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The
Columbus Ohio Home Inspection Authority
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Water Damage posted by david tamny certified ashi inspector on February 1 
Here's an example of some basement wetness caused by
a plumbing leak. While the carpet was wet, the wall appeared dry to
the touch. The infrared photo shows that the water had wicked up the
wall approximately 2 ft. This was confirmed with a moisture meter. This
hidden damage would have been missed by most home inspectors.
Carbon Monoxide posted by david tamny certified ashi inspector on August 3
This furnace failed its carbon monoxide test. Unsafe
levels were found in the house air which indicated a crack or hole in
the heat exchanger. The black deposits above are carbon. When you see
carbon deposits on a furnace it is almost a sure sign that carbon monoxide
is a problem. Many home inspectors do not incorporate carbon monoxide
testing into their inspections. This is an item that goes beyond the
ASHI Standards but is important for safety. The recommendation was to
replace this 25 year old furnace.
Hot Water Boiler posted by David tamny certified ashi inspector on july 23
Here is a photo of a 50+ year cast iron old hot water
boiler with the face plate removed. Occaisionally you'll see a unit
like this in a home. Few home inspectors in this area understand hot
water heat. Although boilers like this can have 50 year life spans,
they often lack proper controls and maintenance. A major drawback is
that central air conditioning cannot be installed without a seperate
air handler and ductwork which is a huge expense. Ultimately these factors
should be reflected in the value of the home. Central air conditioning
is almost a given in 2007 where it didn't exist in 1955.
Visual Inspection posted by david tamny certified ashi inspector on july 20
Occasionally I run into a home where someone hasn't
thrown anything away in years. These are the types of situations you
hear about on the news. A home inspection is a visual inspection which
is affected by accessibility to systems and components. Amazingly enough
there is generally a buyer for every home, but it takes a special person
to see beyond the clutter.
Flat Roofing posted by David tamny certified ashi inspector on July 17
This is a flat ballasted EPDM roof. It is a rubber
membrane held down with small rocks used primarily in commercial applications.
The roofing itself is not fastened mechanically like other rubber membranes.
Because of the ballast evaluation of the membrane itself is very difficult.
Leaks are almost always present somewhere on flat roofing and it takes
a keen eye to find where problems may be present.
Aluminum Wiring posted by David tamny certified ashi inspector on July 10
On the left you can see some silver colored wiring.
This is aluminum wiring and is highly dangerous. Aluminum wiring generally
is found in homes built between 1965 and 1973. I have personally seen
smoke and sparks coming from panel boxes due to loose connections and
have seen homes that have had fires. Repairs are generally quite expensive.
Even electricians are not always knowledgeable and may minimize the
safety hazards. An excellent publication is available from the
US Consumer Product Safety Commission Click on the link to
learn more.
Leaky Sliding Door posted by David tamny certified ashi inspector on July 4
One critical area for home inspectors to check is where
sliding doors meet exterior decks. Leakage is all too common. In this
case the subfloor had rotted and carpenter ants had infested the structure.
termites posted by David tamny certified ashi inspector on june 27
Here's an interesting situation where termites had
been tunneling behind the drywall paper. It was a small bubbling at
the drywall. Further investigation revealed extensive termite activity.
A chimney had been leaking and the moisture provided the environment
which attracted the wood destroying insects. Years ago lenders required
a termite inspection to make a loan. Now it is optional in many cases.
Many buyers think that they are being smart shoppers by deciding to
save money and forgo the Wood Destroying Inspect Inspection. Penny wise
and pound foolish.
moldy attic posted by David tamny certified ashi inspector on June 23
Mold growing at the underside of attic sheathing is
an all too common problem. This is generally caused by excessive humidity
in the attic and a lack of ventilation. Bath fans discharging directly
into the attic, overuse of humidifiers and insufficient roof ventilation
are all contributing factors. Some inspectors may try too sell you a
mold test. If you have this condition you can skip the test and go directly
to remediation. It doesn't matter what kind of mold it is. The excessive
moisture needs to be removed. Options for mitigation could include cleaning
and treatment of the contaminated plywood or outright removal of the
roof coverings and discarding the contaminated sheathing. That depends
on severity, accessibility and the age of the roof. Either way it is
usually a significant expense. All work should be done by reputable
contractors with certification in mold mitigation. Bleach is never the
answer.
leaking roof flashing posted by David tamny certified ashi inspector on June 22
This chimney showed signs of recent drywall repair. When
repairs have been made just prior to the inspection the question in
the buyers mind is has the condition been fixed? In a standard inspection
performed to minimum standards the question often cannot be answered.
Water seeks the path of least resistance and can leak even where problems
are not visually apparent. In this situation I used a garden hose with
a sprayer designed to simulate a typical rainfall. Within a few minutes
leakage was obvious. Moisture meters were ineffective in this circumstance
because dry weather conditions prevailed prior to the inspection. Recent
repairs also concealed any evidence of problems.
David Tamny is a Registered Architect and an ASHI Certified Home Inspector with over 15 years of home inspection experience. He will provide a competent and thorough evaluation of the condition of the systems and components of a home. Life expectancy, materials used, construction quality, and deferred maintenance are some of the considerations of the inspection. Professional Property Inspection provides residential and commercial inspection services performed by an ASHI Certified Home Inspector throughout Central Ohio, including but not limited to: Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Hocking, Madison, Perry, Pickaway, Union counties. Home inspections in: Columbus, Pickerington, Lancaster, Pataskala, Newark, Granville, Delaware, Logan, Worthington, Hilliard, Dublin, Gahanna, Grove City, Groveport, Bexley, Whitehall, Circleville, Baltimore, Marysville, Powell, Westerville, Upper Arlington, Millersport, Etna, Buckeye Lake, Hebron, Bremen, Thornville, Amanda, Stoutsville, New Lexington, Junction City, Washington Court House, Carroll, Canal Winchester, Ostrander, Rockbridget, Hideaway Hills, Chillicothe, Johnstown, Heron Bay, Ohio.
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