Faulty GFCI Plugs
GFCI outlets are a great invention that do a wonderful job keeping us safe around electricity. This style outlet should be used anytime an outlet is within 3 feet of a water source, and on all exterior plugs. (There are other locations these are required at, as well. However, these are the two most common locations.) Anytime these plugs detect a fault, the internal circuit breaker will trigger cutting off electricity; thus keeping you alive and happy. The problem is there are a variety of these outlets, and they are not all built to last. I frequently see these outlets fail, particularly if they are in a harsh environment, or used frequently.
There are 2 easy ways to verify that your outlets are working correctly. If you look at the front of the outlet you will notice two small buttons labeled "test" and "reset". Plug a small light into the plug and push the Test button, the light should turn off, then press the reset button and the light should come back on. If the light goes off and then on with the switch, your outlet is working properly.
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The other way to check these style outlets is with a purpose made GFCI tester. These testers plug into the outlet, and when the tester button is pressed, it creates a fault and should trip the breaker (you should hear a pop) in the plug. Then you simply press the reset button on the outlet. The picture below is one of these testers available at the big box home improvement stores for under $10.
WARNING: If you use either of these methods, and the actual circuit breaker in your electric panel triggers and shuts off power to the circuit, that means your plug is not working properly and could be dangerous!! At this point, you should call a licensed electrician.
What to do?
As a home inspector, I must always recommend that electrical work be hired out to a licensed electrician. Unless you are proficient with electrical, it can be dangerous, or even deadly!! A licensed electrician can swap out these bad outlets relatively cheap, and it is well worth the expense for the value, safety and negotiation of the sale price of your home.
Clogged Gutters
Clogged gutters may seem like nothing more than an aesthetic issue, but this can actually cause a fair amount of damage to your home. As an inspector, when I see clogged gutters, it immediately makes me take a close look at the fascia board and roof line. When left clogged, water, ice and leaves can sit against the fascia and shingles of the roof, causing water intrusion and rot.
What to do?
Clean those gutters!!!
On one story homes there are several ways you can clean out the gutters; often you may not even need a ladder. Below are 3 products available at most large home improvement stores. They have hose attachments, leaf blower attachments, and even special wands to mount on a pressure washer. In all cases, follow the manufacturer's instructions.
CAUTION: If you must climb a ladder or get on the roof, exercise extreme caution and follow all safety rules!
Downspouts Not Directed Away From Home
Once you have made sure your gutters are clean, the next step is to make sure that water is being directed away from the home. The gutter should discharge at least 3' from the house and onto ground that directs the water away from the foundation of the home. If the water is left to drain right at the house it can create water leaks into the basement or crawl space, and can weaken foundation walls as well as stress your drain tile and sump pump system.
What to do?
They make a variety of diverters and extenders that simply slip on the end of the downspout.
TIP: The flexible extenders do work if you have a downspout that must be moved often. However, the plastic dries out and cracks over time, and the downspouts do tend to accumulate debris if there are not gutter guards. In this case try to look for an open design like the last item pictured below. Pictured below are several style extenders and diverters that work well and are readily available.
Slow Running Drains
When performing a home inspection, one of the primary things we work to verify is that the drains in the home are performing well. I will typically turn on each faucet at the same time to make sure not only each drain, but the main sewer is working properly. Slow drains could come from a multitude of sources, from hair and grease, to tree roots and broken pipes. As drain problems could get costly quickly, (often over $3,000 to excavate a broken line) it is not a concern you want a prospective buyer to be worried about!
What to Do?
First, you want to run each faucet in the home. First, try one at a time and let it run for several minutes. Do this on all the faucets in the home and identify any sinks or tubs that do not drain quickly; address those first. If the drain is in a bathroom, and there are people with long hair in the home, the first place to check is the sink stopper to see if it is clogged with hair. There are inexpensive tools like the one pictured below that can assist to pull hair out of clogged drains.
If that does not remove the clog, the next step would be to take apart the trap underneath the sink and remove any build up in the trap. Simply unscrew the nuts on either end of the trap and it will pull right off.
Holes in Firewall from Garage
Were you aware that the wall between your attached garage and your living space is considered a fire wall to protect your home and contents from what happens in the garage? Many people consider their garage as separate from their home, and don't give much consideration to small wall damage or the occasional hole in a garage wall. However, if your garage is attached to your home, those holes could prove hazardous to you and your family. Since cars and lawn equipment and other small engines are often run in a garage, any small home in a wall could allow carbon monoxide to enter the home, creating a potentially lethal situation. This is why it is one of the most important issues home inspectors look for in homes.
What to Do?
The good news is this is an extremely easy DIY fix that is also very inexpensive. Most home improvement stores carry patch kits to repair these holes. They come in different sizes and consist of a thin metal screen with adhesive that sticks over the hole. Cover the screen with spackle, let it dry and sand! Below are some of the available kits to do this, and at the time of publishing these were all well under $10!
