Water intrusion

[nwagner]

Whoa whoa whoa Johnny, back the train up!

It seems that you have a few glarring misconceptions about home inspection.

First off, we are GENERALISTS who inspect the overall conditions of the home's systems. A home inspector definately is obligated to report on such conditions and report on the causes IF KNOWN WITHIN THEIR EXPERTISE (keyword: expertise). As a home inspector, I am knowledgable about the construction, conditions and threats to the various foundation systems of a house but I am not a FRAUD and pretend to be a foundation EXPERT. Therefore, I defer inspection of such conditions as this one to a real EXPERT. It's a shame that there are ignorant contractors out there who see such situations as the opportunity for a fruitless lawsuit instead of a business opportunity.

Second, contray to popular believe, we DON'T claim to have the God-like powers of observation, time management and resourcefulness pertaining to houses. How would I have the time, knowledge and tools to diagnose ALL the problems with a house during an inspection? Do I simply book one inspection a day to play expert when the real experts have the goods to get the job done? Gee, I thought the value of my job was to DETECT problems. Afterall, that is what I make clear BEFORE every inspection I do (funny, customers are satisfied with that).

Third, should I risk further damage to a property in the name of "thoroughness"; either as the guy holding the hose or the guy who recommended it? Wouldn't further flooding the basement and possibly worsening the facilitating conditions open me up to a lawsuit that would be very difficult to defend? I guess the courts would think that property damage is just A-Okay if it were done in good faith by a non-expert.

Last, whomever simply recommends regrading and drainage correction without inspection by a foundation expert in this situation DOES deserve to get sued but who are you talking about? I doubt any of them are NACHI members.

So I may wind up in court, huh? I've heard of a new fangled thing in the legal system called counter-suits. Somehow, it seems that filing such a lawsuit against me qualifies as slander that would have high costs in the form of lost business.

[nwagner]

I guess I should book only one inspection per day to satisfy the "thoroughness" that Johnny deems necessary. Afterall, who knows when I'll have to find the exact causes of a leaking finished foundation wall, an long electrical circuit with high line impedance concealed behind finished walls, moisture stains on a finished wall that are not near any plumbing, a patio that slopes into a house and various other conditions that I must properly diagnose to satisfy my newly found obligations. I bet my clients wouldn't mind paying me over a thousand per inspection for such service, even if it may be cheaper for an expert to diagnose (don't bids usually include a free evaluation?).

[Blaine Wiley]

Since mr. bubber is so thorough in his inspection and diagnosis of the foundation, perhaps he could explain how he inspects the HVAC system equally as thoroughly?

Report the condition, defer to an expert.

[nwagner]

Maybe I'll check the distribution ducting of forced air systems by flooding the plenum with chemical smoke. Hopefully I'll have the conditioning to sprint around the entire duct run to document all of the leaks and the overall distribution balance.

And while I'm at it, I'll buy one of those $10,000 Craftsman tool kits so that I can do a complete tear down and rebuild of the furnace. Who knows when I'll find a dirty heat exchanger or an improperly tuned blower fan!

[john bubber]

[dplummer]

Use your non-penetrating moisture probe on the all the walls from floor up. See what type of readings you get.And how high on the wall moisture reads (if any). Check RH% as well. Doug