1) Numerous wall, floor and/or ceiling surfaces were obscured by furniture and/or stored items, preventing a full evaluation of some areas.

2) Noted small area of rotted roof decking. Monitor this area for further deterioration and replace if needed or if wood destroying insects are noted.

3) Noted several areas where trim needs to be repaired. This condition will allow water into and behind the siding which can lead to mold, rot and damages to interior finishes. This can also allow pest and wood destroying insects int the structure. Recommend having a qualified siding contractor make necessary repairs.

4) Wood trim shows signs of deterioration, requires repair and repainting.

5) Noted a few small ares of exposed wood roof sheathing. Recommend painting these areas with high quality exterior grade enamel paint to seal the wood.

6) Handrails at one or more flights of stairs were too low or too high and pose a fall hazard. Handrails should be located at least 34 inches and at most 38 inches above the nose of each tread/riser. Recommend that a qualified person repair per standard building practices.

7) Noted both outlets on the back deck are not GFCI and one outlet is not wired properly. Recommend having a licensed electrician make necessary repairs.

8) Perimeter grading slopes towards building. Recommend grading soil so it slopes down and away from the building to direct rainwater away.

9) Noted deteriorated brick in an area where the grade slopes toward the house. This is due to freeze thaw action. Recommend re-grading the area so water runs away from the house. Also recommend repairing and repointing the brick. A mortar parge over the brick will help maintain the integrity of the brick.

10) Noted an area of deteriorated brick along an area of reverse sloping grade. The water is also making it's way into the basement in this area. The brick foundation needs to be repaired in this area and the grade needs to be re-worked so the water slopes away from the foundation
Cost estimate: $1500

11) "Knob and tube" wiring or related components such as porcelain insulators were found. The wiring that was noticed int eh attic was found to be abandoned. This type of wiring was commonly installed prior to 1950. It is ungrounded, and considered unsafe by today's standards. Over time, the wire's insulation can become brittle and fall apart or wear thin, resulting in exposed conductors and a risk of shock and/or fire. This wiring is also easily damaged by covering it with insulation (a common practice), and incorrectly tapping new wiring into it.

The inspector did not find any energized knob and tube wiring during the inspection. However, this is no indication that all the knob and tube wiring has been abandoned. It is not within the scope of this inspection to determine what percentage of this property's wiring is of the knob-and-tube type, or to determine what percentage of the knob and tube wiring is energized versus abandoned. Recommend that a qualified electrician evaluate this wiring and make repairs or replace wiring as necessary.

Note that some insurance companies may be unwilling to offer homeowner's insurance for properties with knob and tube wiring. Consult with your insurance carrier regarding this. For more information, visit:
https://www.reporthost.com/?KNOBTUBE

12) One or more exhaust fan ducts in the attic were not attached to a vent hood or cap. As a result, conditioned air will enter the attic when the fan is operated which can lead to mold on roof sheathing. Ducts terminating near an attic vent but without a dedicated vent hood or cap will likely blow conditioned air back into the attic. This can result in excessive moisture in the attic. Recommend that a qualified contractor repair per standard building practices, so exhaust fan ducts are permanently fastened to vent hoods or caps.

13) Noted bathroom exhaust duct is not insulated. Bathroom exhaust duct should be insulated with R-8 flex duct to the outside. Recommend replacing duct with insulated duct to prevent condensation inside the duct during winter months which can create a mold situation.

18) The ungrounded and obsolete 2-prong outlets should be upgraded to include more modern and safer ones, which provide a pathway for the current to travel harmlessly to ground.

19) No ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets installed in the kitchen. GFCI outlets help prevent electric shocks in areas that may have water present. Recommend having a licensed electrician install one or more GFCI outlets, especially over counter tops and around sinks.

20) Handrails at one or more flights of stairs were missing. This is a potential fall hazard. Handrails should be installed at stairs with four or more risers or where stairs are greater than 30 inches high. Recommend that a qualified contractor install handrails where missing and per standard building practices.

21) Handrails at one or more flights of stairs were not continuous or did not extend the full length of the stairs. This is a potential fall hazard. Handrails should be continuous for the entire length of the stairs. Recommend that a qualified contractor replace or repair handrails per standard building practices.

22) One or more open ground outlets were noted in the front bedroom and in the back bedroom. Recommend having a licensed electrician establish a proper ground wire.front bedroom back bedroom

23) Noted one bedroom door was difficult to open or close. A qualified contractor should evaluate and repair or replace door(s) as necessary.

24) Noted Some window screens were missing.

26) A significant amount of creosote (1/8" or more) visible in woodstove flue. Recommend cleaning, inspection and repairs if necessary by a qualified chimney service contractor.

27) All solid fuel burning appliances (woodstoves and fireplaces) should be inspected annually by a qualified chimney service contractor, cleaned and repaired as necessary. Recommend having chimney cleaned prior to first fire of this season.

28) Significant amounts of ashes, wood and/or debris are in the fireplace. The inspector was unable to fully evaluate it.

