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When I was a home inspector, I saw the same problems over and over again. It got to the point where I could almost choose the boilerplate that I would put into the report. In 2017 I wrote about what I found in a book called “House Keys.”
Last month, two friends asked me about home inspections and whether they should get an inspection before buying a home. I was shocked, because I assumed every buyer was getting an inspection to prevent surprises, and make an informed decision on a home. This was, of course, because of my background in home inspections, I assumed everyone would want one.
I decided to write another book this year just on home inspections; a handbook, if you will. In doing so, I spoke to a local real estate professional about what they find annoying in the home inspection reports.
“We keep seeing the same things,” said the agent.
“What things,” I asked.
“Lint in the dryer vent, creosote in the chimney, pickets not close enough on railings.”
That gave me an idea. Why not write about these things and then you, the homeowner, can make sure they are not creating safety hazards in your home? Here are a few.
Dryer Lint. If you have a clothes dryer, you have lint. You are probably very diligent about cleaning the screen in your dryer, because in most cases it’s obvious when the lint gets thick. But, what about the vent? I’m guessing the last time you went outside and checked for clogs and pulled out the tangles was . . . wait, I hear you saying, “Go where and what?”
The home inspector is going to walk around the house and look at this vent. If they see the clogs and tangles out there, it goes in the report. The reason is that if the lint clogs the vent, heat builds up in the vent line and becomes fire starter material. So go out there right now and check it. You should do this several times a year depending on how well it stays clear.
Creosote. Creosote is a black, tar-like substance that forms inside your chimney as a combustion by-product. Over time, it’s normal for this stuff to start coating the lining of your chimney. The home inspector will get down on his or her knees and examine the inside of the fireplace with a strong light. If they see a build-up of creosote, they will write it in the report.
You can go look at it the way they do. If you see a little flaky stuff, that’s stage one; don’t worry. But if it’s thick and tarry, call a chimney sweep to clean it before this winter. Thick and tarry – Stage 3 – is what sets a house on fire.
Baluster spacing. This is the space between the vertical or horizontal supports in a railing. In 1961, it was nine inches. Then in 1982 it went to six inches. In 1990, it went to four inches. Does this mean that railings were unsafe in 1961? It’s sort of a sticky wicket. The code is trying to address children and animals falling through railings. Is this something for you to worry about? If you have small children, I’d review any out of code items as part of your child safety-proofing plan. Otherwise, I’d wait for your next renovation effort to address it.
Columnist Lisa Turner is a local manufacturing engineer, building contractor, and home inspector. Lisa can be reached by email at Lisa@Lisaturner.com