Jay Markanich

The house was warm, so I knew there was a furnace.

The water was hot, so I knew there was a water heater.

I just couldn't find them! The layout of the (lovely) basement made it hard to get my house geography. The six "bedrooms" were placed in a weird array. The former laundry room was no more, in favor I guess of rent from another "bedroom" and the local laundromat. But I was undaunted in my search.

I knew where they should be, I just couldn't see how to get to them!

Finally, behind a "bedroom" bureau, I saw some peg board on the wall! HA! It was screwed tightly to the wall but I did peek in.

The furnace! The water heater! And I saw another door.

That door was in the garage, hidden behind a tool shelf. Though heavy I moved it. Wow, the door worked!

What you can't see here are dimensions. I could barely fit between the two units to get to the front of the furnace. That front is about 15" from the peg board. Finally getting the cover off, I could see that it was extremely dirty and rusty inside, and the blower was quite dirty.

I was worried that the filter had not been replaced in a while, like, um, a loooong while, and politely went to remove it. Instead of finding a very clogged filter, I was happy to discover that there was none! Well, that how-often-do-we-have-to-replace-the-filter problem was solved!! Just remove the little sucker! And hide the furnace room... Out of sight, out of mind!

You also can see that the water heater is stressed, with some flame out happening when it turns on. And the vent from the water heater was angled downward. And it's been there a while! Well, those are just minor problems anyway.

The rest of this lovely home was just as laugh out loud!! I believe it will cost as much to bring the house back into an American condition, as it does to buy it. Welcome to my world in Northern Virginia.

My recommendation: When you can't find something, it helps to have a compass with you, a map of the terrain and a good guide. Gimme a call!

"Must See the Newly Renovated Basement!"

Dèjà veux!

This might seem similar to my previous post. And it is.

When the heat pump in that previous post did not come on, the first thing I checked was the panel box to see if the breaker for the heat pump was turned off.

I was able to peek into the box, literally, and see that it was on. So I knew the heat pump had electrical power.

Entering the basement I was able to see a fine new paint job.

And this clever, nearly square, nearly level, neatly-cut hole around the panel box.

Can you see what is wrong with this hole?

No, it is not that wire. That is the cable for the security system which is connected to the window just to the right of this photo. It goes from the window, into that hole and then somewhere else.

You can hardly see it.

But that isn't what I meant about what is wrong with the panel box. Can you see it now?

It's OK, I'll wait.

Hint: That's the original panel box, with the original stickers placed there in 1977. So that isn't it.

I'm still waiting...

THAT'S RIGHT! Ding, ding, ding! The clever, nearly square, nearly level, neatly-cut hole around the panel box is a bit small. No can openo the dooro. (Para tradujir eso - no se puede abrir la puertita, lo más sea...) The security cable is just an extra decorator's touch.

My recommendation: If you see or hear that a house you will be showing your clients is newly remodeled, ask a couple of questions. A good question to start would be: "Gee, was it done professionally?" and/or "Was there a permit pulled to do the work?" If not, caveat emptor!

"Must See the Newly Renovated Basement!"

So said the marketing info on the kitchen counter in the house I arrived to inspect.

I could hardly wait! OK, when I see things like that, lately anyway, I kind of cringe.

When I enter houses for inspections, I begin by turning things on. The dishwasher, washer, dryer, AC or furnace, and so forth. Obviously I test 'em!

The house was kind of cold. Not unusual, sometimes the listing agents leave the heat low, especially after the house has a contract on it. So I found the thermostat and turned on the heat.

No reaction.

No sound.

No click, grind, buzz. Or heat.

No nothing.

Maybe it's turned off at the panel box? I checked. Nope, the breaker was on. So what could it be?

I found the heat pump.

And this is what I saw.

The label states that this heat pump was manufactured a mere three years ago. Already it doesn't work.

Can you tell me why? It's OK, I'll wait.

Hint: the old heat pump was of a different era and configuration. They took the white AC condensate line off that old one and used it on this one. I guess to save time and money.

I'm still waiting...

THAT'S RIGHT! Ding, ding, ding!! The condensate line blocks the filter's ability to come out for washing or replacement. This filter is a washable, high efficiency filter. It captures everything. And it really should be washed every month! If not, it will clog quickly.

This one was so clogged it had the density of a brick. I think that broke the unit. So much for saving time and money...

My recommendation: If you see or hear that a house you will be showing your clients is newly remodeled, ask a couple of questions. A good question to start would be: "Gee, was it done professionally?" and/or "Was there a permit pulled to do the work?" If not, caveat emptor!

I was called to do a One Year Inspection prior to the expiration of the builder's warranty. I do a lot of them.

Looking at this deck and door from the rear yard everything seemed normal enough.

Until I got closer.

You might not notice it from this photo.

I'm talking about what you see in the photo below.

That's it, right there. Water.

Now, it had not rained in the past month. There is a bedroom window above this door, but it could not have been opened during a recent rain storm. There is no plumbing in the wall, service or drain. There is a typical soffit overhang with a gutter, but all that was dry.

Coming inside, the floor around the door was dry according to my moisture meter. I had my IR camera with me and looked at the wall above and around the door inside and out. Nothing visible. Similarly, inside, nothing thermal was visible in the floor or ceiling above.

Neither upstairs bathroom is anywhere nearby. The closest, the Jack and Jill bath, is 20 feet above and to the left of this photo. I had not tested the bathroom yet, it was dry, and this water is fresh, the puddle even growing slightly during the inspection. The plumbing penetration to vent the kitchen and that bathroom is 30 feet or so to the left of this photo. He had not used the hose or watered the lawn that day.

I have to admit, I was stumped.

I NEVER DID FIGURE IT OUT!

My client had never noticed this puddle before. I advised him to call me if it continued or grew. He never did.

Sometimes things remain a mystery. Any ideas as to this water's source?

My recommendation: when you notice something out of the ordinary, and you cannot figure out a reason, watch it to see if it changes. Maybe then you will find a change that leads you to the cause. And then maybe you won't...

About a month ago, while in the hospital with my wife, someone from the Washington Post called and interviewed me about a problem she was researching. She said my remarks would appear in a Washington Post article in the next few weeks.

She found my website and blog posts by putting key words into her search engine. I popped up many times, and she reviewed me website. She was impressed, which prompted her to call me.

I got a Google alert this morning - apparently the article appeared!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/27/AR2009102703475.html

That isn't the only thing I said. I actually offered four reasons for the problem, off the top of my head. But this is the one that impressed her the most.

Interestingly, scroll down and see my name at the bottom and click on it. Some of my blogs appear, INCLUDING other people on Active Rain. Very cool. We are all interconnected.

I might add: dehumidification does not solve the problem, just soaks it up, but who am I? You have to discover and eliminate the source of the moisture.

That's where I come in... If the person with the problem calls me, I will let you know. That would be a cool post too.