Look Out Below

Watch that first step—it’s a doozy.

Ron Passaro

Bethel, Conn.

Deep Freeze, Take 2

It’s important to winterize your sill cocks here in New England, too.

Ron Cook

Close-up Home Inspection

Hopedale, Maine

Hey, I Can Tile My Own Shower!

It just needs a little caulking to finish the job!

Tom Kaminski

Cross Island Home Inspection

Sayville, N.Y.

Too Close for Comfort

Don’t forget to turn off the fan before checking the smoke alarm!

Matthew Steger

WIN Home Inspection

Lancaster, Pa.

Going with the Grain

“Not wall switches; they are ‘vertical cabinet switches with a matching grain wall plate,’ per owner.”

Stephen Tyler

STAT Home Inspections

Doylestown, Pa.

Pop! There’s Corn in the Roof

This proves corn can grow anyplace in Nebraska.

Ted Rabenberg

Advanced Home Inspections

Fairmont, NE

Overheated Receptacle

“Is this electrical outlet too close to the spigot? Not to worry. A self-cooling water system is in place.”

James Brock

Boston Home Inspectors Inc.

South Boston, MA

Inlet?

The latest in energy-efficient building products: the self-powered outlet.

Matt Wynne

Aberdeen Building Consulting

Long Island, NY

An Unhelpful Hand(rail)

Can you find the carpenter’s mistake? Clue: The end isn’t painted.

Roger Hankey

ACI, Hankey & Brown Inspection Services

Eden Prairie, MN

Flush before Washing

A water-saving feature, if the tank doesn’t overflow.

Joseph A. Pasaturo

PE of AVT Engineering

Brooklyn, N.Y.

Plenty of Light in the Attic

What is the R-value of an empty beer case?

Dan Prescott

Buyers Protection Group

St. Louis

Trapped Again

This photo was taken from under a kitchen sink with a drain that takes the scenic route. I call it Creative Plumbing 101. “Joe the Plumber” comes to mind, too.

Terry McCann

Harbor Light Inspection Services

Sagamore Hills, Ohio

Over-Extended

Let’s see—that extension cord goes to? Hmm…I wonder why it’s arcing? LOL.

Cliff Sims

All City Inspections

El Cajon, Calif.

Lack of Deck Support

There is a reason I inspect the outside first! The homeowner still uses this deck for BBQs and didn’t understand my concerns about the lack of support underneath!

Jim Foss

Best Inspection Inc

Anchorage, Alaska

Splish, Splash I Was Taking a…Zap!

These electrical disconnect boxes sit directly under a working faucet—a recipe for electrocution.

Boston Home Inspectors

Boston, MA

Structural Glazing?

The support for this second-floor deck is screwed to the mullion between two out-swinging casement windows. I was told not to open the windows.

It’s a Dry Heat

This is a new one. Dryer vent tubing used as duct work connected to the furnace.

Larry Transue

Integrity

Inspection, Inc.

Easton, PA

Gaming the System

The only problems I see with this cleverly rigged support system is that the Yahtzee® box is not plumb, and the can of paint should be full before being used to hold up loose ductwork.

Nate Stitzlein

Crow Home Inspection, LLC

Baltimore, OH

Getting Very Little Support

This deck is on the edge of a 100 foot drop off to the woods, all the support coming from concrete blocks wedged onto uneven rocks. Would you trust it?

David Grudzinski

Advantage Home Inspections

Cranston, R.I.

Cooking and Cleaning

I love my job. Always something new. I have NEVER seen this before—a dishwasher installed directly under an electric cook top that’s right up against the refrigerator. You can cook and wash dishes at the same time! A great way to make the “kitchen work triangle” more efficient!

Ken Salvo

Ridge Home Inspection, Inc.

Basking Ridge, N.J.

More Than a Drop in the Bucket

I guess hanging a bucket off the wall was easier and cheaper than fixing the roof.

Tim Hemm

Tim Hemm Inspections

Yucaipa, Calif.