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Genesis Home Inspections LLC

Website: http://www.reporthost.com/genesis
Email: ramilewski@verizon.net
Phone: (570) 842-8724 · (570) 677-8195
3155 Nashotka Rd 
Madison Township PA 18444-6833
Inspector: Richard Milewski
InterNACHI #09090906

Summary Page

Home Inspection Report
Client(s): Joe Sample #3
Property address: 234 Sample St.
Sampletown, PA 12345
Inspection date: Monday, September 21, 2009

This summary page published on 10/7/2009 6:31:23 PM EDT

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This report is the exclusive property of this inspection company and the client(s) listed in the report title. Use of this report by any unauthorized persons is prohibited.


1) General information: Safety, Comment - Structures built prior to 1979 may contain lead-based paint and/or asbestos in various building materials such as insulation, siding, and/or floor and ceiling tiles. Both lead and asbestos are known health hazards. Evaluating for the presence of lead and/or asbestos is not included in this inspection. The client(s) should consult with specialists as necessary, such as industrial hygienists, professional labs and/or abatement contractors for this type of evaluation. For information on lead, asbestos and other hazardous materials in homes, visit these websites:

  • The Environmental Protection Association (http://www.epa.gov)
  • The Consumer Products Safety Commission (http://www.cpsc.gov)
  • The Center for Disease Control (http://www.cdc.gov)
    2) General information: Comment - Many wall, floor and/or ceiling surfaces were obscured by large amounts of furniture and/or stored items. Many areas couldn't be evaluated.
    3) Exterior: Safety, Repair/Replace, Evaluate - One or more trip hazards were found in sidewalk and/or patio sections due to cracks, settlement and/or heaving. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace sidewalk and/or patio sections as necessary to eliminate trip hazards.
    4) Exterior: Safety, Repair/Replace, Evaluate - One or more outdoor electric receptacles appear to have no ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection. This is a safety hazard due to the risk of shock. A qualified electrician should evaluate to determine if GFCI protection exists, and if not, repairs should be made so that all outdoor receptacles within six feet six inches of ground level have GFCI protection. For example, install GFCI receptacles or circuit breaker(s) as needed.
    5) Exterior: Safety, Repair/Replace - One or more landscaping timbers used as steps are rotten or damaged by wood destroying insects. This is a safety hazard due to the risk of tripping or falling. Landscaping timbers should be replaced as necessary.
    6) Exterior: Safety, Minor Defect - One or more outside faucets are missing backflow prevention devices. These devices reduce the likelihood of polluted or contaminated water entering the potable water supply. This condition can occur when an outside faucet is left in the "on" position with a hose connected and the sprayer head turned off. When pressure in the system fluctuates, water can be drawn back into the water supply pipes from the house. If a chemical sprayer is being used with the hose, those chemicals can enter the water supply pipes.

    Recommend installing backflow prevention devices on all exterior hose bibs where missing. They are available at most home improvement stores and are easily installed. For more information, visit:
    http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AE113
    7) Exterior: Repair/Replace, Evaluate - Sidewalk(s) and/or patios are undermined in one or more areas, where soil has eroded out from beneath. Significant damage has occurred, where one or more sidewalk and/or patio sections need replacing. A qualified contractor should evaluate and make repairs as necessary.
    8) Exterior: Repair/Replace, Evaluate - Soffit boards are damaged or deteriorated in one or more areas. A qualified contractor should evaluate and make repairs as necessary. Significant paint peeling noted in numerous areas.
    9) Exterior: Repair/Replace, Evaluate - Fascia boards are damaged or deteriorated in one or more areas. A qualified contractor should evaluate and make repairs as necessary.
    10) Exterior: Repair/Replace - One or more downspouts are loose or detached. This can result in water accumulating around the structure's foundation, or in basements and crawl spaces if they exist. Accumulated water is a conducive condition to wood destroying insects and organisms, and may also cause the foundation to settle and possibly fail over time. Repairs should be made as necessary so downspouts are securely anchored and functional.
    11) Exterior: Repair/Replace - Gaps exist at one or more openings around the exterior, such as those where outside faucets, refrigerant lines, and/or gas supply pipes penetrate the exterior. Gaps should be sealed as necessary to prevent moisture intrusion and entry by vermin.
    12) Exterior: Repair/Maintain, Maintain - The exterior finish in some areas is failing. A qualified contractor should prep (pressure wash, scrape, sand, prime caulk, etc.) and repaint or restain areas as needed and as per standard building practices.
    13) Exterior: Comment - Minor cracks were found in the driveway. However they don't appear to be a structural concern and no trip hazards were found. No immediate action is recommended, but the client(s) may wish to have repairs made or have cracked sections replaced for aesthetic reasons.
    14) Roof: Safety, Repair/Replace, Evaluate - One or more plumbing vent pipes terminate less than six inches above the roof surface below. Debris or snow may block openings, and may result in sewer gases entering living spaces. A qualified contractor should evaluate and make repairs as necessary so vent pipes terminate at least six inches above roof surfaces.
    15) Roof: Repair/Maintain, Minor Defect - Small piece of drip edge missing on south eave side near chimney. May allow water to flow under roofing material.
    16) Attic: Evaluate - Due to inability to access attic, eave vents were viewed from ground level and appear adequate. It is recommended that this vital area and its systems/components be inspected in the near future.
    17) Attic: Comment - The attic access hatch was inaccessible due to stored items, debris, or the hatch being permanently closed. The inspector was unable to evaluate the attic, and it's excluded from this inspection. Recommend moving items or modifying hatch(es) as necessary to allow periodic evaluation of attic spaces.
    18) Electric service: Safety, Repair/Replace, Evaluate - Inadequate working space exists for the main service panel. Standard building practices require the following clearances:

