Taking a bath

Taking a bath- Lake Wenatchee and Cle Elum Home Inspection

“Bath twice a day to be really clean, once a day to be passably clean, once a week to avoid being a public menace.”

Anthony Burgess

Baths are one of the great pleasures for many. I know in my world a wonderful whirlpool soaker tub is a must for my wife. If my lovely wife is happy I am happy.

But there is a dark side to soaker tubs. On several recent home inspections I have seen these tubs converted to a shower/tub combos.

                       

Most soaker tubs are not designed to be used in a shower application. They do not have the have a tile flange to create a drip plane for water to run back into the tub from the surround.

                       

The result is water will sit and most likely find it way in the substructure leading to rot and mold. This is also an invite to wood destroying insects who love these conditions.

                              

There are flange kits that can be used to convert these types of tubs for use as a shower.

Shower installations need to be carefully evaluated and installed to ensure that water intrusion of the wall will not become an issue.

                                                         

                                                       

 

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”

Benjamin Franklin

“Inspecting the World-One Home at a time”

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Orville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…       
Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

Permitted but not inspected…The Shocking Truth- Cle Elum Home Inspection

Permitted but not inspected…The Shocking Truth- Cle Elum Home Inspection

                                                          

One item a buyer should be aware of is if any permits have been issued to a home that has not been completed. This will be especially true if the plan is to perform any work on the home that will require a permit. Uncompleted permits can hold up and complicate any future work to be performed.

Here is an interesting example-

There have been 6800 electrical permits pulled in Washington State that have never been inspected between January 2009 and August 2011.

                                                

Washington State requires that any electrical permit that is pulled must have the inspection within 12 months of the issue date.

In addition the permit holders are required by Washington Administrative Codes (WAC 296-46B-901(10)(a)) to make inspection requests within:  3 business days after completing the installation; or 1 business day after energizing circuits or equipment, whichever comes first.

Washington State has offered an amnesty on electrical permits. Their reason is to ensure safe electrical installations have been performed and completed per these expired permits.  The amnesty is from any compliance action for any electrical contractor that purchased an electrical permit:  Since January 1, 2009, and is expired with no request for an inspection of the electrical work. 

To qualify for the amnesty, the contractor must obtain a new permit and request inspection for the work before February 15, 2012.

The contractor must apply for a new permit and let the local supervisor aware that the new permit is replacing an expired permit. 

After February 15, 2012 the department will take compliance action on all identified permits with inspection request violations.

Ensuring compliance has been performed can save you some headaches in the future.

“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected.”

Steve Jobs

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Orville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…      

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

 

Home Remedies… Chelan and Wenatchee Home Inspector

Home Remedies… Chelan and Wenatchee Home Inspector

We do get to see some fun things out there in the world of Real Estate and property inspections. You all know what I mean.

Well as a home Inspector one of the great privileges I have is to be able to document some very inventive people’s contraptions.

Too bad most of the inventions are downright dangerous.

Here we have an example of some cool work. This is a window unit Air Conditioner that just did not have a a proper connection and needed a fix.
             




But what if you do not have an outlet readily available? No problem we can fix that, and here is the fix.
                               


Now here is the full view.

                                      
                                           ( at least there is not outlet over the baseboard heater)


I informed my client that I think this needs further evaluation by a licensed Electrician. Do you think that was good advice?

"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur..."

Red Adair

“Inspecting the World-One Home at a time”

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Orville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…                             
NCW Home Inspections LLC-509-670-9572

Professional Home Inspection in Chelan County

Electrical Wiring Issues- Wenatchee Home Inspector

Electrical Wiring Issues- Wenatchee Home Inspector

Electrical Wiring issues are some of the most common defects found during a home inspection will be improper wiring. Many people think they understand the basic principle of residential wiring and don't or just do not understand the risk that they are subjecting themselves and their families to.

According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International "Wiring hazards including damaged and exposed wiring and household wiring together accounted for 20 percent of electrocutions."
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that there are over 30,000 home fires annually associated with electrical distribution systems (wiring), resulting in over 200 deaths, nearly 1,000 injuries and over $600 million in property damage.
Here are a few examples of some wiring that makes you wonder how someone did not get hurt.
     

       
     

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Orville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more...                             
NCW Home Inspections, LLC-509-670-9572                                         www.ncwhomeinspections.com