Leppin Home Inspection Services

Had a special guest over yesterday for Thanking giving. It was a first and no doubt the last time. It was a 6th month old kangaroo. 

Found this on my 2nd inspection today.
Do you see the slightly elevated shingle about 5’ below the PVC waste vent stack ?
When I got on the roof it was harder to locate than the visual from the ground. When I did find it I lifted the shingle tab and guess what I found. Who needs a vent cover when you can cover the vent pipe at roof pe*******on with the shingle.

I did an inspection on a new home yesterday. When I went into the attic, I noticed that no insulation had been installed. When I got to the A/C equipment in the attic there was about 2” of water standing in the emergency leak pan. I looked to my right and saw a couple of empty beer cans, which were left in the attic. Not sure who left them there. It could have been the insulation installer or A/C contractor.

Final inspection on a new home. I pulled the attic access ladder down and couldn’t figure out what caused all the damage. I looked to the right and saw a packed trail in the insulation. Continued into the attic and came across this live catch trap baited with a chocolate chip cookie. 🤔

Came across this while on an inspection. Air condition dog house.
No I did not inspect the dog house.

This article details a potential hazard related to Flexible, Yellow, Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST) Gas Lines within your home. It also describes a safety hazard and code changes due to the history of house fires associated with CSST when lightning strikes nearby, or worse yet, the home itself.

The risk is tremendously reduced when CSST flexible gas lines are “bonded “ (BONDED DEFINED: Connected with wiring to take electrical current away from CSST flexible gas lines in the event of a lightening-strike on or near the home). Lightning-strikes have a documented history of creating holes in CSST gas lines, allowing the gas to escape and dramatically increasing the risk of gas-fueled fires in the home. Confined gas fumes that are in a closed room or an unoccupied home can lead to an explosion.

Connecticut Building Code has allowed CSST gas lines since the 1990’s. Building Codes requiring bonding of CSST flexible gas lines came into practice no earlier than 2007. This code came in as a response to damage to flexible gas lines and fires in homes struck by lightning. As you can see, there is a significant multi-year gap in which Building Codes did not require proper bonding of flexible gas lines. Building Codes, including Plumbing & Electrical Codes were updated based on the growing incidents of house fires.

Homes built with CSST flexible gas Lines before the Building Code required bonding were built correctly to the Building Code at the time they were built. BUT that does not mean they are safe. These homes may, or may not have bonded gas lines. Only an inspection will determine if the gas lines are safely bonded as required by today’s Building, Plumbing & Electrical Codes.

If you own a home that has CSST flexible yellow gas lines and was built prior to 2007, this fire-risk may exist in your home. Most homes have gas lines in their attic, walls & basements. CSST flexible gas lines in the attic are a prime candidate for damage from lightning strikes. Especially if they are not protected with Bonding to ensure electrical energy is carried away from the pipe (versus carried by the pipe). The home needs to be inspected, and proper bonding (if not already present) must be installed to yellow flexible gas lines to help protect the home in the event of a lightning strike. Many fire experts are confident that a lightning strike’s electrical-energy can run through the electrical wiring in a house, then jump (or arc) onto CSST gas lines where it creates holes into the tubes, releasing gas & possibly creating a gas-fueled fire and / or explosion.

There are documented incidents where severe lightning has struck homes. A lightning strike to a steel chimney cap, can extend into the house. For instance; Lightning can enter the home through a metal chimney cap extending the electrical-energy through copper electrical wiring, copper water piping, the wooden structure itself and, if available and not protected, the flexible CSST gas line. Electricity will take the easiest path or the path of least resistance. If a lightning strike is large or close enough, the electrical current can jump between products in search of the ground.

In some areas, as of 2015 Home Inspectors became required to notify their clients (in writing & on the inspection form) of the presence of CSST gas lines that do not have proper bonding.

If you own a home built since 1990, your home may have unbonded flexible gas lines. Many homes have gas lines in their attic and buried in walls. If your concerned, the home needs to be inspected, and (if not present) proper bonding must be installed to CSST gas lines, to help protect the home in the event of a lightning strike.
Example pictures of damage CSST piping caused by lightning.

There is a right way & a wrong way to secure your garage door opener guide track at the wall mount. Some duct tape and a screw driver just might be a little risky.

While inspecting a new built home I noticed that the color of the AC system condenser unit housing was a little off. Closer look revealed that the coil aluminum fins were completely covered with stain from drift when the fence was recently stained. Looks like the painter just bought a condenser unit.

Took this picture during an inspection this morning. From the outside it looked like they were burning tires in the fireplace.