  • An area 30 inches wide by 3 feet deep exists in front of the panel
  • The panel is at least 5 1/2 feet above the floor
  • There is at least 6 feet 6 inches of headroom in front of the panel
  • The wall below the panel is clear to the floor

    A qualified contractor and/or electrician should evaluate and make modifications as necessary.
    19) Electric service: Safety, Repair/Replace, Evaluate - Neutral wires are doubled or bundled together on the neutral bus bar. This is unsafe due to the need to turn off multiple circuit breakers to work on any of the circuits using these wires. A qualified electrician should evaluate and repair as necessary.
    20) Electric service: Safety, Repair/Replace - The service drop wires are in contact with trees or vegetation. Recommend having a qualified tree service company or arborist prune or remove trees as necessary to prevent straining or abrading the service drop wires.
    21) Water heater: Safety, Repair/Replace - No drain line is installed for the temperature-pressure relief valve. This is a potential safety hazard due to the risk of scalding if someone is standing next to the water heater when the valve opens. A qualified plumber should install a drain line as per standard building practices. For example, extending to 6 inches from the floor, or routed so as to drain outside.
    22) Water heater: Major Defect, Comment - The estimated useful life for most water heaters is 8 to 12 years. This water heater appears to be approaching this age and may need replacing at any time. Recommend budgeting for a replacement in the near future.
    23) Heating and cooling: Safety, Repair/Replace - Boiler pressure-relief valve contains no drain line, which would allow hot water/vapor to spray undirected from unit.
    24) Plumbing and laundry: Safety, Repair/Replace - The clothes dryer is equipped with a vinyl or foil, accordion-type, flexible exhaust duct. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission considers these types of ducts to be unsafe, and a fire hazard. These types of ducts can trap lint and are susceptible to kinks or crushing, which can greatly reduce the air flow. This duct should be replaced with a rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct, and by a qualified contractor if necessary. Most clothes dryer manufacturers specify the use of a rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct. For more information, visit:
    http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/5022.html
    25) Plumbing and laundry: Safety, Comment - Copper water supply pipes in homes built prior to 1986 may be joined with solder that contains lead. Lead is a known health hazard, especially for children. Laws were passed in 1985 prohibiting the use of lead in solder, but prior to that solder normally contained about 50 percent lead. The client(s) should be aware of this, especially if children will be living in this structure. Evaluating for the presence of lead in this structure is not included in this inspection. The client(s) should consider having a qualified lab test for lead, and if necessary take steps to reduce or remove lead from the water supply. Various solutions such as these may be advised:

  • Flush water taps or faucets. Do not drink water that has been sitting in the plumbing lines for more than six hours.
  • Install appropriate filters at points of use.
  • Use only cold water for cooking and drinking. Hot water dissolves lead more quickly than cold water.
  • Use bottled or distilled water.
  • Treat well water to make it less corrosive.
  • Have a qualified plumbing contractor replace supply pipes and/or plumbing components as necessary.

