basement through a system of ductwork. There, it is taken into a furnace (operating on fuels like oil, electricity, or gas) and then heated over hot coils. This heated air is then recirculated through the house, until the desired air temperature is established in each room. Don't worry if this is all new: becoming a home inspector means that you'll study about forced hot air in your home inspection training course.
A certified home inspector's first task is to identify the furnace fuel. A few possibilities were mentioned above, although wood and coal are also common. After that, it's important to begin with the basics: turn the thermostat down and see if the furnace clicks on. Once it's on, check the furnace's flame (blue is ideal, beware of yellow) and then listen carefully for the hum of a smooth fan sound. A comprehensive home inspection job will also include a review of ducts, to make sure they are properly attached.
Other important areas to inspect are:
- exterior of the furnace cabinet (look for rust spots)
- filter
- vent pipe
- damper doors
- age of the unit
- limit controls
As with inspecting any other part of the house, a certified home inspector shouldn't abandon common sense as he goes through his checklist. When it comes to dealing with fuels, your sense of smell will often identify potential hazards. If you smell gas, for example, you may have to deviate from your normal inspection routine, and investigate the issue further. As with any type of heating system, you're dealing with a complex set of operations, so there is no substitute for hitting the books and getting to know the details; this is when you fall back on instruction from your home inspection course.
The best way, therefore, to get the job done is to rely on your home inspection training, head down into the cool of the basement and discover that a career in home inspection teaches you how to take the heat.
A certified Home Inspector will tell you there's a lot to consider when inspecting a basement, but he'll also stress that the number one priority is water damage. It's estimated that up to 95% of basements will experience water penetration at one time or another. So, if you want to become a home inspector, then you better develop a keen eye for signs of moisture.
Basements come finished and unfinished, and in addition to serving as personal storage areas, they commonly house HVAC systems, electrical panels, and plumbing controls. The most pressing issue for licensed Home Inspectors is standing pools of water, but usually the problem is more subtle, involving water stains on the walls or floors. Yet this must be distinguished from normal stains, scruffs and other marks, as well as the normal damp odor that affects most cellars during the humid months of the summer.
Most people fear that water stains indicate structural problems. It's important to understand that cracks appear in most foundation walls and do not necessarily point to a cracked foundation. A licensed Home Inspector is someone who can make a call on this kind of issue. Another concern with water stains is that they point to a potential problem with mildew or mold, which for people with allergies can lead to serious health problems.
A home inspection job also includes a check of the floor joists. Any sagging, termite damage or visible mold on these wood joists will reveal a wealth of information about the house. Some basements contain a submersible pump (sub pump), which must be in good working order. It also goes without saying that support columns must be inspected carefully; it's important to see if any of the columns have been replaced. If there are any sinks, faucets or drains in the cellar, home inspection training will help the inspector evaluate them just as he would plumbing fixtures in the kitchen or bathroom.
Certified Home Inspectors don't inspect homes during heavy rain storms, so you'll have to rely on your Home Inspector training to detect the clues that might point to a moisture problem. In the end, a career in home inspection will present many challenges and areas for growth, but don't be surprised if you sometimes find yourself doing a Sherlock Holmes routine as you inspect water stains in the basement.
It has little curb appeal. Your average do-it-yourselfer wouldn't dream of taking it on. And the only time a homeowner gives it a thought, is when it fails. So, what overlooked part of the house are we talking about? Namely, the roof, which is arguably the most important structural element of a house, and therefore something every Home Inspector must know cold.
Although Home Inspectors aren't required to physically get on the roof during their circuit, there's no substitute for an up close visual inspection. In place of walking the roof, Inspectors should at least place a ladder up to the eaves. Most Home Inspectors own both a folding and an extension ladder to get this bird's eye view.
Once an inspector has a good visual, his first order of business is to look for water damage. A leak-prone roof is public enemy number one. Walking on the roof is a good way to find soft spots, which may indicate moisture in the sub-decking and damage to the wood beneath the shingles. A common source of leaks is poorly installed flashing, which is the material (usually metal) that connects the roof to other elements of the house, such as the chimney or a skylight. Flashing is often described as the last line of defense against leaks.
Gutters and downspouts are inspected within the scope of the roof. If they're clogged, or poorly installed, they fail to move water away from the house, and may even result in a flooded basement. A Home Inspector also considers the proximity of nearby trees, whose branches may be littering the roof and gutters with unwanted debris.
An Inspector will encounter several types of roofing materials in the course of his work and he must be familiar with the characteristics and lifespan of each one. By far, the most common roofing material in the U.S. is asphalt shingles. It is made primarily from petroleum and has a life expectancy of between 15 to 30 years, depending on local environmental factors and the slope of the roof.
So, when it comes to inspecting a house, a professional should get up on that ladder, walk the roof shingles and never be afraid of heights.