GFCI outlets are a great invention that do a wonderful job keeping us safe around electricity. This style outlet should be used anytime an outlet is within 3 feet of a water source, and on all exterior plugs. (There are other locations these are required at, as well. However, these are the two most common locations.) Anytime these plugs detect a fault, the internal circuit breaker will trigger cutting off electricity; thus keeping you alive and happy. The problem is there are a variety of these outlets, and they are not all built to last. I frequently see these outlets fail, particularly if they are in a harsh environment, or used frequently.
There are 2 easy ways to verify that your outlets are working correctly. If you look at the front of the outlet you will notice two small buttons labeled "test" and "reset". Plug a small light into the plug and push the Test button, the light should turn off, then press the reset button and the light should come back on. If the light goes off and then on with the switch, your outlet is working properly.
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| 15amp Standard GFCI Outlet |
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| 20amp GFCI Outlet |
The other way to check these style outlets is with a purpose made GFCI tester. These testers plug into the outlet, and when the tester button is pressed, it creates a fault and should trip the breaker (you should hear a pop) in the plug. Then you simply press the reset button on the outlet. The picture below is one of these testers available at the big box home improvement stores for under $10.
 |
| Outlet Tester |
What to do?
As a home inspector, I must always recommend that electrical work be hired out to a licensed electrician. Unless you are proficient with electrical, it can be dangerous, or even deadly!! A licensed electrician can swap out these bad outlets relatively cheap, and it is well worth the expense for the value, safety and negotiation of the sale price of your home.
Clogged Gutters
Clogged gutters may seem like nothing more than an aesthetic issue, but this can actually cause a fair amount of damage to your home. As an inspector, when I see clogged gutters, it immediately makes me take a close look at the fascia board and roof line. When left clogged, water, ice and leaves can sit against the fascia and shingles of the roof, causing water intrusion and rot.
What to do?
Clean those gutters!!!
On one story homes there are several ways you can clean out the gutters; often you may not even need a ladder. Below are 3 products available at most large home improvement stores. They have hose attachments, leaf blower attachments, and even special wands to mount on a pressure washer. In all cases, follow the manufacturer's instructions.
 |
| Hose Attachment |
 |
| Leaf Blower with Gutter Attachment |
 |
| Pressure Washer Attachment |
CAUTION: If you must climb a ladder or get on the roof, exercise extreme caution and follow all safety rules!
Downspouts Not Directed Away From Home
Once you have made sure your gutters are clean, the next step is to make sure that water is being directed away from the home. The gutter should discharge at least 3' from the house and onto ground that directs the water away from the foundation of the home. If the water is left to drain right at the house it can create water leaks into the basement or crawl space, and can weaken foundation walls as well as stress your drain tile and sump pump system.
What to do?
They make a variety of diverters and extenders that simply slip on the end of the downspout.
TIP: The flexible extenders do work if you have a downspout that must be moved often. However, the plastic dries out and cracks over time, and the downspouts do tend to accumulate debris if there are not gutter guards. In this case try to look for an open design like the last item pictured below. Pictured below are several style extenders and diverters that work well and are readily available.
Slow Running Drains
When performing a home inspection, one of the primary things we work to verify is that the drains in the home are performing well. I will typically turn on each faucet at the same time to make sure not only each drain, but the main sewer is working properly. Slow drains could come from a multitude of sources, from hair and grease, to tree roots and broken pipes. As drain problems could get costly quickly, (often over $3,000 to excavate a broken line) it is not a concern you want a prospective buyer to be worried about!
What to Do?
First, you want to run each faucet in the home. First, try one at a time and let it run for several minutes. Do this on all the faucets in the home and identify any sinks or tubs that do not drain quickly; address those first. If the drain is in a bathroom, and there are people with long hair in the home, the first place to check is the sink stopper to see if it is clogged with hair. There are inexpensive tools like the one pictured below that can assist to pull hair out of clogged drains.
 |
| Sink Hair Remover |
Holes in Firewall from Garage
Were you aware that the wall between your attached garage and your living space is considered a fire wall to protect your home and contents from what happens in the garage? Many people consider their garage as separate from their home, and don't give much consideration to small wall damage or the occasional hole in a garage wall. However, if your garage is attached to your home, those holes could prove hazardous to you and your family. Since cars and lawn equipment and other small engines are often run in a garage, any small home in a wall could allow carbon monoxide to enter the home, creating a potentially lethal situation. This is why it is one of the most important issues home inspectors look for in homes.
What to Do?
The good news is this is an extremely easy DIY fix that is also very inexpensive. Most home improvement stores carry patch kits to repair these holes. They come in different sizes and consist of a thin metal screen with adhesive that sticks over the hole. Cover the screen with spackle, let it dry and sand! Below are some of the available kits to do this, and at the time of publishing these were all well under $10!
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