Jetted Tub Pump Bonding

June 17, 2010

DEFECT: Jetted Tub Pump Bonding Jetted tub electrical pumps and all metal that is in contact with the water are required to be electrically bonded to help prevent shock in the event of a short circuit.  This is a fairly common defect, most likely due to confusion between bonding, grounding, Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) etc. Note [...]

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Over-sized Wire to Circuit Breaker

June 11, 2010

DEFECT: Over-sized Wire to Circuit Breaker An over-sized wire to a circuit breaker is only a defect if the circuit breaker is not rated to accept the wire gauge.  For an example I am going to use the 15 AMP General Electric circuit breaker in the photograph below.  In this photo, this 15 AMP breaker [...]

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Bathroom Fan Vents Into Attic

June 6, 2010

DEFECT: Bathroom Fan Vents Into Attic A fairly common defect we find when doing Home Inspections in Phoenix are bathroom vent fans that exhaust into the attic.  The purpose of these fans is to remove humidity from the interior of the home and exhaust it outdoors.  Venting it into the attic may seem like an [...]

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Failed Dual Pane Window Seals

May 28, 2010

DEFECT: Failed Dual Pane Window Seals A dual pane window is a window that has two panes of glass with an airspace between them.  This airspace is typically filled with an inert gas on modern windows.  To keep the gas between the glass, there is a seal installed at the factory. The typical indication of [...]

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Improperly Sized Circuit Breaker

March 5, 2010

DEFECT: Improperly sized circuit breaker An electrical circuit in a home is specifically designed to handle a specific maximum current which is rated in amps.  The wire, connected devices and circuit breakers all have to be rated for the same load to work safely. The safety mechanism and control for each circuit is the circuit [...]

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Secondary Condensate Drainage

March 5, 2010
Thumbnail image for Secondary Condensate Drainage

DEFECT: Secondary Condensate Drainage The air conditioner or heat pump in your home produces allot of condensation on the evaporator coils when it is running, this is totally normal and expected.  This condensation has to be drained away through an appropriate drain to prevent moisture damage from a constant drip, depending on the environment a [...]

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Electrical Panel & Breaker Brand Mismatch

March 3, 2010

DEFECT: Mismatched circuit breaker & panel brand A common electrical defect that we find on home inspections is mismatched brands and types of circuit breakers in an electrical panel.  Many people think that if they can get the breaker to fit in the panel then it must be fine.  There are several reasons why this [...]

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Double Tapped Circuit Breaker

March 2, 2010

DEFECT: Double Tapped Circuit Breaker A double tapped circuit breaker is a circuit breaker that has two wires or circuits connected to a single lug.  While this is a commonly mentioned item on home inspection reports, it is often reported in error.  The misconception is that every double tapped circuit breaker is a defect, this [...]

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Exposed Wire Junctions

March 2, 2010
Dangerous wiring found during Phoenix Home Inspection

DEFECT: Exposed wire junctions A homes attic is usually the easiest place to run new wiring or modify existing wiring, therefore it is usually where we find the majority of  ”amateur wiring” problems during a home inspection.  One of the signs that a wiring modification was not done by a professional is exposed wiring. Anytime [...]

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New Stucco Hairline Cracking

February 28, 2010

DEFECT: Hairline cracking in newer stucco (Map cracking) Hairline cracking in new stucco is a very common occurance within the first few years, there are several typical causes for this type of cracking.  The most common cause is due to the curing process.  If proper temperature and moisture level are not maintained during the stucco curing [...]

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Broken Concrete Roof Tile

February 28, 2010

DEFECT: Broken or cracked concrete roof tiles Broken concrete roof tiles can lead to deterioration of the underlayment, roof sheathing and structure due to water penetration through the tile.  For “clean” breaks, temporary repairs can be accomplished by sealing the pieces of tile together using a roofing sealant, these temporary repairs should be inspected and [...]

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