foist ninepence: Do Inspectors get complacent? Over time many do.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Do Inspectors get complacent? Over time many do.

When local building inspectors like construction, mechanical, plumbing and electrical inspectors are on the job many for a long time, they do get somewhat ?complacent?in their inspecting duties.

I was at a home inspection last evening and found several things not right. These are now ?issues?in my report for the buyer.

There was the builder there the owner of the company that built the home.

He told me that I was the third inspector to be at the home today.

I asked who all was there and he told me he got a final on the electrical, the building, plumbing and mechanical permits.

Lets take a look and see what was found after I was at the home.

First we look at the attic for any thing that is not ?right?.

Here we have a open junction box in the attic. Clearly a safety issue.

Open junction box in the attic.

Then we get a good look at the power venting for the home.

There is way too much obstruction for the vents. This will cause the vents to wear out faster than in normal usage. Why you ask?

Because of the extra draw on the motor caused by the blockage to the vent it's self.

Obstructed power vent.

Then we have the water heater that was not installed the correct way. Here in New Mexico there needs to be a drain pan under the water heater in case of a drain if the water heater is sitting on a wood raised platform. This one clearly is.

No drain pan under water heater.