Some of the things we see just make us scratch our head and wonder "what could they have been thinking...". Here is an example of a new home we inspected in Maricopa recently. 

A lot of folks ask us if they really need an inspection on new contruction. We hear so often, "It's new, what could possibly be wrong with it?" 

What might you fiind if you just take a little time and look? When I looked in this attic I heard a voice in my head (something that troubles me from time-to-time by the way) saying I bet the HVAC guy said "Well, if it burns down it's not my fault...". Here is what I saw just inside the attic hatchway in the garage:



OK, someone left the main safety cover off the gas furnace. That's not the worst thing that could happen...right? Then I looked just a little to the right of the furnace cover...



This is what made that little voice in my head start chatting with me...

Yep, you're seeing correctly. That is a light bulb, say about the 150 watt version I think and yes, that is also the spot in the flexible ductwork that the light bulb has burned through. In all fairness, I do not know which came last, the light bulb or the flexible duct. Wouldn't common sense tell a person (let's say the installer of the ductwork) that regardless of which one was last, shouldn't I move the light fixture (or have it moved) so it won't be in direct contact with potentially combustible material? (Two nails & that light fixture can be moved a safe distance from the ductwork. Ok, two nails and maybe one staple.

This picture serves to tell us to never think that common sense will always prevail because sometimes it just doesn't. This is a case in point.

We have found this scenario more than once. A slightly different version with potentially the same effect is to put the gas furnace vent alongside the flexible duct. Think I'm kidding? I found this while doing a 1 year warranty inspection very recently. The owner of the home was shocked and grateful that they had not run the gas furnace last winter. (That wasn't the only dangerous item I found in that inspection but that is another story for another blog.)



Have you looked in your attic recently? You just never know what you might find. Let's hope it is not flying rats commonly referred to as pigeons. (Again, another story for another blog.)

Building a new home?
Think you should skip getting a home inspection?
It's a new house, what could possibly be wrong with it?

 

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