By Yaakov Fisgus, Licensed & Certified Home Inspector, Inspect it Rite

Hot, Cold and Dry

Once the exterior and interior of the home is inspected, you are good to go, right?

Wrong.

Perhaps the most crucial part of a home inspection relates to the items that cannot be seen by the naked eye, and cannot be determined to be in working condition by most homeowners.

We are discussing the heating, air conditioning, the electrical wiring and the plumbing.

These items can all seem in working order until catastrophe strikes. Be it a non working air conditioner in the summer months, a faulty heating system in the winter, a dangerous electrical flaw or a messy plumbing incident, these are important things to know before purchasing a home.

Electrical

Some of the key areas for a certified inspector to review regarding electrical are:

• The service conductors

• Cable connections

• Grounding

• Condition of interior and exterior panels and sub panels

• Overcurrent protection devices

• Lighting fixtures and receptacles

• Ground fault service interrupters

• Check for adequate amperage and voltage

• Presence of working smoke detectors

• Review wiring or code violations

• Alarm system

• Ancillary electrical power

HVAC

When a home is purchased when the weather is warm, the heating system is often not tested properly. Likewise, when a home is purchased in the winter months, the air conditioning often gets nothing more than a quick glance.

A seasoned, certified inspector will do his due diligence to inspect the entire system, regardless of the weather.

Some important areas to look at include:

• Installed heating equipment.

• Vent systems

• Accessible Flues and chimneys

• Heat exchangers

• Humidifiers and dehumidifiers

• Solar space heating systems

• Determine heat supply adequacy and distribution balance

• Air Conditioning central and through-wall equipment

• Energy sources

Plumbing

Nowadays we almost take plumbing for granted, and assume the tap will flow and the toilets will work seamlessly. However, issues with the pipes and plumbing systems can be a huge headache and lead to inconvenience, tainted water supply and other serious events.

N astute inspector will know how to properly ascertain that all the pipes and plumbing are installed properly and running as they should.

Some of the areas that will be looked at include:

• Interior water supply and distribution systems

• Fixtures and faucets

• Drain, waste, and vent systems

• Water heating equipment

• Drainage sumps, sump pumps, and related piping

• Water supply, drain, waste, and vent piping materials

• Location of main water and fuel shut-off valves.

Some areas that inspectors typically do not check on include:

• Clothes washing machine connections

• Inaccessible Interiors of flues or chimneys

• Wells, well pumps and water storage related equipment.

• Water conditioning systems

• Solar water heating systems.

• Fire and lawn sprinkler systems

• Private waste disposal systems

If any of the above exempted areas are a concern for the homeowner, it is important to let the inspector know so he can make a point of including them in his review, even though it is not standard to do so. As with everything, for best results on a home inspection, have open communication with your inspector!

The Next Article will focus on: Making your home Energy efficient

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Yaakov Fisgus is the owner and lead inspector at Inspect It Right.

Your home is an important part of life, so be sure to trust your home inspection to a true professional. In addition to his time as a home inspector, Yaakov also has15 years of experience as a construction foreman and supervisor. He has built and worked on homes with his own two hands – giving him in-depth knowledge of what a home should look like, from the inside out. With dedication and a strong work ethic that are invaluable during a home buying process, Yaakov guides his clients in making the most educated decision they can.