HOW DID THE DOG GET IN THERE?

Sometime ago, I was performing a home inspection on a single family residence. I usually don't remember the details of the home inspections that I provide. However, occasionally a unique discovery or event will occur that does create a lasting impression.

This inspection was proceeding as normal with the buyers following and the selling real estate agent and the owner of the home nearby. It was time for the review of the attached garage and the first item I wanted to check was the main electrical service panel.

After a quick visual inspection of the panel exterior, I grabbed my battery screwdriver and removed the four screws that secured the cover plate to perform an internal viewing. I removed the electrical panel cover plate and rested it against the garage wall. My eyes then proceeded to the interior of the panel. And to my surprise, the lower half of the electrical panel was filled with large brown kernels which I quickly realized was dog food.

While removing the cover plate, the real estate agent and the homeowner had joined the buyers in the garage with me. As I stood there gazing at the dog food, no one said a word. I shortly spoke to report my finding and stated that "the interior of the electrical panel was halfway filled with dog food".

Again, no one said a word until the homeowner irately questioned "how did the dog get in there"? Being an experienced home inspector and analyzing that dogs do not have screwdrivers, I quickly surmised the situation and observed a small opening about the size of a quarter at the top of the electrical panel. I then explained that it appears that mice have been stealing the kernels from the large bag of dog food that was stored in the garage and saving it inside the electrical panel for leaner times.

Fortunately, I was also able to observe that the electrical wires inside the electrical panel did not appear to be damaged. This often happens as rodents love to chew wiring. Nonetheless, I recommended that a licensed electrician be engaged to clear the interior of the electrical panel of the dog food and cover the opening in the electrical panel. I further stated that industry standards do not permit any openings in electrical panels and this was an error by a past electrician or unknowledgeable homeowner.

The remainder of the home inspection was completed with no further events out of the ordinary and when fully finished, the homeowner stated that "now I don't have to punish the dog".

Glen Fisher southjerseynpi@aol.com

"The South Jersey Home Inspector"