Stripped of Common Sense
This service entrance cable has NO covering at all. The seller thought it was packaging material, so he took it off. All of it.
David Grudzinski
Advantage Home Inspections
Cranston, R.I.
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter
Location, Location, Location
This is a pull-down ladder in a garage. A support post was added in the middle of the garage. Careful! The first step is a doozy!
Rick A. Harrington
Patch Independent Home Inspections, LLC
Pickerington, Ohio
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter
Steam Trapped
I guess the homeowner wanted to move the radiator, but didn’t want to spend time or money relocating the pipe and had no concept of steam dynamics. This radiator must bang like the dickens. Maybe that’s why the valve was in the off position.
Lawrence Ubell
Accurate Building Inspectors
Brooklyn, N.Y.
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter
Shockingly Clean
This open shower is located within 3 feet of the main electrical panel. I suspect it gives “shockingly clean results.”
Mark C. Serban
Budget Home Inspections, LLC
Carrollton, Ohio
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter
Over Circulated
Is this “guaranteed” air circulation? This register setup, with the intake for the air return right above the heat register, was found in a home with heating issues. No surprise there.
Alvin C. Miller
Hawkeye Home Inspections, LLC
Wellman, Iowa
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter
What’s Cooking?
Sometimes, my job is just creepy. I found these skeletal remains in a main electrical panel. The first thing I thought was: “Honey, why are the lights flickering? I don’t know, but what are you cooking?”
David Gibson
Glenco Property Inspections
San Jose, Calif.
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter
Dangerous Situation
The homeowner cut an air return vent into the furnace air return duct to draw the cold air out of the furnace room, but it is less than 24 inches from the open vent hood for the gas water heater. Carbon monoxide could easily be sucked into the air return and spread through the home. The tinfoil around the vent where it entered the chimney was also ineffective at the least.
Charlie Rice
Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspections
Sykesville, Md.
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter
The Smell of Innovation
The furnace had a coffee can of potpourri sitting in it to sort of, maybe, perhaps, hide the odor. It was innovative, but did not work.
Dan Howard
Home Inspections by Dan Howard
Freeport, Pa.
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter
Got Milk (Crate)
The many uses of milk crates.
David Grudzinski
Advantage Home Inspections
Cranston, R.I.
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter
Tight Squeeze
Now, this is what I call an uncommon flue. How do you get two new vent flues from the basement to the roof? Just install them inside the old flue.
Matt Koch
House Smart
Chamblee, Ga.
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter
Bottled Water
New meaning to bottled water: baby jars hung under leaking pipes (100+-year-old house) with galvanized wire. Those old Yankees in New England never throw anything away and use everything. We won’t mention the electrical wiring, end-joist slippage or the main beam issues.
Guy Occhino
Sherman Home Inspections, Inc.
Middlebough, Mass.
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter
It’s Just the Sewer Line
This bungee cord hanger was just long enough to hold up the 3-inch sewer line.
Alvin C. Miller
Hawkeye Home Inspections, LLC
Wellman, Iowa
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter
Green Chimney
It’s always a good idea to keep your chimney well trimmed for good drafting of your boiler.
Richard Madore
Pillar to Post Home Inspection
Newington, Conn.
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter
Tricky Chimney
The chimney does not look too bad on the outside, but how about when seen from the inside?
Travis Hoverter
South Central Pa. Home Inspection Co., Inc.
Chambersburg, Pa.
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter
Hot Seat
Could not help but notice the “hot seat” next to the live power feed to the house while doing the roof inspection. The seller said he enjoyed partying on his rooftop escape. I wonder if he used the wires for his drink holder.
Mitchell Rothenberg
HomeTeam Inspection Service
Tampa, Fla.
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter
Safety Last
If you think this looks bad, you should have seen the rest of the house.
Bob Shipp
Professional Home Inspections, Inc.
Stuarts Draft, Va.
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter
Baby Steps
Here’s a set of stairs you don’t see every day. This one leads up to a loft office.
Matthew Wynne
Aberdeen Building Consulting
Brightwaters, N.Y.
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter
1.5 Times the Crazy
I think you call this 1½ layers of shingles. Apparently, they only re-shingled the worst area.
Neil Brogren
A’N’B Home Inspections
Gold Canyon, Ariz.
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter
Spark of an Idea
Someone must have told the homeowner that when he disconnected the drain line from the dishwasher, he should “plug” the opening in the disposal. So, he used a spark plug, of course.
Steve Butzer
HomeSpec Inspection Services, LLC
Scottsdale, Ariz.
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter
Call in the Snake Charmer
“To inspect dryer vent, call in a professional.” And yes, that is a live snake!
Joe and Nancy Janosz
Pro-Team Property Inspections
Wesley Chapel, Fla.
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter
Having it All
The homeowner wanted a shower in a half-bath, but didn’t want to cut the concrete slab and add the drain. Next best thing? Build the shower around the toilet.
Brodie Brown
Browntree Inspections
Marietta, Ga.
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter
A-maze-ing
I have seen many pool pump systems, but this one can make you dizzy trying to figure out which way the water is flowing. I hope the pump doesn’t have to be changed anytime soon. The only access is to remove the connected maze of pipes.
Barry M. Wong
Building Specs Hawaii, LLC
Kailua, Hawaii
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter
Physics Problem
It is physically impossible for the buyer to get through that scuttle hole.
Brandon Dyles
Picture Perfect Inspections
Bartlett, Tenn.
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter
Unsatisfactory
Among other things, the water heater exhaust pipe is supposed to slope upward toward the chimney and it must be well clear of those combustible wood studs and secured together with screws, not tape. Some people are never satisfied!
Larry Wasson
Affiliated Inspectors, Inc.
Chevy Chase, Md.
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter
Drive Right In…I Mean, Up and Over
“Babe, I think we are going to need to trade in the minivan for a 4×4.”
Max Curtis
MaxInspect
Livermore, Calif.
All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter