A Puddle of Problems

Water is a remarkable liquid. You know that saying, “give them an inch and they’ll take a mile.” This could be said for water. Without adequate grading (slope adjusting) and drainage a few rain drops may compound into a huge puddle of problems. The main objective with moisture concerns is to pull the water away from the home. This is remedied by roof, gutters, downspouts, grading and drainage. It seems fairly straightforward, but it’s always good to check these components regularly. Seasonal patterns can affect the integrity of your system. Ice build-up in the winter can bend gutters. Leaves will clog downspouts in the fall. Excessive rains in the spring way erode slopes or wash in debris to your drainage lines. Check your basement and crawl spaces routinely for signs of moisture. You may need to amend the grading to channel surface water away from the home if your puddles start turning into small ponds.

Inspect Your Plumbing

What's wrong with this picture?  To the untrained eye it looks like clean drain lines from a kitchen sink connected to a garbage disposal and the absence of obvious leaks. Hmm...not so fast! We see unacceptable plumbing design in homes from Seattle to Wenatchee. Evaluating the proper function and flow of a plumbing system is the key to pinpointing areas of concern. Improper drainage material is just one thing wrong in this photo. The flexible waste line material used to connect the garbage disposal and P-trap to the waste line is not approved by the Unified Plumbing Code (UPC). In addition, the flexible waste line creates an uneven surface for the water flow and eventually promotes clogging. Thinking like water, can you find other problems with this photo? Email us at info@amsinspection.com and we will be happy to answer your questions and comments. At AMS Inspection Services we provide our clients with an inspection report documenting the maintenance and operation of your home. Our detailed home inspection reports are the most valuable tool for a new home owner.