Breaking out the Magnifying Glass In an Old House

Buying a house will always be a major investment you need to prepare yourself for. But while the place you had in mind may look perfect, it pays to dig deeper into its history – especially if its in a community that's decades old. Moisture and drainage problems are indeed givens for home inspection, there are other issues to look for depending on age.

If the house was built anytime in the 1990s, you have to inspect whether it has a NOX rod consolidated furnace – this is an immediate red flag because its heat exchangers can crack and spew carbon monoxide. Houses built between 1984 to 1990 may have defective ABS pipes made of recycled plastic; these are very costly to replace.

On another aspect of the piping front, houses built from 1942 to 1958 often contain Orangeberg pipes, which are made of papier mache. If your prospect house falls under that category, your inspector must study it by video camera to determine the presence of Orangeberg pipes; repairing these often costs up to $5,000. Houses built when William McKinley or Harry Truman was president need more scrutiny in the electrics – they have knob-and-tube wiring, which is insufficient for the power load of today's appliances; consequently, they are potential fire hazards in wood houses.

A house that has weathered years may still be capable of so much more if it is worth renovating. A credible home inspector can unearth any issues and prevent disaster from striking.

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Thermal Imaging: Home Inspection Beyond What the Naked Eye Can See

Does your modern home inspector carry any thermal imaging equipment with him? He should, as thermal imaging technology can be used for a vast array of applications such as detecting cool spots that may indicate water or moisture. A thermal camera is an extension of the home inspectors' eyes—it can see beyond what his eyes normally see. This makes the thermal camera an essential tool; after all, the gravest threats to a home's safety and integrity are frequently invisible to the naked eye.

Thermal imaging is generally capable of two major functions. First, it can detect hotspots in the house; these may indicate the need for additional insulation. In addition, the camera can spot cool spots in certain sections, namely in areas where it's hot all over. All the inspector needs to do is point the thermal camera towards any part of the house and study its readings. Hot or cold patches can signal problems that may need urgent attention.

Why is there a cool spot around an area that's normally hot or vice-versa? It's difficult to see these spots with the naked eye, which is why thermal imaging is considered a game changer in the field of home inspection. For home inspectors, the job involves giving accurate assessments on the integrity and safety of the house. In other words, they come and check out the house first before you move everything inside. 

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