The Most Common Inspection Issues
Whether you’re buying a home or just want an inspector to identify potential problems before they get worse and more expensive to repair, here are some of the most common issues that homeowners face according to Repair Pricer, a home repair estimating resource that conducted a study in 50,000 homes across the country.
The survey found that almost 55% of homes had doors that needed adjusting. While this may not seem particularly alarming, it could signal expensive to repair foundation issues. About half of homes lacked proper ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection. The GFCI acts as a circuit breaker which shuts off electric power when it senses an imbalance between the outgoing and incoming current. A circuit breaker protects the house’s wires and receptacles from overheating, and possible fire.
Some of the other most common problem areas Repair Pricer found included faucets which needed servicing, exterior caulking and sealing that are missing, outlets with deficiencies, missing smoke alarms, cosmetic sheetrock cracks, and service panel deficiencies.
In this vein, HGTV.com asked a few prominent home inspectors what they thought were the major issues a homebuyer should look for when evaluating a purchase.
Rick Yerger states that water damage is the number one enemy because it can be the most expensive to fix. It can cause foundation problems, rot, and mold. Some indications of water damage include windows that are sloping, doors with uneven gaps at the top when the door is closed, and uneven floors. Also, as homes age, the roof can begin to allow water intrusion which can lead to a costly roof replacement. Prospective buyers should be sure that the roof is carefully checked by the inspector.
Another danger area is exposed electrical wires. Any exposed wire is susceptible to becoming damaged and can lead to many dangers, including electric shock and fire.
Austin Chase focuses on the year the house was built to provide clues to potential problems. He warns that homes built between 1900 and 1950 can have knob and tube wiring consisting of fuses and fuse boxes which are outdated and inadequate to cover today’s loads.
Homes built between 1942 and 1958 often have Orangeburg sewer piping (named for the town it was manufactured in in upstate New York), was a sewer line made from compressed wood and papier mache that connected the house to the main sewer line. It was used because the military needed all the iron products available during WWII. Mr. Chase says firmly that, “If the home you are considering buying has this type of piping that has not yet failed, it will.” A video sewer inspection is paramount, says Mr. Chase.
Some homes built between 1984 and 1990 contained defective ABS piping made from recycled plastic. The pipe tends to crack. This is extremely costly to replace.
Some homes built between 1990 and 2000 have NOX rod consolidated furnaces that can crack and leak carbon monoxide into the home and potentially cause fires. These furnaces have been recalled, but it is sure worth checking, nevertheless.