Problems at some houses are more obvious than others! Here is a collection of some of the unique and more spectacular problems we’ve seen, as well as a number of the more common and/or subtle.
(Click on each one of the questions below to expand them.)
- +Can you spot the STRUCTURAL problem?
Do you see the problem?
Does this help? 
The trunk of this tree is about 24” where it emerges through the roof of the porch, and there is about 60’ more tree looming over the house.
- +Can you spot the HEATING problem?
From far, everything looks fine, but… 
A close up shows the spalling (deterioration) of the brick three rows down from the chimney cap. This is a clue that this chimney does not have a complete clay liner; we found that there is only one tile at the top where it emerges into sight. 
The heat shroud around this wood stove had ducting to capture and carry the heat from the stove into three upstairs rooms. Insurance companies frown on this type of arrangement, since it can focus the radiant heat from the wood stove excessively, and create a fire hazard. 
This chimney serves a woodstove in the basement; it had a clay tile liner. The cap in this picture, in the living room one level up, opens into the same flue. It is a simple sheet metal cap, with no insulation, and was quite hot to the touch when we inspected (it was heating season, so there was a fire in the stove below.) Thus, there was a triple threat here – risk of burning people if they touched it; risk of venting exhaust gases (smoke) into the living spaces; and risk of fire (note the speaker wire touching the vent cap on the right side.)
- +Can you spot the EXTERIOR problem?
The downspout on this eaves’ trough is arranged so that it discharges into the foundation drain system. It should be arranged to discharge at least six feet away from the foundation, preferably above ground, onto land graded away from the house.
- +Can you spot the PLUMBING problem?
The drain for this sink has had a manual cleanout (covered with the blue plastic cap) added, down which you can shove a “fish’ to clean out a hypothetical blockage. However, what is not evident is that the horizontal section of this drain down by the “Y” is lower on the cleanout side– allowing the water draining from the sink to flow back into the area between the “Y” and the cleanout vertical. Also, the “P’-trap installed by this ‘plumber’ has no clean-out at the bottom.
- +Can you spot the INSULATION problem?
This house has had a new roof put on it at some point, and the roofer has dropped these waste shingles into the attic. The effect is to compress the insulation, reducing its effectiveness.
- +Can you spot the INTERIOR problem?
There are two problems in this picture.
Not particularly evident from the photo is the fact that the white wall “finish” in this picture is actually Styrofoam insulation. This material is not supposed to be left exposed, as it emits toxic fumes when it burns.
The two water tanks are suggestive of another problem — not enough water. This is a rural property which gets its water from a well and pressure system. Having multiple tanks like this may be a clue that the well does not have an adequate fill rate, so that water hoarding is required to meet peak requirements.
- +Can you spot the ELECTRICAL problem?
Two wires under one screw in the electrical panel is called a “double tap”; it is a fire hazard and is not allowed. A licensed electrician is unlikely to make this mistake, so this is also a clue that there may by other “Do-It-Yourself” electrical work present in this home.
The wires coming out of the main panel are not secured as required.
- +Can you spot the STRUCTURAL problem?
Do you see the problem?
Does this help?The trunk of this tree is about 24” where it emerges through the roof of the porch, and there is about 60’ more tree looming over the house. - +Can you spot the HEATING problem?
From far, everything looks fine, but…A close up shows the spalling (deterioration) of the brick three rows down from the chimney cap. This is a clue that this chimney does not have a complete clay liner; we found that there is only one tile at the top where it emerges into sight.The heat shroud around this wood stove had ducting to capture and carry the heat from the stove into three upstairs rooms. Insurance companies frown on this type of arrangement, since it can focus the radiant heat from the wood stove excessively, and create a fire hazard.This chimney serves a woodstove in the basement; it had a clay tile liner. The cap in this picture, in the living room one level up, opens into the same flue. It is a simple sheet metal cap, with no insulation, and was quite hot to the touch when we inspected (it was heating season, so there was a fire in the stove below.) Thus, there was a triple threat here – risk of burning people if they touched it; risk of venting exhaust gases (smoke) into the living spaces; and risk of fire (note the speaker wire touching the vent cap on the right side.)
- +Can you spot the EXTERIOR problem?
The downspout on this eaves’ trough is arranged so that it discharges into the foundation drain system. It should be arranged to discharge at least six feet away from the foundation, preferably above ground, onto land graded away from the house.
- +Can you spot the PLUMBING problem?
The drain for this sink has had a manual cleanout (covered with the blue plastic cap) added, down which you can shove a “fish’ to clean out a hypothetical blockage. However, what is not evident is that the horizontal section of this drain down by the “Y” is lower on the cleanout side– allowing the water draining from the sink to flow back into the area between the “Y” and the cleanout vertical. Also, the “P’-trap installed by this ‘plumber’ has no clean-out at the bottom.
- +Can you spot the INSULATION problem?
This house has had a new roof put on it at some point, and the roofer has dropped these waste shingles into the attic. The effect is to compress the insulation, reducing its effectiveness.
- +Can you spot the INTERIOR problem?
There are two problems in this picture.
Not particularly evident from the photo is the fact that the white wall “finish” in this picture is actually Styrofoam insulation. This material is not supposed to be left exposed, as it emits toxic fumes when it burns.
The two water tanks are suggestive of another problem — not enough water. This is a rural property which gets its water from a well and pressure system. Having multiple tanks like this may be a clue that the well does not have an adequate fill rate, so that water hoarding is required to meet peak requirements.
- +Can you spot the ELECTRICAL problem?
Two wires under one screw in the electrical panel is called a “double tap”; it is a fire hazard and is not allowed. A licensed electrician is unlikely to make this mistake, so this is also a clue that there may by other “Do-It-Yourself” electrical work present in this home.
The wires coming out of the main panel are not secured as required.