29) No ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) devices (outlets or circuit breakers) are visible for the kitchen. GFCI devices help prevent electric shocks in areas that may have water present. Recommend having a qualified, licensed electrician install GFCI protection for outlets, over counter tops and around sinks.

30) Noted a Hot neutral reversed outlet in the dining room. Recommend having a licensed electrician make necessary repairs.

33) Recommend that this system be serviced every two years in the future by a qualified heating and cooling technician.

34) Noted insulation on heating pipes that appears to be asbestos. The insulation is in good condition and at this time does not pose a health risk. If an future remodeling requires the removal of the insulation it should be tested for asbestos prior to any work taking place and the results of the test shared with the contractor(s).

35) No gas supply shut-off valve is visible. Recommend having a qualified, licensed plumbing contractor install one. A shut-off valve allows the gas supply to the water heater to be turned off if the water heater needs repair or replacement.

36) Hot water heater appears to be older than 10 years and is older than its estimated useful life. This hot water heater may need replacing at any time.

37) This unit is older than 5 years old and for better performance and a longer life this unit should be flushed out every other year because of sediment build up at bottom of unit. To flush a unit of sediment start by shutting off the water supply to the heater. Turn the temperature control to low and the on-off to "pilot". Connect a hose to the drain valve at the bottom and run the hose outside or to a drain. Drain the tank down and then open the water supply to force the sediment out. Close the drain, refill the tank, and reset the controls to normal.

38) "Knob and tube" wiring or related components such as porcelain insulators were found. This type of wiring was commonly installed prior to 1950. It is ungrounded, and considered unsafe by today's standards. Over time, the wire's insulation can become brittle and fall apart or wear thin, resulting in exposed conductors and a risk of shock and/or fire. This wiring is also easily damaged by covering it with insulation (a common practice), and incorrectly tapping new wiring into it.

The inspector did not find any energized knob and tube wiring during the inspection. However, this is no indication that all the knob and tube wiring has been abandoned. It is not within the scope of this inspection to determine what percentage of this property's wiring is of the knob-and-tube type, or to determine what percentage of the knob and tube wiring is energized versus abandoned. Recommend that a qualified electrician evaluate this wiring and make repairs or replace wiring as necessary.

Note that some insurance companies may be unwilling to offer homeowner's insurance for properties with knob and tube wiring. Consult with your insurance carrier regarding this. For more information, visit:
https://www.reporthost.com/?KNOBTUBE

39) The ungrounded and obsolete 2-prong outlets should be upgraded to include more modern and safer ones, which provide a pathway for the current to travel harmlessly to ground.

40) One or more circuit breakers are "double tapped", where 2 or more wires are clamped in a circuit breaker terminal and the circuit breaker was only designed for 1 wire. This is a safety hazard since wires may come loose and cause arcing, sparking and fires. Recommend having a licensed electrician evaluate and repair.

41) This home may have solid-strand branch circuit aluminum wiring. This type of aluminum wiring is a potential fire hazard. Problems due to expansion and contraction can cause overheating at connections between the wire and devices such as switches and outlets, or at splices. The Consumer Products Safety Commission recommends either discontinuing use of circuits with aluminum wiring, or pigtailing copper wiring onto the ends of the aluminum wire. Recommend consulting with one or more licensed electricians to determine the best course of action to correct this problem. For more information, visit: http://www.inspect-ny.com/aluminum.htm

43) Noted the water supply line from the city main is lead. Recommend calling the city water department to see if they plan on replacing the lead lines in the near future. Recommend that the water be run for 20-30 seconds before using it for drinking or cooking.

45) Noticed an area of active leaking in the basement. Water was running down the walls. This could be from ground water or the waste line behind the wall may be cracked. Recommend calling Roto Rooter or Apex Sewer to TV the line to determine the condition of the line. This should be done prior to closing. If the line is cracked the repairs could exceed $5000

46) Some beginning signs of moisture on foundation walls. Recommend regrading around the house to ensure water runs down and away from the house.

47) Water was also noted on the floor along the left side of the house. This is due to improperly pitched grade along the side. Recommend re-grading that side of the house so the water drain away from the foundation.

48) Ventilation for the crawl space was substandard. There were too few vents. This can result in high levels of moisture in the crawl space and is a conducive condition for wood-destroying organisms. One square foot of vent area should be installed for 150 square feet of crawl space. Vents should be evenly distributed and within a few feet of corners to promote air circulation. Leaving the windows to the basement area would correct this.

49) Some sections of under-floor insulation above the crawl space have fallen down. This may result in reduced energy efficiency. Recommend that a qualified person install or replace insulation as necessary.

51) The ungrounded and obsolete 2-prong outlets should be upgraded to include more modern and safer ones, which provide a pathway for the current to travel harmlessly to ground.

52) Recommend installing additional carbon monoxide detectors so one exists on each floor including the basement.

53) One or more open ground outlets. Recommend having a licensed electrician establish a proper ground wire.