Home Inspection Nightmares Xxi

Alden Gibson Inspections by Gibson Breslau, Ontario All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

Shower of Sparks

Taking showers in front of an electrical panel box is not recommended. Thomas Sanson National Property Inspections Rochester, N.Y. All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

Spouting Off

What was the builder thinking ending the downspout right above the electrical panel? After 15 years, guess what the inside of this panel looked like. Scott Stegall Carolina HomePro Inspections Rock Hill, S.C. All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

Totally Tubular

This is a great use for an old bicycle inner tube…at least they’re recycling: This is a steam pipe in a 4-unit apartment building. Stuart Keeshin Keeshin Inspection Services Chicago, Ill. All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

Hammered

This shows a hammer wedged between the copper supply line and boiler feed line at the basement sub-floor to help reduce water hammer, that banging sound caused by air in the pipes. Who knew a hammer could eliminate water hammer? All these years, I thought they were only good for nailing. Eric Mills E&E Inspect Oreland, Pa. All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

Riveting Patch Job

That sheet metal should hold up the rafters at least until we get it sold! This house had an attic fire and was supposedly repaired. The whole roof will have to be rebuilt again. Alvin C. Miller Hawkeye Home Inspections, LLC Wellman, Iowa All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

Nice Doggie

The seller kindly left the dog in the back yard during the inspection, with me all alone. I was supposed to talk sweetly to it. It did not work, and I did not enter. Brandon Dyles Picture Perfect Inspections Bartlett, Tenn. All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

Shifty

Whoops! Who moved the house? Bill Camosci National Property Inspections of Central CT, Inc. Cromwell, Conn. All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

Now, That Really is a Throne

Basement toilet seat is approximately 48" above the floor. Hand rails are recommended. Steve Anderson Anderson AmeriSpec Germantown, Tenn. All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

Ribbit, Ribbit

Try as I might, I haven’t been able to find a reference for frogs in the National Electrical Code. Bryant Warren HouseMaster Inspections Broken Arrow, Okla. All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

If You Tilt Your Head, It Looks Fine

The real surprising thing about this garage was that they were still using it! Rich Madore Pillar To Post Home Inspections Newington, Conn. All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

Coming Down Short

Fine downspout, but something seems to be missing! David Grudzinski Advantage Home Inspections Cranston, R.I. All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

Cheesy

So, is the cottage cheese container holding up the shelf or is the shelf holding the cottage cheese container tight so sewer gas does not escape? Or is it both? Dan Howard Home Inspections by Dan Howard Freeport, Pa. All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

Ranger Rick

Found: Ranger Rick. Watch it out there, guys and gals. This one wasn’t happy… Dan Gartrell Homestar Real Estate Services, Inc. Gainesville, Va. All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

Quite a Doorstop

This doorstop also makes water. It actually is connected and I found it in the living room. David Grudzinski Advantage Home Inspections Cranston, R.I. All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

The Bathroom is Just Too Far

A poor man’s urinal. Thomas Sansone National Property Inspections Rochester, N.Y. All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

And POW! And BOOM!

This liquid propane tank is being used inside the house to operate a gas stove—a big no-no. WOW! Andy Moore American Heritage Home Inspection Seminole, Fl All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

The 2x6 That Could

“Sure, we can put a window there! All we need to do is remove the post from under that big beam and then nail a 2x6 to the wall so the beam doesn’t fall down—and take the house with it.” Dan Chapleski True North Inspection Services Coeur d’Alene, Idaho All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

No Windy Days, Please

This old chimney needs to see a brick mason real soon! Rich Madore Pillar To Post Home Inspections Newington, Conn. All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

Lots o’ Lint

Why screens on dryer vent backdraft dampers are frowned upon. I found this in a 3½-year-old house. G. Gilbert Engler Master Home Inspectors, Inc. Annandale, Va. All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

You Can’t Blame a Squirrel for Trying

During our unusually cold temps in January, this unfortunate squirrel thought that he’d be OK if he just went down the chimney and followed the source of the heat. He ended up inside the furnace cabinet and got caught between two sections. Rick Michalicek Moore Home Inspection Services St. Louis, Mo. All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

Almost Vented

The waterfront home had recently been extensively remodeled. There is a new kitchen with top-of-the-line equipment. When I was in the attic, I found the vent pipe from the kitchen range hood not connected to the roof vent pipe. The home was built in 1968, and no building permits were issued for this work. Bill Mason Second Opinion Home Inspection Venice, Fla. All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

Hot House

This gives a new meaning to a ‘hot’ house on the market! The furnace thermostat wire had shorted out on a new, still-vacant house, and this was the inside temperature reading I got. Laminate counter tops were de-laminating. Alvin C. Miller Hawkeye Home Inspections LLC Wellman, Iowa All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

Creative Plumbing Repair

These two photos came from the same house. I guess the homeowner didn’t trust his own plumbing repair (complete with doorknob and milk carton) and decided to do the dishes in the bathtub. Chris W. McDougall Apex Home Inspection Santa Cruz, Calif. All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

Because It’s Illegal and Dangerous?

This is a car battery jumper cable attached to the main electric utility service line, wired to the electric panel for a house with no power. Why pay for electric service when you can do this? Gary Kershaw Pillar to Post Philadelphia, Pa. All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

Duct Tape Strikes Again

“I lost the draft hood, but I’ve got plenty of duct tape…” It was one of many defects found in that home. Arthur Pavis Faro Systems, Inc. Bethesda, Md. All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

Clearly Labeled

Do you think this is what the civic inspector had in mind when insisting that the electrical panel be labeled? Kevin Hawes Assured Home Inspections Calgary, Alberta All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

What a Mess

Rust, corrosion, and a gaping hole in a vent pipe that angles downward (hot air rises, you know). Sometimes, you just have to wonder. Clay Ridings Preferred Home Inspections Wilmington, Del. All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter

Ol’ Faithful

This 100-gallon electric water heater was built in March of 1938 and is still delivering hot water like it was built yesterday! This is one of those treasures you run across every once in awhile. Rich Madore Pillar To Post Home Inspections Newington, Conn. All images courtesy of the ASHI Reporter