Ed Day

Excessive moisture in the Crawlspace .... What you do not want to find during your Home Inspection !!!

Every Real Estate Agent, Home Buyer and Seller need to be informed of the Current Requirements for Low Flow Faucets, Shower Heads and Toilets: As of Jan 1, 2017 new requirements are in place. (This applies to all Single Family homes and Condos built prior to 1994)... Here are the rules: If a toilet is greater than 1.6 gpf, a 1.28 gpf toilet is required. If a lavatory faucet flows more than 2.2 gpm, a 1.2 gpm faucet is required. If a kitchen sink faucet flows more than 2.2 gpm, a 1.8 gpm faucet is required. If a shower head flows more than 2.5 gpm, a 2 gpm shower head is required. I am still trying to get information on this topic for Homes Built between 1994 and 2013.

TERMITES !! Did you know that termites thrive in a wet environment? They eat faster, travel faster and reproduce much faster where wet food is available! The opposite is true where their environment is very dry. Subsequently, Termite damage is typically much more extensive in a moist area than in a dry one. Your Home Inspection report will identify areas where Termite infestation or moisture problems exist and will include recommendations for corrections.

Condo Inspection today .... This sink drain got a few chuckles :-)

CRAWLSPACE ... hidden defects. Most homes that are 50+ years old will have a raised foundation which creates a space below the floor of the house. This area must be inspected thoroughly so you know what issues may be hidden down there. None of the conditions seen in the photos were visible from the exterior of the house. Here are a few samples of defects that can only be revealed by a full inspection of the Crawlspace.

MOISTURE INTRUSION An important element of every home inspection is the detection of moisture. Sometimes, moisture damage is quite noticeable, as in the attached photo. But very often, moisture damage can be occurring without any visible signs. The damage in the photo started inside the wall cavity long before it became an obvious problem. It was the result of typical splashing of water against the tile walls and was entering into the wall cavity through a large gap between t...he tile wall and the shower controls cover plate. In order to detect hidden moisture, a moisture detector is used which indicates moisture levels contained within walls, ceilings, and flooring materials. Special attention is given to bathrooms, kitchens and laundry areas of the home. Where hidden moisture is present, your inspection report will include a photo of the location and a comment describing the condition along with a recommendation for correction.