    For more information visit:
    http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/5056.html
    http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead/index.html
    26) Plumbing and laundry: Repair/Maintain - Water supply line to washer unsecured (dangling) creating risk of loosening line connection(s). Recommend qualified contractor to re-secure.
    27) Fireplaces, woodstoves and chimneys: Repair/Replace - One or more chimney flues do not have a rainproof cover installed. They prevent the following:

  • Rainwater entering flues and mixing with combustion deposits, creating caustic chemicals which can corrode flues
  • Rainwater entering flues and causing damage to terracotta flue tiles from freeze-thaw cycles

    A qualified chimney service contractor should install rainproof cover(s) where missing.
    28) Basement: Safety, Repair/Replace, Evaluate - One or more electric receptacles have reverse-polarity wiring, where the hot and neutral wires are reversed. This is a safety hazard due to the risk of shock. A qualified electrician should evaluate and make repairs as necessary.
    29) Basement: Safety, Repair/Replace, Evaluate - Non-metallic sheathed wiring is routed in one or more areas so it is subject to damage, such as on wall or ceiling surfaces. The insulation can be damaged by objects coming in contact with it and/or it being repeatedly moved. This is a safety hazard due to the risk of shock and fire. A qualified electrician should evaluate and repair as necessary. For example, rewire using conduit, or re-routing through wall cavities.
    30) Basement: Safety, Minor Defect - Cover plate(s) are missing from one or more electric boxes, such as for receptacles, switches and/or junction boxes. They are intended to contain fire and prevent electric shock from exposed wires. This is a safety hazard due to the risk of fire and shock. Cover plates should be installed where missing.
    31) Kitchen: Safety, Repair/Replace, Evaluate - One or more electric receptacles and/or the boxes they are installed in are loose and/or not securely anchored. Wire conductors may be damaged due to repeated movement and/or tension on wires, or insulation may be damaged. This is a safety hazard due to the risk of shock and fire. A qualified electrician should evaluate and repair as necessary.
    32) Kitchen: Safety, Repair/Replace, Evaluate - One or more electric receptacles that serve countertop surfaces within six feet of a sink appear to have no ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection. This is a safety hazard due to the risk of shock. A qualified electrician should evaluate to determine if GFCI protection exists, and if not, repairs should be made so that all receptacles that serve countertop surfaces within six feet of sinks have GFCI protection. For example, install GFCI receptacles or circuit breaker(s) as needed.
    33) Kitchen: Repair/Replace, Evaluate - The range hood fan is inoperable. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace the fan or the range hood as necessary.
    34) Kitchen: Comment - One or more kitchen appliances appear to be near, at, or beyond their intended service life of 10 to 15 years. Recommend budgeting for replacements as necessary.
    35) Bathrooms: Safety, Repair/Replace - Lower light switch (toggle) on west wall of main bathroom is worn significantly. Recomment qualified contractor to replace this switch as soon as possible.
    36) Bathrooms: Repair/Replace, Evaluate - One or more toilets appear to be clogged, and/or do not flush adequately. A qualified plumber should evaluate and make repairs or replace toilet(s) as necessary.
    37) Bathrooms: Repair/Maintain - Caulking missing around base of toilets creating conditions for possible entry of sewer gasses.
    38) Interior rooms: Safety, Repair/Replace, Evaluate - One or more electric baseboard heaters are installed with an electric receptacle located above. Insulation on appliance cords in contact with the heater(s) may be damaged by the heat. This is a safety hazard due to the risk of shock and fire. A qualified electrician should evaluate and make repairs as necessary. For example, converting receptacles to junction boxes, moving receptacles and/or moving baseboard heaters.
    39) Interior rooms: Safety, Repair/Replace, Evaluate - One or more open ground, three-pronged grounding type receptacles were found. This is a safety hazard due to the risk of shock. A qualified electrician should evaluate and make repairs as necessary.

    Grounding type receptacles were first required in residential structures during the 1960s. Based on the age of this structure and/or the absence of 2-pronged receptacles, repairs should be made by correcting wiring circuits as necessary so all receptacles are grounded as per standard building practices. Replacement of three-pronged receptacles with 2-pronged receptacles is not an acceptable solution.
    40) Interior rooms: Safety, Repair/Replace, Evaluate - One or more electric receptacles have reverse-polarity wiring, where the hot and neutral wires are reversed. This is a safety hazard due to the risk of shock. A qualified electrician should evaluate and make repairs as necessary.
    41) Interior rooms: Safety, Repair/Replace, Evaluate - One or more electric receptacles and/or the boxes they are installed in are loose and/or not securely anchored. Wire conductors may be damaged due to repeated movement and/or tension on wires, or insulation may be damaged. This is a safety hazard due to the risk of shock and fire. A qualified electrician should evaluate and repair as necessary.
    42) Interior rooms: Safety, Repair/Replace - Receptacle along west wall in living room tests to be Hot/Ground Reversed. It is strongly recommended that a qualified contractor address this as soon as possible.