Per the 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC), in residential homes (dwelling units) ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) protection is required for: A) 250-volt, 30-ampere dryer receptacle B) 250-volt, 50-ampere range receptacles within six feet of a sink C) all 125-volt through 250-volt receptacles in a finished dwelling basement D) all of the Read more…
Sometimes you got to be careful where you crawl in crawlspaces. Here is an example of a potentially dangerous splice. This crawlspace had signs of water, when mixed with minerals in water can become conductive which could lead to someone being shocked or injured. You must install a box or Read more…
Here we have an example of an improper vent termination. This happened when an addition was added to the home. This plumbing vent did not extend up to the upper roof where the moisture could escape harmlessly to the atmosphere. Over time this can lead to rot and other moisture Read more…
As home inspectors I find that we often see some conditions that many in a specific trade may not. Recently during a home inspection a truly odd one happened. As I was tripping an exterior GFCI protected receptacles, as I have done hundreds and hundreds of times. I trip the Read more…
I run into this from time to time during a home inspection. A water heater that has been installed using a cord and plug. The issue is that I cannot find for these electric water heaters that any instruction from the manufacture allows it. Some of the installation manuals are Read more…
From a recent home inspection. Here we have an improper trap installation. The trap seal is too deep and the actual trap is installed backwards. Both “Model Plumbing Codes” (UPC/IPC) specify that the trap seal should be between 2 to 4 inches (with exceptions). Because of the increased depth and Read more…
As a home inspector and instructor I always think it is good to know what is the normal for installation in a given area. Armed with this information you can help your clients with the best information possible on their purchase. This is where a little code knowledge can help Read more…
I am always keeping my out for new products and instillation. On a recent new construction inspection I ran into a Rheem Water Heater Booster. The Rheem Water Heater Booster installs directly on a tank’s hot water line to provide more hot water than the tank alone can provide. The Read more…
So you have high water pressure on the plumbing system. What should my water pressure be in the home? This is a great question and should look for some of the answers. From the 2015 UPC 608.2 Excessive Water Pressure. Where static water pressure in the water supply piping is Read more…
