Ask The Atlanta Home Inspector

If the rubber boots on the plumbing vent stacks on your roof are cracked then water is coming into your attic every time it rains.  Every few years the rubber boots need to be replaced.
Many times we’ll see where the homeowner has tried to repair the boot by placing an asphalt based sealing material on the […]

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If you don’t have one of the new water heaters and the unit is sitting directly on the floor of your garage you have a very unsafe situation. 
Older gas water heaters are required to sit up at least 18 inches off of the floor so that combustibles don’t get taken in with the combustion air and cause an […]

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The Temperature Pressure Relief Valve (T&P) is a safety device on the hot water heater.  It’s job is to open up and discharge water from the hot water tank if the water heater builds up excessive pressure inside.  The T&P valve is what prevents the water heater from exploding from an excessive pressure build up.
The T&P needs to have an extension […]

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Cutting the bottom framing (the chord) of a floor truss or I-Joist is not permitted.  Cutting the bottom cord eliminates the strength of the engineered framing member. 
Check out what the plumber did (it’s sad but they knew better than to do this):

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The water pressure in your home should not exceed 80 pounds per square inch (psi).  If the water press exceeds 80 psi it can cause your faucets to drip and your toilets to run.
If the water pressure in your home is excessive the first suspect is a failed pressure reducing valve (PRV).  The PRV’s job […]

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It’s important to have a plumbing clean-out on your home’s plumbing system.  However, in many cases the builder doesn’t have them installed or the landscaper has covered it over.  Either situation is a problem!
Do you know where your plumbing clean-out is located?

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It’s important that your plumbing fixtures inside your home aren’t leaking.  Even a small leak over time can cause big problems for your home.  The wood framing members on the interior walls can be damaged and Mold can even begin to grow.
Check out this video where a shower has been leaking for so long the […]

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To increase the safety of you and your family always cap any unused gas lines in your home.

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If a plumbing vent doesn’t terminate on the exterior of the house it needs to have an Air Admittance Valve (AAV) installed. We see the Studor® valve installed most often in our inspection area.
The Studor® valve is a brand of Air Admittance Valves (AAVs).
The Studor® AAV can be used in lieu of expensive and […]

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If your water faucets are dripping or your toilets are running, chances are the Pressure Reducer Valve on your main water line has gone bad.
The Pressure Reducer Valves job is to reduce the water pressure at the street from 200 PSI or more to less than 80 PSI (pounds per square inch) inside the house. […]

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