Hi, my name is Craig Stivale. I am the owner and the Inspector for Las Vegas based Alpha Home Inspections. I have done thousands of inspections and was raised in the building business the hard way, starting as a laborer and ending helping my father build houses. When asked about some of the problems I have found in homes over the years, I have seen it all. I've seen mold covered rafters in attics, cracked foundations, exposed electrical wiring, dangerously wired breaker boxes, and worse, Home Findings
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INSPECTION FINDINGS
Below: Who was the brain surgeon who repaired these trusses I said to myself during this inspection?
Below: Since when did we start putting exposed pot lights in a water zone?? I guess they ran out of waterproof recessed lights.
Below: Have a look at this plumbing catastrophe. By code all water lines must be at least 4″ from the water heater flue pipe. Also note the stains at the garage ceiling at the penetration. This genius also used duct tape at the draft divert-er. This is a fire zone. Where are the screws and metal tape!
Below: Note the stained attic sheathing & joist.
Below: Notice the exposed wires at the top of this water heater. All wires located in a water zone must be encased in conduit.
Below: Now, how is this water heater going to siphon water under pressure? The temperature pressure relief valve must be above the discharge pipe.
Below: Notice how this slab crack is working it’s way across the structure starting at the garage.
Below: Notice the disconnected flexible heating and air conditioning duct in the attic. The seller’s said they had high energy bills, little did they know they were heating and cooling the attic.
Below: Notice how this roof truss is about to break at the load bearing point.
Below: Note the attic vent pipe that should extend beyond the roof. This vent pipe is venting against the attic refrigerant line leading to the evaporator cooler.
Below is a classic: Please note the exposed wire for the pool light , let’s hope nobody turns the pool light on.
Below: Note the heaved pool plaster from roots of the tree growing near the pool.
Below: This is a “new house” people paid good money for. Wonder why your cooling and heating bills are so high? The builder forgot to insulate half the attic!
Below: Notice how the tree roots heaved this garage slab that transferred through the entry hallway.
Below, this is totally uncalled for. This was a new house that I inspected today. Notice the way the truss cross members were fitted and nailed. Totally unacceptable.
Below: I noticed that the mirrored wall tiles were very loose, so I decided to pull a few off since it was a vacant bank owned property. Note the mold behind the tiles. The plumbing for the exterior hose-bib was located between the studs of this wall creating the mold.
Below: This is from an inspection I did a few years ago. Note how the slab crack transferred up through the existing exterior brick wall.
Below: Note the broken attic truss on a “brand new” house. The buyer’s told me that the home builder assured them they did not need a home inspection stating that the house was just inspected by the county inspector.
Below: On this inspection the water manifold was leaking between the wall. I can see the manifold was leaking for a while. Note in the second picture the mold at the base of the wall.
Below: This one cracks me up. Repairs have been made to the main water line at the shut off valve. Four elbows noted where one is needed. This will create a mineral buildup that will cause low water pressure in a year or two.
Below is an example of a normal plumbing loop.
Below: This was another “brand new” home. Why would you have electrical lines against the attic furnace gas pipes - you have the whole attic to run the electrical lines? What happened to common sense?
Below: This is an attic furnace. Notice that the flue pipe is missing allowing gases to vent into the attic.
Below: This is a major structural support post that is supporting a second floor balcony, this was built by the builder. Where was the county building inspector?
Below: This mold was found growing in a small closet behind the laundry area.
Below: Disconnected HVAC evaporator discharge pipe noted at the attic drain pan causing ceiling stains.
Below: Illegal wiring found in an attic. This is a possible fire hazard. These wires should be encased in a junction box.
Below: The electrical lines leading to the attic furnace are tight against the furnace gas pipe. This was another “brand new home”.
Below: (HVAC-Attic) The evaporator cooler drain pan is tilted away from the discharge pipes not allowing the system to drain properly by reaching the discharge pipes. The condensation will spill over the pan and creating ceiling stains. Most mistake this for a roof leak.
Below: Notice how well kept this pool looks. I also noted during the inspection that the pool motor is not grounded and the exposed wires noted at the timer box and the pool pump is leaking.
I hope you enjoy the following pictures of some of the homes that I have inspected. After a few thousand inspections I have inspected some multi million dollar condos on the strip to the “beer house”. I wasn’t sure if I should have posted these pictures but after sending them to some of the Realtors and asking their advice they all said yes by all means ! The inspection I did at the “beer house” was sent to about 300 realtor’s who then sent them out to others. They made their way to CNN and Fox news so I was kind of proud that I did that inspection. Please enjoy the pictures below. I’ll start with the condo - Turnberry at MGM and then the “beer house”. It doesn’t matter what kind of structure it is, I enjoy inspecting them all as you can see.
Below: It’s amazing how some people don’t realize the situation shown below can easily start an electrical fire.
Below: The water heater flue pipe is against the plywood sheathing. Repairs needed for fire safety.
Above: Corrosion noted at the REHAU plumbing fittings at the hot water side of the attic manifold. The water drips and the minerals stay as a solid at the early stages of the leaking process. Rehau & Kitec fittings seem to be leaking all over town. Colorado river water may allow chemical reactions to occurs between the water and the brass manifold and brass fittings in the REHAU system. That, in turn, may cause the system to clog over time, with the potential of eventually developing small, pinhole leaks. This reaction is known as “dezincification.” Please keep in mind that dezincifation does not the actual plastic plumbing pipe in the REHAU system.
Above: Some people wonder why their electric bill is so expensive. Notice the repairs on the HVAC duct was made with electrical tape (wrong tape), leaving the other end of the connection to fall off allowing the duct to heat and cool the attic.
Above, another ”brand new home”. Shame on the builder!
Above, while inspecting an attic, I noticed a burnt owner’s manual on top of the furnace that had just about caught fire. I took the manual and showed the home owner who had the house inspected a few years prior. The manual had been left there over the years from the builder. I took the paper owner’s manual to my local fire house for them to examine. The fire chief said it was only a matter of time before it would have gone up in flames. It takes a few minutes to check your attic.
Above, this was a “brand new home” I did last month. Notice the poorly fitted vent pipe off the attic furnace. Gases from the furnace were escaping into the attic.
Above is another brand new home. Where was the county building inspector on the frame walk?
Above, this was a new home inspected. Notice how the truss cracked at a load bearing area.
Above: I inspect all breaker boxes and sub panels. This is called “double stabbing”. Notice there are two wires leading to one breaker. Not only is this a code violation, it is also a potential fire hazard.
Below: Hole noted at the attic HVAC duct. I wonder if the seller’s knew they were paying to cool and heat the attic?
Above: I always inspect for mold.
Who engineered the rafters on this brand new home below? Where was the county inspector?
Below: This is what happens to your air conditioning - evaporator cooler when you don’t change your air filters regularly.
